Left of Black S3:E8 | Recalling Legacy of Queer Gender-Bending Harlem Renaissance Performer Gladys Bentley

Left of Black S3:E8 | Recalling Legacy of Queer Gender-Bending Harlem Renaissance Performer Gladys Bentley

November 5, 2012

For many Gladys Bentley is a long forgotten footnote to the Harlem Renaissance and Jazz Age.  Bentley’s willingness to challenge the racial, sexual and gender status quo of the 20^thCentury is recalled in the work of Durham-based artist Shirlette Ammons on her new recording Twilight for Gladys Bentley.  Ammons and Duke University Professor Sharon Patricia Holland join Left of Black Host and Duke University Professor Mark Anthony Nealin studio to talk about “Bentley Mode,” the tradition of “raunchy” Black Music (“f*ckable feminist”) and Holland’s new book The Erotic Life of Racism (Duke University Press).

***

Left of Black is a weekly Webcast hosted by Mark Anthony Neal and produced in collaboration with the John Hope Franklin Center at Duke University.

***

Episodes of Left of Black are also available for free download in  @ iTunes U

‘Left of Black Goes’ “Bentley Mode” on the November 5th Episode with Artist Shirlette Ammons and Sharon Patricia Holland

‘Left of Black Goes’ “Bentley Mode” on the November 5^th 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).

***

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.

***

Follow Left of Black on Twitter: @LeftofBlack

Follow Mark Anthony Neal on Twitter: @NewBlackMan

Follow Shirlette Ammons on Twitter: @ShirletteAmmons