Mark Anthony Neal's Blog, page 767

The Spin: Black Beauty and the Rise of Black Women Entrepreneurs

On the latest episode of The Spin, host Esther Armah talks with Professor Yaba Blay , Glynda C. Carr , and Professor Christina Greer  about  the rise of Black Women Entrepreneurs and a recent study that examined the eviction of low income Black women.

Nas: "It's Not Cool For the U.S. to Look Like Apartheid South Africa"

In this video from TIME, Nas (Nasir Jones) discusses the current state of American race relations.

"The Black Aesthetic is necessarily the business of making revolution"-- Julian Mayfield

Wangechi Mutu: "Suspended Playtime"

"The Black Aesthetic, for those trying to create today, is necessarily the business of making revolution, for we have tried everything else. Now, this the Tom Joneses and Janis Joplins cannot steal, and will not imitate."

-- Julian Mayfield , “You Touch My Black Aesthetic and I’ll Touch Yours” in The Black Aesthetic (1971), edited by Addison Gayle, Jr .

DionneDionne: When Dionne Farris Does Dionne Warwick

Critic and scholar Oliver Wang profiles Dionne Farris's tribute recording to Dionne Warwick. Farris, who was an early icon of the Neo-Soul movement is joined on the recording by guitarist Charlie Hunter.

Talk, Sing, Read, Write, Play: How Libraries Reach Kids Before They Can Read

This isn't your typical story time; public libraries are designing new programs to help parents and caregivers interact with toddlers in ways that will encourage future reading. -- NPR

James Earl Jones Monologue from 'You Can't Take It With You' (2014)

'James Earl Jones performs a monologue from the Broadway revival of Moss Hart and George S. Kaufman’s 1936 comedy You Can’t Take It With You , at the Longacre Theater.' -- New York Times Video

"Beautifully Bad" -- Idle Warship aka Talib Kweli & Res

"Beautifully Bad" is from Habits of the Heart, the 2011 collaboration between Talib Kweli and Res. The visuals were directed by Kweli & Bernard Gourley. 

Questlove + Patti LaBelle + the Quest for Soul Food: Storyville (Ep. 1)

Questlove recalls his quest for Patti LaBelle's Soul Food in this episode of Storyville with cameos by Jazzy Jeff, Bunny Sigler and Jill Scott -- OkayPlayer

Louis Gossett, Jr. Discusses New Miniseries 'The Book of Negroes'

Academy Award winning actor Louis Gossett, Jr. discusses his new miniseries The Book of Negroes , based on Lawrence Hill's 2007 novel of the same name. The miniseries also stars

Fleeing To Dismal Swamp, Enslaved Blacks & Outcasts Found Freedom

'Most Americans know about the Underground Railroad, which allowed Southern slaves to escape to the North. But some enslaved Blacks stayed in the South, hidden in a place where they could resist enslavement.' -- NPR