Mark Anthony Neal's Blog, page 48

Black Ephemera: Mark Anthony Neal on Jimmy Scott's Performance of "Day By Day"

"As a song that was part of Sinatra’s early repertoire, much of the genius of Jimmy Scott’s rendition of “Day by Day” comes in the pacing. As David Ritz describes it, Scott “takes it a tempo half the pace of Sinatra, elongating notes and rewriting melodies in a manner that seems to defy musical reason.” Viewed from a contemporary standpoint in which US Representative Maxine Waters’ famous claim that she was “reclaiming her time” became a popular digital meme, Scott indeed reclaims his time in his rendition of the song; his pacing almost seems to recover—in one song, no less—all the time that had already been lost in his career. Scott’s performance steals time, the song’s title a reminder of the “one day at a time” ethos that shaped Black political agency right into the era in which Scott recorded the song." 

–from Black Ephemera: The Crisisand Challenge of the Musical Archive (NYU Press, 2022)

The Trouble with Netflix

'After years of dominating pop culture with its immense catalog and acclaimed original programming, Netflix seems to be going through a rough patch. It's begun losing subscribers for the first time in its history, losing a million just in 2022's second quarter. With competition ramping up from other streaming services and a number of expensive original movies and series failing to gain much attention, what is the future for Netflix? David Sims, staff writer covering culture for The Atlantic, joins All Of It to discuss the issues with Netflix, and what the company's plans are for the future.'

One Medical Student's Mission to End Black Health Disparities — and How He's Utilizing Social Media

'Joel Bervell is a medical student at Washington State University — the first Black medical student at the school. The lack of diversity reflects the wider medical industry: Only 5% of all U.S. physicians identify as Black or African-American. That number has changed little in the past 120 years. Bervell and many of his peers worry that this lack of representation in the medical community can spill over into practice, leading to drastically worse outcomes for Black patients. His fears have been borne out in multiple investigations from the top medical journals of the world. The studies point out the problem but rarely provide a solution. And that’s where Bervell’s TikTok content comes in. With his iPhone, LED ring light, simple editing skills and knowledge, he’s made it his mission to educate Black Americans about their health and he hopes it can help solve the issue of health inequality that plagues the community. Bervell began shooting the videos two years ago.'

The Takeaway: 'Aftershock' Tells the Stories Behind U.S. Maternal Mortality Statistics

'According to the CDC, in 2020, 861 women died in the US as a result of maternal causes. That’s up from 754 women who perished during or shortly after giving birth the year before, and an increase compared to the 658 women who lost their lives due to pregnancy and birth complications a year earlier.  In fact, the rate of maternal mortality in the United States has increased in the past three decades. And Bearing the brunt of these brutal statistics is Black women. For nearly a decade researchers and reproductive justice advocates have worked to marshal resources to address this crisis. But statistics, graphs, and “rates per one hundred thousand” can make it difficult to capture the human reality of maternal death. In Aftershock, A new documentary film, Tonya Lewis Lee and Paula Eiseltfollow what happens to the families of Amber Rose Isaac and Shamony Gibson, after each woman dies from medical negligence after giving birth.' 

Get Lit: Musical Guest Lara Downes

'Pianist Lara Downes joins as the musical guest at All Of It's Get Lit. Named 2022 Classical Woman of the Year by American Public Media's Performance Today, Downes discusses her career and shares two exclusive performances.'

Natasha Diggs Disco & Funk Set in The Lab NYC - 1 Hotel, Brooklyn Bridge

'On the roof terrace of the 1 Hotel, Brooklyn Bridge, New York's very own Natasha Diggs treats listeners to a set of Disco and Funk overlooking the Manhattan skyline.'

Unscripted Live: Ruth Pointer, Joshie Jo Armstead, Cory Daye, & Janice Pendarvis

'Highlights from the first Unscripted Live produced by Sekou Luke and Christian John Wikane at the Apollo Theater Soundstage. Directed by Sekou Luke (Rebel Media). Featuring Ruth Pointer, Joshie Jo Armstead, Cory Daye, Janice Pendarvis, and special guest Melba Moore.'

People's Party | Talib Kweli & Ali Shaheed Muhammad On ATCQ, Phife, De La Soul, 'Jazz Is Dead'

'In this episode of People's Party With Talib Kweli, Kweli and co-host Jasmin Leigh sit down with Ali Shaheed Muhammad,  DJ, producer, writer, arranger and founding member of one of hip hop's most iconic groups, A Tribe Called Quest.'

Running While Black: Latinas Run

'Episode 3 of Running While Black, a 3-part series in partnership with #adidas. This episode features Maria Solis Belizaire, the Afro-Latinx founder of Latinas Run.'

The United States of Anxiety | Jason Reynolds on Books with Black Heroes

'Growing up is hard. Do you remember when you first started to ask, "where do I fit in this weird world?" Jason Reynolds believes stories help us find our way. He's become a rockstar among kids and young adults for all the books he's written just for them -- books that are about Black childhood, and unapologetically so. Now he's got a new podcast about his relationship with his best friend: His mom. Host Kai Wright talks to Jason about his own journey through this crazy world, and we hear questions from readers.'