Mark Anthony Neal's Blog, page 44

Danger Mouse & Black Thought - Aquamarine feat. Michael Kiwanuka (Official Video)

Official video for Danger Mouse & Black Thought's "Aquamarine,"  featuring Michael Kiwanuka from the album Cheat Codes (2022).

Running While Black: Andraya Yearwood

'Running While Black is series in partnership with Adidas. This episode features Andraya Yearwood, a trans athlete who has faced discrimination on the track and continues to love running despite adversity.'

How Black Brunch Became The Business Staple Of Southern Restauranteurs

'Brunch has become weekend ritual for many Black millennials in Houston, and restaurants are either opening or revamping their menus to take advantage of the trend. Dubbed “Black brunch,” the hallmarks include flashy attire, Black artwork and music, making the experience and the environment just as important as—if not more than—the meal. The trend, which has proved durable during even the worst of the pandemic, is spreading in other brunch hotbeds such as Atlanta and Washington.'

Criminal Justice Reform and Resilience are Central in Albert Woodfox's 'Solitary'

'In an interview with the author of Solitary, the issue of criminal justice reform is central. Alfred Woodfox, who served 43 years in prison – most in solitary confinement, for a crime he says he didn't commit – died in August. He told NPR's Scott Simon that after his release, he struggled with claustrophobia because of the decades he spent in prison.'

How Efforts to Ban Books Impact Public Libraries

'The American Library Association tracked 729 book bans across the country targeting more than 1500 books in 2021–a record since the organization started counting, more than 20 years ago. Most of the books that have been targeted concern race, slavery or LGBTQ topics. The Takeaway speaks with Deborah Caldwell-Stone, Director of the American Library Association’s Office for Intellectual Freedom, about book banning and protecting our libraries.'

Charlottesville's Religious, Black Communities Push to Address Inequities Highlighted by Violence

'A violent far-right rally in Charlottesville prompted soul-searching and calls to address racism. Five years later, religious and Black communities are still working toward that goal.'

theblerdgurl Podcast with Karama Horne: Simone Missick and the "Lola-Coaster" of 'All Rise'

'In this episode of theblerdgurl Podcast with Karama Horne, Simone Missick reveals what it was like stepping into her new role as Executive Producer of All Rise, after its cancellation on CBS, and what it was like joining the OWN family.'

Short 'Stories from the Tenants Downstairs' Describe the Gentrification of Their Home

'NPR's Daniel Estrin talks with author Sidik Fofana about his debut collection, Stories from the Tenants Downstairs. All but one story are told by a different resident in a fictional high-rise building in Harlem. Many of the Black residents are struggling to get by, and they have very distinct voices.'

NASA Scientist: Arctic Sea Ice Could Disappear in 20 years

'The Real News Editor-in-Chief Maximillian Alvarez sits down with NASA climate scientist Nathan Kurtz, who just returned from a research trip from the Arctic, to discuss the scale of the disaster facing us and what we can do about it.'

Vox Conversations: How Middlemen Took Over the Economy

'Vox's Emily Stewart (@EmilyStewartM) talks with Kathryn Judge (@ProfKateJudge), professor at Columbia Law School and author of the new book Direct: The Rise of Middleman Economy and the Power of Going to the Source. They discuss how middlemen — which include real estate agents, stock brokers, but also Amazon and Walmart — came to assume such an outsized role in our economy, the pros and cons of middlemen in different market contexts, why Prof. Judge sees a fundamental difference between Etsy and Amazon, and how we consumers can change how we decide what to buy in order to help push the economy in a radically different direction.'