Arts Aug 10 Opening up the Smithsonian slowly and safely during COVID-19 How is the 173-year-old, sprawling Smithsonian Institution slowly starting to welcome back the public? Of the world’s largest museum, education and research complex, only two attractions are currently open: the National Air and Space Museum's Udvar Hazy Center and the…
Poetry Jul 28 The ‘existential wound’ that fueled poet Natasha Trethewey’s acclaimed career Natasha Trethewey is a two-time U.S. poet laureate and a winner of the Pulitzer Prize for her collection “Native Guard.” Now, she has written a memoir about her childhood, the murder of her mother and her own career calling. Titled…
Arts Jul 10 These Black Americans see a statue memorializing Lincoln in different ways Over the past few weeks, there has been extensive debate across the U.S. about statues depicting the Confederacy and other troubled aspects of American history. In the Capitol Hill neighborhood of Washington, D.C., the Emancipation Memorial – also known as…
Arts Jun 26 On Broadway, Black artists push for racial equity As the Black Lives Matter movement strengthens nationwide, calls are increasing for equity in all sectors of American life -- including on Broadway. An all-star cast of Black theater artists has launched a new effort, Black Theatre United, that aims…
Arts Jun 24 Summer reading lists for young people at a time of crisis Amid dual national crises of a pandemic and outrage over racism and police brutality, books provide opportunities both to learn more and to find distraction from reality. Jeffrey Brown talks to writer Jason Reynolds, the Library of Congress’ ambassador for…
Arts Jun 17 Connecting through art when a pandemic keeps us apart American artists of all kinds are responding to the pandemic with new creations. As Jeffrey Brown reports, the art can serve as both a call to action and a means of healing -- for maker and audience alike. The story…
Arts Jun 16 Mary Chapin Carpenter on ‘Songs from Home’ and a new album as a tonic for the times Five-time Grammy-winner Mary Chapin Carpenter has sold 15 million records and was scheduled to spend the summer touring and releasing a new album. But when the pandemic hit, she shifted to "Songs from Home" online, attracting a huge following. In…
Nation Jun 01 Roxane Gay, Anna Deavere Smith and Tay Anderson on the protests’ hope and despair For analysis of the deeper systemic issues that are underlying the country’s civic unrest, Judy Woodruff talks to Roxane Gay, a noted essayist and author whose work frequently addresses issues of race, identity and privilege; Anna Deavere Smith, award-winning playwright…
Arts May 27 Remembering influential AIDS activist Larry Kramer Playwright and pioneering AIDS activist Larry Kramer has died of pneumonia at age 84. He fought for greater resources and awareness of HIV, as well as for gay rights, during the 1980s and 1990s. Kramer was also a novelist and…
Arts May 25 How Mindy Kaling’s new Netflix series offers ‘a sense of community’ During this pandemic, people have turned to streaming entertainment services in record numbers. One of the bingeable offerings available is “Never Have I Ever,” a new series on Netflix from actor and producer Mindy Kaling. Amna Nawaz talks to one…