Mark Anthony Neal's Blog, page 77

Uncovering the Hidden History of 'Black Dolls' at the New York Historical Society

'Host Jane Clayson speaks with Dominque Jean-Louis, co-curator of the exhibit "Black Dolls" at the New York Historical Society in New York City.' 

 

The Limits with Jay Williams: Kelly Rowland On Being the Ultimate Working Mom

'In your mind, Kelly Rowland might be the teenager of Destiny's Child fame, or the solo artist with dance floor anthems like "Commander." But these days, Kelly's much more than a pop star. She's an entrepreneur, philanthropist, writer and mother of two beautiful children. She recently published a children's book called Always with You, Always with Me, her ode to working moms. On The Limits, Jay and Kelly explore motherhood: how Kelly juggles being a good mom with her career, how she strives to be transparent with her children about fame and celebrity, and how she cared for her own late mother in her final days.'

New Orleans Legend Trombone Shorty Fuses Funk, Soul and 'Dirty' Blues Rock on New Album

'Trombone Shorty's new album Lifted comes on the heels of the artist's first Grammy win for his work as a songwriter and a featured artist on the album of the year, Jon Batiste's We Are. Batiste and Trombone Shorty, born Troy Andrews, grew up together in New Orleans and both have become global ambassadors for the unmistakable sound of that city. On his new album, Trombone Shorty continues that work, throwing down funk, soul and psychedelic rock with a group that includes special guests Lauren Daigle, the New Breed Brass Band, and Gary Clark Junior. Here & Now's Celeste Headlee speaks with musician Trombone Shorty.'

Ron Carter: Tiny Desk (Home) Concert

'The velvety sapphire of what may be the most recognizable curtains in jazz are the backdrop for this special Tiny Desk (home) concert. Dapper and distinguished in matching ties, legendary bassist Ron Carter and the members of his trio sit comfortably on the prestigious stage of The Blue Note in Manhattan. This is jazz with a capital J, complete with cocktails and "Candlelight."  Ron Carter's career spans 60 years. It includes playing with the greatest of the greats in jazz, plus film scoring, teaching, writing and numerous awards, from Grammys to a Guinness World Record as the most-recorded bassist in history. After the first song of this set ends, the soft-spoken maestro in pinstripes gives a simple introduction; then, we are treated to a taste of his mastery with a solo bass performance entitled "Blues for Tiny Desk".'

How One Book Influencer Championing Black Authors is Changing Publishing

'Milwaukee-based book influencer Cree Myles curates an account for Penguin Random House dedicated to celebrating Black writers. "I'm all about glamorizing Black literature and the writers," Myles notes. "They give us such important stories. They should be treated accordingly. That's how I feel."

The Archives: A Toast to The People (featuring Raheem DeVaughn)

In celebration of Gil Scott-Heron and Brian Jackson, "A Toast to the People", performed by The Archives featuring Raheem DeVaughn from the album  Carry Me Home: A Reggae Tribute To Gil Scott-Heron & Brian Jackson.

"Practice Toward Future Sovereignty": How We Stay Free, Black Philly Radical Collective and the Fight to Defend Black Trans Lives with Gabriel Bryant and Abdul-Aliy Muhammad

'In this conversation Gabriel Bryant and Abdul-Aliy Muhammad offer reflections on the Philly Black Radical Collective and on the long work of organizing outside of the spectacle of the mass mobilization. Gabe talks about some of the nuts and bolts of community organizing and building power as well as some recent developments in solidarity organizing for political prisoners including Mumia Abu Jamal’s latest campaign #LoveNotPhear.'

Vox Conversations: Did the Sexual Revolution Go Wrong?

'Sean Illing talks with author and Washington Post columnist Christine Emba about whether or not we need to rethink sex. They discuss why, according to the research and reporting in Emba's new book Rethinking Sex, many Americans are unhappy with the sex they're having, and don't fully understand what they want. They also talk about how her Catholic faith informs her views on sex, why it's necessary to expand on the framework of "consent," and what kind of sexual culture Emba hopes to see in the world.'

Conversations in Atlantic Theory • Kir Kuiken and Deborah Elise White on Haiti's Literary Legacies: Romanticism and the Unthinkable Revolution

'A discussion with Kir Kuiken and Deborah Elise White, editors of a new collection titled Haiti’s Literary Legacies: Romanticism and the Unthinkable Revolution, out with Bloomsbury Publishing in late-2021. Kir teaches in the Department of English at State University of New York at Albany in Albany, New York, and is the author of numerous articles and the book Imagined Sovereignties: Toward a New Political Romanticism, published by Fordham University Press, 2014. Deborah teaches in the Department of Comparative Literature at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, where she has written widely on 19th and 20th century literature and thought, and is the author of Romantic Returns: Superstition, Imagination, History, published by Stanford University Press in 2000. In this conversation, we discuss the place of Haiti and the Haitian Revolution in the Atlantic world’s literary imagination, the long shadow and persistence of romanticism, and the enduring significance of Haitian history and thought for thinking through issues of race, nation, revolution, literature, and conceptions of the new.'

Talib Kweli on Black Star's Return: 'We stand tall on the shoulders of our ancestors'

'The first Black Star album was released in Sept. 1998 to critical acclaim, immediately launching the solo careers for the duo of Talib Kweli and Yasiin Bey, formerly known as Mos Def. The pair of New Yorkers became two of the most noteworthy voices in what's sometimes called "conscious" rap. Today, Bey and Kweli's second album as Black Star, No Fear of Time, will debut via the subscription podcast platform Luminary. It's an unusual place to release music, but Talib Kweli says it is a statement about artists getting both the respect and the pay that they deserve.'