Mark Anthony Neal's Blog, page 366

Freedom Farmers: Agriculture As A Means of Resilience

'It is difficult to disentangle agriculture from oppression in African American history. From slavery to sharecropping, farming for black Americans has frequently manifested in some form of exploitation. But scholar Monica White aims to reframe the history of black agriculture through examining moments of resistance and resilience. White is an associate professor of environmental justice within the Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies and the department of Community and Environmental Sociology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the author of the new book  Freedom Farmers: Agricultural Resistance and the Black Freedom Movement (UNC Press/2018).' -- The State of Things on WUNC

Southbound: Songspeller Kamara Thomas Recites Her Poem, Endurance

 'Singer-songwriter Kamara Thomas reflects on a photograph by Southbound artist Eliot Dudik. As part of the exhibition, Southbound: Photographs of and about the New South, artists, writers, and poets  were asked to respond to a photograph of their choice in the form of short written pieces.' -- ForumforScholars&Publics 

The Challenge of Antiracist Thought to a Racist Society

'Historian Ibram X. Kendi discusses racism and antiracism in American society - from the production and maintenance of racist thought to disguise inequity and manipulate the working class, to the promise of an antiracist challenge to the power structures that divide people from each other and a future lived in communion with all people. Kendi is author of How To Be An Antiracist from One World Literature.' -- This is Hell! 

Raphael Saadiq: Music Had To Be My Therapy

'Raphael Saadiq's career took off as a member of the R&B trio Tony! Toni! Toné!. He left that group in the mid-'90s, launching a successful solo career and co-writing and producing music with everyone from Solange and Mary J. Blige to John Legend and D'Angelo.  Saadiq's latest solo album is titled Jimmy Lee—named after an older brother who died of a heroin overdose years ago. Death, Sex & Money talks with him about how he's dealt with family deaths over the years, about paying off his studio, and about what his love life looks today, in his mid-50s.'

The Legacy of Venus and Serena Williams

'On the opening day of the US Open, the statue of Althea Gibson was unveiled. She broke the color barrier in tennis, as the first African American player to compete in U.S. Nationals in 1950. At that time, women were not even being paid to play tennis.  The Williams sisters made a space for themselves, and other women of color, in a very white sport. And they have consistently dominated the field.  The Takeaway looks back at the legacy of Venus and Serena Williams, to see what it tells us about the future of tennis, and the future of who gets to be the next tennis star with Amira Rose Davis, assistant professor of history at Penn State University and co-host of the Burn it All Down Podcast.'

As Rising Heat Bakes U.S. Cities, The Poor Often Feel It Most

'Hotter neighborhoods tend to be poorer in dozens of major U.S. cities. That extra heat can have serious health effects for those living there.' -- All Things Considered

The Power of Black Motherhood: Moving Beyond the Statistics of Maternal Mortality

'At a gathering of millennial mothers of color in Washington, D.C., women said creating a “mom tribe” is key to surviving and thriving during pregnancy and after giving birth.' -- Washington Post

“Kaira (short version)” performed by Mussa Diabaté, Traditional Mali Music

'“Kaira (short version),” traditional music from Mali, performed on the n’goni by Mussa Diabaté. Filmed in the André Mertens Galleries for Musical Instruments of The Metropolitan Museum of Art.' -- The Met 

Uncle Bobbie's Coffee & Books: Joy-Ann Reid

'Uncle Bobbie's welcomed MSNBC's Joy-Ann Reid, author of The Man Who Sold America: Trump and the Unraveling of the American Story.' -- Uncle Bobbie's Coffee & Books

How Job Stress Affects Your Health

'In this episode, digital science editor Daniela Hernandez participates in a week-long experiment to find out how work-related stress impacts our bodies and to measure her own resilience.' -- Wall Street Journal