Jul 01 How the soundtrack to today’s protests against racism has roots in the blues By Tyina Steptoe, The Conversation Rap songs from Public Enemy and Ludacris have been heard at marches over the killing of George Floyd. But the history of Black American music as a form of protest dates back to the 19th century. Continue reading
Jul 01 Watch 4:50 Author Lauren Wilkinson answers your questions about ‘American Spy’ By Jeffrey Brown, Courtney Vinopal Lauren Wilkinson, author of our June pick for the NewsHour-New York Times book club, Now Read This, joins Jeffrey Brown to answer reader questions about “American Spy.”… Continue watching
Jun 30 Watch 1:56 Remembering Carl Reiner, beloved comedy actor and director Beloved comedy writer, actor and director Carl Reiner died Monday night of natural causes. His prolific career spanned seven decades and influenced virtually every entertainment genre, from television to Broadway theater. Amna Nawaz takes a look back at Reiner’s accomplished… Continue watching
Jun 30 Spanish colonial monuments fuel racial strife in U.S. Southwest By Russell Contreras, Associated Press Spain's enduring hold over the territory that is now New Mexico made it unlike other areas in the Southwest and opened the door for memorializing the Spanish influence. Continue reading
Jun 30 For her spy novel, Lauren Wilkinson knew she needed an exciting first chapter By Courtney Vinopal Our June 2020 pick for the PBS NewsHour-New York Times book club is Lauren Wilkinson's "American Spy."… Continue reading
Jun 30 Rudolfo Anaya, ‘godfather’ of Chicano literature, dies at 82 By Russell Contreras, Associated Press Anaya came onto the scene with his breakthrough work, "Bless Me, Ultima," in 1972. The novel about a young Mexican American boy's relationship with an older curandera, or healer, influenced a generation of Latino writers. Continue reading
Jun 30 ‘Citizen’ is our July book club pick By Courtney Vinopal Our July book club pick for Now Read This is Claudia Rankine's "Citizen: An American Lyric"… Continue reading
Jun 30 Carl Reiner, beloved creator of ‘Dick Van Dyke Show,’ dies at 98 By Mike Stewart, Associated Press NEW YORK (AP) — Carl Reiner, the ingenious and versatile writer, actor and director who broke through as a “second banana” to Sid Caesar and rose to comedy’s front ranks as creator of “The Dick Van Dyke Show” and straight… Continue reading
Jun 29 LGBTQ activists on what progress looks like 5 years after same-sex marriage ruling By Courtney Vinopal Activists and scholars say major wins in the Supreme Court do not negate the myriad setbacks that have occurred at the state and local level for the LGBTQ community as a whole, even after the Obergefell ruling. Continue reading
Jun 28 Rolling Stones threaten to sue Trump over using their songs By Danica Kirka, Associated Press The Stones said in a statement Sunday that their legal team is working with music rights organization BMI to stop use of their material in Trump's reelection campaign. Continue reading