Nation Mar 01 Making the case for a national day of remembrance for those lost to COVID-19 One of the most prominent voices advocating for a national day of remembrance for those lost to COVID-19 is Kristin Urquiza. She co-founded the advocacy group, Marked By COVID, after she lost her father to the pandemic last year. She…
Arts Mar 01 Andra Day on portraying Billie Holiday's signature voice and power In "The United States vs. Billie Holiday,” Andra Day’s performance reminds viewers of the power of the late singer's voice.
Arts Feb 26 Author Charles Yu on using satire to point out Asian American stereotypes The February pick for our ‘Now Read This’ book club was “Interior Chinatown," winner of the 2020 National Book Award. It’s a funny and biting satire of stereotypes of Asian Americans in popular culture. The book's author, Charles Yu, also…
Arts Feb 19 Wynton Marsalis meets the moment with jazz and a focus on the nation's founding principles Trumpet player, composer and jazz ambassador Wynton Marsalis is one of the country’s leading cultural figures. He is again meeting the moment with music, writing and recording his new composition "The Democracy! Suite" amid the pandemic. Jeffrey Brown has the…
World Feb 17 Applying the lessons of Ebola to the fight COVID-19 Dr. Paul Farmer has worked for decades to bolster public health care around the globe. His new book, “Fevers, Feuds and Diamonds: Ebola and the Ravages of History,” looks at the 2014 Ebola crisis and what we can learn from…
Arts Feb 16 Universities look to the past to understand their relationships with race In the aftermath of the killings by police of George Floyd and other black men and women, American institutions of all kinds have looked to their past and present to understand their relationships to race and racism. That reckoning continues…
Arts Feb 15 Henry Louis Gates Jr. on his new series 'The Black Church' A new four-part series, “The Black Church: This Is Our Story, This is Our Song," premieres Tuesday on PBS. It’s a sweeping history of religion, politics and culture led by Henry Louis Gates Jr., the noted Harvard scholar and host…
Arts Feb 10 A leading playwright and a pioneering virologist marry science and art on stage A new interactive theatrical production, "The Catastrophist," follows the story of a scientist thrilled by discovery and pained by loss. It was written by playwright Lauren Gunderson about her husband's life as a leading researcher into the causes and effects…
Arts Feb 05 Broadway's closure exposes its sway on the economic ecosystem Prior to the pandemic, Broadway was booming. But curtains haven’t risen since March, with deep personal and financial impacts. By one count, Broadway is directly responsible for nearly 100,000 jobs in New York City alone and, as a leading attraction…
Arts Feb 04 As the pandemic rages on, finding ways to mourn and remember Even as the pandemic rages on and deaths mount, communities, individuals and the federal government are finding ways to honor and keep loved ones close to their hearts. Jeffrey Brown reports for our arts and culture series, "CANVAS."…