Benjamin Talton reminds us about problematic US record on fighting global white supremacy. Cites "African American activists’ steadfast opposition to authoritarianism and white supremacy at home and abroad offer lessons for the U.S. government," especially Cold War dissenters like Shirley Graham and W.E.B. Du Bois.
Ashawnta Jackson writes for JSTOR Daily about how "Black-owned beauty-centered businesses" used images of stars like Lena Horne to change mainstream understandings of beauty.
Not only were parts of Shirley Graham's opera Tom-Tom performed last month, Boston's Castle of our Skins, producer of concerts and other cultural programming that celebrates Black excellence in classical music, just filled its inaugural Shirley Graham creative-in-residence position, which was awarded to composer and scholar
Shirley Graham's opera Tom-Tom, the first opera written and produced by an African American woman, will be the subject of a Caramoor Summer Music Festival exploration this summer, with a live performance, as well as live-streaming of the event.
See In Black America's Black History Month tribute to the great Lena Horne, who also shared a page of the People's Voice with Paul Robeson and W.E.B. Du Bois for a time.
Listen to this Studio 360 interview with actress Uta Hagen--great material on her commitment to civil rights. She was one of the youngest to be blacklisted in 1950.
Belafonte talks about how difficult it was for politically engaged performers of the era to voice their opinions and beliefs. Despite this, Lena Horne wrote outspoken articles about racism in media for the Harlem newspaper, The People's Voice, like the one below:
World premiere of Ordinary Americans, about radio and TV superstar Gertrude Berg this month in West Palm Beach Florida.
Bonus article below about the incredible Gertrude Berg.
The Times Square concert venue The Town Hall has created a prize to honor activism and art that will be named after Broadcast 41 member Lena Horne
Honoring those who "promote awareness and create social change," the Lena Horne Prize for Artists Creating Social Impact will be awarded in February. A $100,000 donation will be given to a charity of the winner's choice.
Next week at SUNY Plattsburgh, a two night event about the brilliant Uta Hagen, titled "The Artistry and Politics of Uta Hagen--A Centennial Celebration of Her Life." You can listen to a piece about the event here.