Mark Anthony Neal's Blog, page 4

The Webby-nominated Series 'Left of Black' Returns for Season 14

Left of Black Season 14 has arrived! We are thrilled to debut a fresh season of Dr. Mark Anthony Neal's Webby-nominated web series, produced by the John Hope Franklin Humanities Institute at Duke University. The season is set to kick off on October 19th, 2023 and we're delighted to announce our inaugural guest: Duke University's very own Dr. Jasmine Nichole Cobb, Professor of African & African American Studies and Art, Art History, and Visual Studies.

Dr. Cobb will join Dr. Neal in a captivating season premiere centered on her groundbreaking new book, New Growth: The Art and Texture of Black Hair (2022). This book explores the profound significance of Afro-textured Black hair and its intricate relationship with the body, space, and visual culture. Additionally, Season 14 will feature the impactful contributions of Dr. Deirdre Cooper Owens, Dr. Jennifer Nash, and Dr. Thema Bryant, to name a few.

In this season of Left of Black, we will again introduce you to a brilliant lineup of scholars whose work delves into various aspects of Black life, creativity, scholarship, activism, resilience, and Black excellence. We will begin a brand-new subseries this year, “Hip Hop @50,” that will feature conversations with key musicians and producers who made incredible contributions to the groundbreaking genre. 

“Left of Black Presents: Small Talk at FHI” is another subseries that kicks off with a live in-person event on October 25th, 2023 where Dr. Neal will host Nabil Ayers, son of renowned R&B legend Roy Ayers and the author of My Life in the Sunshine: Searching for My Father and Discovering My Family (2022). The event and live taping will be held at the John Hope Franklin Humanities Institute in our main lecture hall. Stay tuned for more details and a registration link!

Furthermore, this season marks the warm welcome of Jakiah Glass, our newest addition to the Left of Black production team. Jakiah, a recent Mass Communications graduate from North Carolina Central University, now serves as the assistant editor for the series. Her affiliation with the Franklin Humanities Institute began with the Charmaine McKissick-Melton Communications Fellowship, a partnership between Duke and NCCU that targets undergraduate mass communications students. We are eager to witness Jakiah’s skills and expertise shine throughout the post-production process.

Undergraduate Duke and UNC students should be on the lookout for a new and exciting course offering related to the Left of Black production process, taught by Dr. Neal himself. More information is soon to come. 

 

With an exceptional lineup of scholars, thought-provoking discussions, and a live event on the horizon, we invite you to join us in celebrating the exploration of Black life, creativity, and excellence through Left of Black’s newest season. With the anticipation of a new website in 2023, the future of the web series is brighter than ever. Stay tuned for a season that promises to leave an indelible mark on your web series lineup. Don't miss out, because the journey is just beginning, and it's bound to be nothing short of extraordinary!

Left of Black S13 · E20 | Left of Black | Dr. Kimberly Mack & Groundbreaking Black Rock Band Living Colour's Album 'Time's Up'

In 1988, the world was introduced to the groundbreaking Black rock band, Living Colour, with their debut record, Vivid, which dominated the charts and was a commercial hit. Made up of lead vocalist Corey Glover, guitarist Vernon Reid, drummer William Calhoun, and bassist Muzz Skillings, the group then released their sophomoric album, Time's Up, a more sophisticated venture that blurred the lines between genres while establishing the group's musical prowess. Dr. Kimberly R. Mack, joins Left of Black host Dr. Mark Anthony Neal to discuss her book, Living Colour’s Time’s Up, part of the prestigious 33 1/3 book series from Bloomsbury for Spring 2023.

Amplify With Lara Downes | Allison Russell Finds Transformative Musical Power in Community

'With help from a sisterhood of musicians, Allison Russell, the Canadian singer-songwriter and activist, has triumphed over trauma to become a distinguished figure on the Americana scene. Russell joins Amplify With Lara Downes.'

Still Paying the Price: Reparations in Real Terms | EP 2: The Unfinished Story of Alex Manly’s 'The Daily Record'

'Wilmington, North Carolina was once home to a thriving middle class Black population. In 1898, the only successful coup d’état in American history put a stop to it. Alex Manly was part of that elite Black community. An editorial he printed in his newspaper, The Daily Record, was the catalyst for the violence, and Manly was run out of town by a group of white supremacists. In this episode, Manly’s grandson, Dr. Lewin Manly talks about what his family is owed for the loss of The Record and how the Manly family could be made whole again. Reported by Pamela Kirkland.'

Conversations in Atlantic Theory • Jasmine Nichole Cobb on 'New Growth: The Art and Texture of Black Hair'

'In this conversation with Fatima Seck, Jasmine Nichole Cobb discusses her latest monograph, New Growth: The Art and Texture of Black Hair, which reveals the various ways that people of African descent forge new relationships to the body, public space, and visual culture through the embrace of Black hair.'

Studio Sessions | War celebrates 50 years of 'The World is a Ghetto'

'WAR Founding member Lonnie Jordan and producer Jerry Goldstein look back at the making of 1972's The World Is A Ghetto. Jordan says it was original percussionist Thomas "Papa Dee" Allen who envisioned a character called "Ghetto Man." So the band began laying down tracks for Allen's concept. "Actually, we forgot about his play and where it was gonna go, and we started creating this music for The World Is A Ghetto," Jordan remembers.'

New Books Network: Kristal Brent Zook | 'The Girl in the Yellow Poncho: A Memoir'

'The Girl in the Yellow Poncho: A Memoir (Duke UP, 2023) is Kristal Brent Zook’s coming-of-age tale about what it means to be biracial in America. Throughout, she grapples with in-betweenness while also facing childhood sexual assault, economic insecurity, and multigenerational alcoholism and substance abuse on both the Black and white sides of her family. Her story is one of strong Black women—herself, her cousin, her mother, and her grandmother—and the generational cycles of oppression and survival that seemingly defined their lives.'

Fresh Air | Pianist Jason Moran Reaches for 'the drama, the comedy and the tragedy' of Music

'Jason Moran talks jazz and plays selections from his latest recording, which borrows from the music of James Reese Europe, the composer and musician who led the Harlem Hellfighters regiment band during WWI.'

Breastfeeding While Black and Thriving | The Emancipator

'The Emancipator recently brought new and expecting Black and Brown moms into conversation with doulas, birth sisters, midwives, lactation consultants, and doctors to talk about the joys and challenges of #BreastfeedingWhileBlack. We shared experiences, traded encouragement, and brainstormed solutions and ideas on getting the support we need to thrive. Breastfed infants are 26% less likely to die between the second week of life and first birthday, compared with non-breastfed infants. This is critical, when you consider that the Black infant mortality rate is double that of White infants. Like other maternal health inequities, antiracist medicine and policies can improve breastfeeding outcomes, something two Boston hospitals are working to achieve.'

Fresh Air | Crime Writer S.A. Cosby Loves the South — and is Haunted by It

'S. A. Cosby's novel All the Sinners Bleed centers on a Black sheriff in a small Southeast Virginia county. The novel was inspired by his own experiences growing up in the shadow of the Confederacy.'