Mark Anthony Neal's Blog, page 51

New Film 'Aftershock' Explores Black Maternal Mortality Through the Stories of Two Women and Those They Left Behind

'In the U.S., the maternal mortality rate for Black women is three times the rate for white women. A new film, Aftershock  explores this statistic, following Shamony Gibson’s and another Black woman’s stories and the families they left behind. “People are just wired to view the complaints of folks who look like my daughter and myself differently,” Shawnee Benton Gibson says. “We are viewed as medication or drug-seeking.” Benton Gibson also learned that doctors still perpetuate myths that Black women don’t experience pain the same way. When Black women do speak out about pain they feel, they’re often told they’re being dramatic. Gibson says that kind of thinking makes it difficult for Black mothers to get support.'

The Limits with Jay Williams: Colman Domingo on his Emmy Nod, Overcoming Grief and the Power of Character Actors

'On this episode of The Limits, host Jay Williams speaks with Colman Domingo, star of stage and screen. He's the ultimate character actor, known for stealing scenes in films like Ma Rainey's Black Bottom, Selma, and If Beale Street Could Talk. He embodies every character he takes on, most recently earning an Emmy nod for his role as father-figure Ali to Zendaya's Rue on HBO's Euphoria. Colman is a triple threat in Hollywood, with experience as a producer, director, and writer. In the film adaptation of the musical version of The Color Purple he plays the villain, Mister. Through the conversation, Jay could not believe that a man so full of reflection and empathy could tap into that kind of darkness so convincingly. As Colman puts it, he "chooses the light," channeling negative energy into making poignant art. He also has this wisdom for aspiring Black artists: "No one can tell you not to create. So just create the thing--and don't wait".'

The Experiment: Who Belongs in the Cherokee Nation?

'From the time she was a little girl, Marilyn Vann knew she was Black and she was Cherokee. But when she applied for citizenship in the Cherokee Nation as an adult, she was denied. What followed was a journey into a dark part of Cherokee history that not many people know about and even fewer understand: Vann and her family are descended from people who were enslaved by the Cherokee Nation. They were freed after the Civil War, but that wasn’t the end of their struggle. In 1866, the Cherokee Nation made a promise—a promise of citizenship for these “freedmen” and their descendants. But in the years that followed, that promise would be at the center of a battle between civil rights and sovereignty.'

Mat Johnson's Satirical, Dystopian Future That's All Too Familiar

'If you've ever wondered where people who are kidnapped by aliens go, novelist Mat Johnson has one answer: to New Roanoke, a settlement on a moon of Jupiter which has all the comforts of home -- if you're in the right socioeconomic level. His new novel, Invisible Things tells the story of a sci-fi future whose problems are all too familiar to the present.'

Rebel Speak: A Justice Movement Mixtape

'For his new book Rebel Speak: A Justice Movement Mixtape scholar and activist Bryonn Rolly Bain compiled conversations he’s had with movement and thought leaders from different generations with the goal of reframing how we think about justice. Many of the people featured in Bain’s book are formerly incarcerated or people whose family members are incarcerated. We speak with Bain about how he centered marginalized perspectives in his book to weave together a radical vision for the future.'

Race at Work with Porter Braswell | Ancestry’s Deb Liu: The Power of Storytelling Using Your Family’s History

'In this episode of Race at Work, host Porter Braswell chats with Deb Liu, CEO of Ancestry. They talk about why diverse teams in tech build better products - from design all the way through the review process, it all matters. And when it comes to talking about race at work, Deb thinks pretending it doesn’t affect the workplace only alienates your employees. Deb’s book Take Back Your Power is all about lessons from tech, leadership, and motherhood. It will be out Fall 2022.'

Vocalo Radio: Nabil Ayers Searches For Connection In New Memoir

'In his new memoir, My Life In The Sunshine, author and label executive Nabil Ayers outlines his search for connection with his father, Roy Ayers. He sat down with Ayana Contreras to discuss the book, finding community in the music industry and discovering family.'

One Hundred: The Ed Gordon Podcast – The Whispers

'On this episode of One Hundred, host Ed Gordon talks with R&B legends, The Whispers. Twin brothers Wallace and Walter Scott and Leaveil Degree discuss their long careers, the group’s classic songs and how after over 50 years The Whispers continue to be popular and tour, delivering their long list of hits to their adoring fans.'

Many Lumens with Maori Karmael Holmes: Terence Nance

'Many Lumens host Maori Karmael Holmes and guest co-host Rashid Zakat chat with their friend, artist, musician, and filmmaker Terence Nance (An Oversimplification of Her Beauty, Random Acts of Flyness). The three talk about Terence’s childhood and the long term impact of growing up in a family of creatives, drawing inspiration from love, and the importance of community for Black artists.'

Black Alumni Collective: Lessons on Black Leadership with Derrick Heggans, Natalie Lamarque, Nicole Venable

'The Black Alumni Collective (BAC) was created in 2018 and is a 501(c)(3) non-profit and consortium of Black alumni organizations from colleges and universities across the United States. BAC’s mission is to connect Black alumni across the Diaspora, to share best practices, to advocate for Black students and alumni on individual campuses and communities, and to celebrate Black excellence in its many forms. In this conversation from the April 2022 gathering at Duke University,  Derrick Heggans, Founder & CEO of Global Sports & Entertainment Business Academy (Duke University; George Washington University School of Law), Natalie Lamarque, Senior Vice President and General Counsel at New York Life Insurance Company (Duke University; Duke University School of Law) and Nicole Venable, Principal, Workforce & Education Practice Group Chair at Invariant (Spelman College; John Hopkins University Paul Nitze School of Advanced International Studies) discuss the challenges of Black Leadership. The panel was moderated by Mark Anthony Neal, James B. Duke Distinguished Professor of African & African American Studies at Duke University (State University of New York- Fredonia; State University of New York-Buffalo).'