Mark Anthony Neal's Blog, page 450

Are Black Trans Men Invisible?

'Two men share their stories about being black and transgender from realization, to transitioning, and their lives now.' -- The Root

ScreenTimes: Sorry To Bother You -- A Conversation with Boots Riley and Lakeith Stanfield

'The feature directorial debut of rapper and activist Boots Riley, Sorry to Bother You stars Lakeith Stanfield (“Atlanta,” “Get Out”) as a telemarketer in an alternate present-day version of Oakland who discovers a magical key to professional success that leads him into increasingly surreal adventures. Conversation moderated by New York Times contributor Logan Hill.'

Otis Williams, Original Member Of The Temptations, on the New Musical 'Ain't Too Proud'

'A new musical Ain't Too Proud: The Life and Times of the Temptations tells the story of the original Motown group. NPR's Michel Martin speaks with founding member Otis Williams.'

History Repeating Itself? How Racial Tensions Sparked the 1942 Zoot Suit Riots

“If you can’t dance with your neighbors, you live in the wrong place.” That is one of the powerful lines from one of Margarita Engle’s poems, featured in her new book Jazz Owls: A Novel of the Zoot Suit Riots.  The novel tells the story of the Zoot Suit Riots, or, as Engle calls them, the Sailor Riots. Engle’s poetry weaves the story of a Mexican-American family in Los Angeles, California, living under the shadow of the Second World War. The riots were targeted attacks on young Mexican-American men and teens, who wore Zoot Suits and danced to popular jazz music. They were carried out by soldiers receiving their basic training in California, on their way to fight in World War II.' --The Takeaway 

D.L. Hughley Tells Us 'How Not to Get Shot'

'D.L. Hughley discusses his new book How Not to Get Shot: And Other Advice From White People . Hughley, an activist and comedian offers this tongue-in-cheek illustrated how-to guide for black people. Covering such tropes as how to act, dress, speak, walk, and drive in the safest manner possible, Hughley offers a humorous and cutting approach to contemporary racism and identity politics. This segment is guest hosted by DW Gibson.' --
Midday on WNYC
         
         

Young Adult Author Jason Reynolds: How Poetry Can Help Kids Turn a Fear of Literature into Love

'Literature can be daunting for some young people, so how can we create a culture of avid readers? Poetry can be a non-threatening alternative introduction for fledgling bibliophiles, giving them more “white space” on a page without losing narrative elements. Author Jason Reynolds shares his humble opinion on how poetry can entice young readers.' -- PBS NewsHour

#BackChannel: Women of Color in Politics, Nina Simone’s Home and the Sights & Sounds of Black Marriage

#BackChannel: Women of Color in Politics, Nina Simone’s Home and the Sights & Sounds of Black Marriage
On this episode of #BackChannel hosted by WUNC’s Frank Stasio, regular contributors Natalie Bullock Brownand Mark Anthony Neal discuss the swell of women of color running for political office in the United States, some of whom have garnered historic wins, the recent designation of Nina Simone’s childhood home in Tyron, NC as a National Treasure, and Neal and Bullock Brown review two new artistic meditations on marriage: Beyoncé and Jay-Z’s joint album “Everything Is Love,” and “Love Is __,” a new show on OWN from creators Mara Brock Akil and Salim Akil about their love story.                         Natalie Bullock Brown is a filmmaker and adjunct professor, and Mark Anthony Neal is the chair of the department of African and African American studies at Duke University in Durham.

Filmmaker John Akomfrah on His Film 'Precarity'

'The Nasher Museum presents Precarity, a new three-channel video installation created by John Akomfrah, a London-based artist and filmmaker. Precarity works with the themes of risk, hybridity and the unfathomable to explore the city of New Orleans through the remarkable life and times of Charles “Buddy” Bolden, the first person known to have explored the sonic tonalities of the music we now call jazz. This exhibition is organized by Trevor Schoonmaker, Chief Curator and Patsy R. and Raymond D. Nasher Curator of Contemporary Art.'

Tiny Desk Concert: Rakim

'It had been nearly a decade since Rakim released new music, but that drought ended Friday when the godfather of rap lyricism and one half of the revered duo Eric B & Rakim released a new song, "King's Paradise." The track was written for Season 2 of Marvel's Luke Cage, which premiered on Netflix the same day, but it wasn't entirely new to select NPR staff; they heard it days earlier when the God MC performed at the Tiny Desk . The New York rap icon wasn't the only legend in the building that day. Ali Shaheed Muhammad of A Tribe Called Quest — who produced and co-wrote "King's Paradise" with keyboardist Adrian Younge under their new project The Midnight Hour — played bass, and rising blues torchbearer Christone "Kingfish" Ingram sat in on guitar.' -- NPR Music

'The Hate U Gave' -- Official Trailer

Starr Carter is constantly switching between two worlds: the poor, mostly black, neighborhood where she lives and the rich, mostly white, prep school she attends. The uneasy balance between these worlds is shattered when Starr witnesses the fatal shooting of her childhood best friend Khalil at the hands of a police officer. Now, facing pressures from all sides of the community, Starr must find her voice and stand up for what's right. 

THE HATE U GIVE is based on the critically acclaimed New York Times bestseller by Angie Thomas and stars Amandla Stenberg as Starr, with Regina Hall, Russell Hornsby, Issa Rae, KJ Apa, Algee Smith, Sabrina Carpenter, Common and Anthony Mackie. 
In Theaters October 19, 2018 
Director: George Tillman, Jr. Producers: Robert Teitel, George Tillman, Jr., Marty Bowen, Wyck Godfrey Screenplay by: Audrey Wells Based upon the novel by Angie Thomas