Athletes and Race in the Last Century

The Leonard Lopate Show (WNYC-FM)

Athletes and Race in the Last Century

Theresa Runstedtler and David J. Leonard discuss race in sports. Runstedtler is the author of Jack Johnson, Rebel Sojourner: Boxing in the Shadow of the Global Color Line, about the first African American World Heavyweight Champion (1908-1915) and his battles with racism around the world. Leonard is the author of After Artest: The NBA and the Assault on Blackness, about the 2004 “Palace Brawl,” a fight between NBA players Ron Artest and Ben Wallace that dramatically altered outside perceptions of the sport.

Gregory Porter: "On My Way to Harlem" (Live on WNYC's Soundcheck)

Hip Hop and Health?

Fat Joe Minus 88 Pounds

Rap Gets a Physical
Soundcheck with John Schaefer

WNYC | Wednesday, July 27, 2011

With famous names like “Notorious B.I.G.” and “The Fat Boys,” it’s easy to believe that hip hop hasn’t always been all that healthy. Yet hip hop does have a rather robust history of artists, from Dead Prez to MF Doom, using their raps to promote healthier lifestyles. To explore hip hop’s complicated medical history, we’ll be joined by Mark Anthony Neal, Professor of Black Popular Culture at Duke University, and Byron Hurt, the filmmaker behind the upcoming documentary Soulfood Junkies. Plus, we get a housecall from the “Hip Hop Doc”- Dr. Olajide Williams, President and Founder of Hip Hop Public Health and Public Enemy frontman Chuck D.

R&B Artist Marsha Ambrosius Dishes on Controversial Video

R&B Artist Marsha Ambrosius Dishes on Controversial Video
Tuesday, April 05, 2011| by Eddie Robinson

R&B vocalist Marsha Ambrosius is not your typical diva. Her debut album "Late Nights & Early Mornings" — which peaked at No. 2 on Billboard's 200 Albums chart and No. 1 on the R&B Albums chart — features music about passionate romance, bitter breakups and gay suicide.

In her latest music video for her current single "Far Away," the singer showcases scenes of gay bashing and homophobia — subjects that are still taboo in the African American community.

Expanding The Boundaries of R&B

Ambrosius spent the early part of her career as half of a neo-soul duo, Floetry. She's also written hits for Alicia Keys and Michael Jackson, so she's chosen to take some risks as a solo artist.

"Far Away" is a song written by Marsha after a close friend of hers attempted suicide because he was gay. The singer said she realized she was getting into untested territory in the world of R&B.

"It would be easy for me to write a song about a relationship I was in with my boyfriend at the time," said the Grammy Award nominee. "We'd be going through it — fighting, back and forth — and I'm standing in the rain with the big hair and the eyelashes — that's standard! That's all been done before. But for me, I wanted to tell the story that wouldn't be told otherwise."

Read the Full Essay @ WNYC.org

Zadie Smith on WNYC

From WNYC

English writer Zadie Smith has accomplished so much in the past 11 years. Her first novel, White Teeth, was published in 2000 before she even turned 25. Now, she's got two additional novels, a number of short stories, and a growing body of criticism under her belt. Smith was also named a tenured creative writing professor at New York University last September and was recently made the critic for Harper's Magazine's "New Books" column.

Pop & Politics Radio: The New Map: America, Redrawn and Reconceived

NOVEMBER 4: The New Map: America, Redrawn and Reconceived

On Wednesday November 3rd, the Pop and Politics live event at WNYC’s Greene Space brought together panelists, audiences and web viewers for a fascinating discussion about how race, anger and the economy affected the outcome of the November 2010 midterm elections. Guests included actress Rosie Perez (visit her arts organization here ), blogger Reihan Salam with The National Review, Princeton professor Melissa Harris-Perry, youth activist Erica Williams, and WNYC’s The Takeaway reporter Todd Zwillich.

Watch the Discussion HERE