Mark Anthony Neal's Blog, page 926

Octavia Spencer and Michael B. Jordan talk 'Fruitvale' at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival

Red Carpet Diary
From the Sundance Film festival, this is Red Carpet Diary. 22 year old Bay area resident Oscar Grant was shot in cold blood on the first day of 2009. Fruitvale examines last day of his life. We spoke with Octavia Spencer and Michael B. Jordan.

Fruitvale: Ryan Coogler's Debut Film on Bay Area Police Slaying of Oscar Grant the Buzz of Sundance

Democracy Now
It was four years ago this month that Oscar Grant, a 22-year-old African American, was shot to death by a Bay Area Rapid Transit police officer on New Year's Day in Oakland, Calif. Portraying the last day of his life, the new dramatic film "Fruitvale" has become one of the most talked-about films at this year's Sundance Film Festival. We're joined by the director, 26-year-old, first-time filmmaker Ryan Coogler, who works as a social worker at a juvenile-detention center in San Francisco.

In Conversation: Mickalene Thomas and Carrie Mae Weems

Brooklyn Museum:
Artists Mickalene Thomas and Carrie Mae Weems talk with curator Eugenie Tsai about using their work to challenge conventional ideas of beauty, race, and gender.

Mickalene Thomas: Origin of the Universe
September 28, 2012 -- January 20, 2013

Somali Journalist Jailed for Reporting on Rape

Al Jazeera English
Abdi-aziz Abdi-nur Ibrahim, a Somali journalist, has been detained without charge since January 10 for an interview he had conducted with a woman who says she was raped by security forces.

Tom Rhodes, of the committee to protect journalists, says "there are absolutely no legal grounds" with which to have detained Abdi-Aziz.

Speaking to Al Jazeera from Nairobi, Rhodes said "Abdi-Aziz has become a scape goat for security forces" who are trying to quell a story.

Lupe Fiasco Inauguration Drama - The Truth With Elliott Wilson

Jay Z's Life + Times:
In today's episode of The Truth, Elliott Wilson discusses Lupe Fiasco's dramatic performance at an Inaugural concert on Sunday and history of controversy. Tell us what you think: is Lupe a prophet as some say, or does he just live for the drama?

"Fire in the Blood": Millions Die in Africa After Big Pharma Blocks Imports of Generic AIDS Drugs

DemocracyNow
The new documentary, "Fire in the Blood," examines how millions have died from AIDS because big pharmaceutical companies and the United States have refused to allow developing nations to import life-saving generic drugs. The problem continues today as the World Trade Organization continues to block the importation of generic drugs in many countries because of a trade deal known as the Trips Agreement. We're joined by the film's director, Dylan Mohan Gray, and Ugandan AIDS doctor Peter Mugyenyi.

French and Malian Troops Consolidate Gains

AlJazeera English:
The United States, along with Britain and France, are helping to transport French troops and equipment to Mali.

In central Mali, French and government troops are consolidating their hold on towns recaptured from the rebels in recent days.

Gerard Araud said French troops have helped government forces make significant gains in the towns of Doentza and Diabaly.

Al Jazeera's Jacky Rowland reports from Bamako.

Vijay Prashad Talks President Obama's Shift to the Right on Foreign Policy

NewsClick:
Professor Vijay Prashad discusses with NewsClick the Foreign Policy initiatives in the second term of Obama's Presidency. In the first term, Obama had come with huge expectations, with very liberal provisions on the table. But he could not live up to them. Professor Prashad feels that the Obama administration is following a Rightist Foreign Policy which has a temperamental outlook. It is re-tooled for a push around the world, to recover the lost ground by US.

Do We Still Need HBCUs?

Angela Davis: Now That Obama Has a Second Term, No More "Subordination to Presidential Agendas"

DemocracyNow.org
Addressing the Peace Ball in Washington, D.C., on Sunday, the renowned author, educator and political activist Angela Davis urges those content with President Obama's re-election to continue pushing him for social change. "This time around we cannot subordinate our aspirations and our hopes to presidential agendas," Davis says. "Our passionate support for President Barack Obama ... should also be expressed in our determination to raise issues that have been largely ignored or not appropriately addressed by the administration."