Mark Anthony Neal's Blog, page 735

Trailer: Out in the Night (dir. blair dorosh-walther)

"In 2006, under the neon lights of a gay-friendly neighborhood in New York City, a group of African-American lesbians were violently threatened by a man on the street. The women fought back and were later charged with gang assault and attempted murder. The tabloids quickly dubbed them a gang of "Killer Lesbians" and a "Wolf Pack." Three pleaded guilty to avoid a trial, but the remaining four — Renata, Patreese, Venice and Terrain — maintained their innocence. The award-winning Out in the Night examines the sensational case and the women's uphill battle, revealing the role that race, gender identity and sexuality play in our criminal justice system. A co-production of ITVS. A co-presentation with the National Black Programming Consortium (NBPC)."

A Brief Primer on the Word 'Thug"

Ayana MoorOur friends at MSNBC offers a brief primer on the word "Thug."

Jake Makes a World: Jacob Lawrence, A Young Artist in Harlem [Book Trailer]

Inspired by the childhood of the artist Jacob Lawrence, Jake Makes a World: Jacob Lawrence, A Young Artist in Harlem ( Sharifa Rhodes-Pitts/ Christopher Myers) is the story of young Jake as he takes in the colors, sounds, rhythms, and characters of his community in Harlem during the 1930s, and the art studio where he goes each day after school. 

Phonte of The Foreign Exchange Breaks Down Impact of Dwayne Wayne from 'A Different World'

A Different World was the first time that I could really see Black people in college" says Phonte Coleman of The Foreign Exchange, in this episode of Phonte's Most Influential TV Characters. PHONTE on A DIFFERENT WORLD from Suite Sessions on Vimeo.

Vijay Iyer Trio: Tiny Desk Concert

Vijay Iyer's working band with Stephan Crump (bass) and Marcus Gilmore (drums) transforms selections from throughout the pianist's deep and varied catalog in this episode of Tiny Desk Concert .

Finding the Rhythm of a Spoken Word Poet

On this episode of Left of Black on The Root host Mark Anthony Neal sits down with spoken word artist, Dasan Ahanu, who is also an Assistant Professor of English and Creative Writing at Saint Augustine’s University. Ahanu is part of the 2015 –2016 class of

Facing Mother’s Day in a Time of State-sanctioned Violence Against Black Bodies by Lisa B. Thompson

Elizabeth Catlett, Mother and Child.  1956Love, Loss and the Natural Order of Things: Facing Mother’s Day in a Time of State-sanctioned Violence Against Black Bodiesby Lisa B. Thompson | @PlayProf | special to NewBlackMan (in Exile)
I’m approaching Mother’s Day with sadness and trepidation. It will be the first one since my mother passed away last summer. The advertisements sent to my email inbox by companies hoping to sell a Mother’s Day gift only intensify my feelings of despair.
As I ponder my loss, I am reminded through the daily about news of the sense of devastation and loss experienced by the black mothers who are facing this holiday with a narrative the places their experience outside the natural order. This year the mothers of Walter Scott, Freddie Gray, Eric Garner, Tamir Rice and Mike Brown will face their first Mother’s Day celebrations without their sons. They join the mothers of other victims of extrajudicial killings such as Rekia Boyd, Amadou Diallo, Sean Bell, Trayvon Martin and Aiyana Stanley-Jones and countless others who must encounter each Mother’s Day with a sense of devastation and loss.
I find some solace in memories. My son and I spent the last Mother’s Day with her in San Francisco. There was lots of hugging, some crying and sweet whispers. My son held her hand and kissed her cheeks. I thanked my Mom for all the miracles she made happen so I could follow my dreams. I combed her hair and fed her lunch. It was clear that at 84 years old, her body was failing.
I have always loved this holiday because it provided any opportunity to honor and acknowledge the woman who cared for me with such dedication and tenderness. It has always surprised me that despite her fears and worries, she raised a daughter who would fearlessly travel the world. I find myself struggling with feelings of deep sadness as I face this first Mother’s Day without her. Despite my grief I understand my loss is part of the natural order of things. The sorrow I’m experiencing around the loss of my beloved mother is heartbreaking, but it is expected. In the natural order of things a child outlives her parents.
The list of grieving black mothers is long as the history of this country and many of their children’s names are unfamiliar to the nation. Public cries for justice echo their cries of sadness. While recent deaths have shined the light on this epidemic I believe that for these mothers no amount of publicity can ever replace the love of a child.
The pain they must endure each day is unfathomable. These mothers must cope with a tragedy beyond the limits of my imagination. One of the things my mother taught me was to know my cultural history—the triumphant parts as well as the tragic. As we celebrate with our families and friends this Sunday, we must remember those mothers who have lost their children due to state sanctioned violence and pledge that there never be another name added to the list.
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Lisa B. Thompson is a playwright and associate professor of African and African Diaspora Studies at UT Austin where she is an OpEd Project Public Voices fellow. She is author of Beyond the Black Lady: Sexuality and the New African American Middle Class and The Mamalogues a new play about black motherhood in the age of anxiety. Follow her @playprof.

Jazmine Sullivan Covers Randy Newman's "Baltimore" for Nina Simone Tribute Album

Jazmine Sullivan covers "Baltimore," originally written and recorded by Randy Newman, but perhaps made most famous by Nina Simone.  Sullivan's version will appear on the soundtrack album for the forthcoming Netflix documentary What Happened, Miss Simone? . 

'I Feel Like We're Being Hunted' -- Legendary Hip-Hp Artist Scarface on Police Brutality

Brad “Scarface” Jordan of Geto Boys fame talks with HuffPost Live's Marc Lamont Hill about Police Brutality.

Kenny Lattimore Discusses New Album 'Anatomy of a Love Song'

R&B veteran Kenny Lattimore talks new album Anatomy of A Love Song with Arise Entertainment 360's Lola Ogunnaike and Shannon Lanier.