‘Left of Black Goes’ “Bentley Mode” on the November 5th Episode with Artist Shirlette Ammons and Sharon Patricia Holland
For many Gladys Bentley is a long forgotten footnote to the Harlem Renaissance and Jazz Age. The Harlem-based performer was an out-Lesbian, who often performed in men’s clothing—a signature white top-hat and tails—who challenged the sexual, racial and gender conventions of the period. As such, she was targeted by the everyday racism and everyday homophobia of the era, ultimately forced to perform a life of “living straight” as the McCarthyism produced suspects out of anyone who colored outside the lines.
Gladys Bentley’s life and spirit is recalled in a new project by Durham, North Carolina based artist Shirlette Ammons, Twilight for Gladys Bentley. Ammons, visits the Left of Black studios to talk about being in “Bentley Mode,” the challenges of being a Queer Independent artist (gonna talk a bit about Mr. Ocean) and that thing she calls a “F*ckable Feminism.” Ammons is joined by Duke English Professor Sharon Patricia Holland, author of the new book The Erotic Life of Racism (Duke University Press).
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Left of Black airs at 1:30 p.m. (EST) on Mondays on the Ustream channel: http://tinyurl.com/LeftofBlack
Viewers are invited to participate in a Twitter conversation with Neal and featured guests while the show airs using hash tags #LeftofBlack or #dukelive.
Left of Black is recorded and produced at the John Hope Franklin Center of International and Interdisciplinary Studies at Duke University.
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Follow Left of Black on Twitter: @LeftofBlack
Follow Mark Anthony Neal on Twitter: @NewBlackMan
Follow Shirlette Ammons on Twitter: @ShirletteAmmons
