As we remember and mourn the loss of Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., we can take inspiration and solace from, not only his written speeches, but also in the works of a number of esteemed Black writers who themselves mourned, coped and mapped out their own blueprint for a better nation through their art in 1968.
January 12: American Playwright, Lorraine Hansberry Died, 1965
“In this full circle moment, Ms. Phylicia Rashad will take the training and skills that she honed as a student at Howard and exuded in an outstanding performing career, and she will share those pearls of wisdom with the next generation of students in the College of Fine Arts. Her passion for the arts and student success makes her a perfect fit for this role,” announced Howard’s Provost Anthony K. Wutoh.
The Rev. Dr. Michael Eric Dyson delivers another hard-hitting message with his new book, “What Truth Sounds Like: Robert F. Kennedy, James Baldwin and Our Unfinished Conversation About Race in America.” His latest work recounts a historic 1963 meeting between then-U.S. Attorney General Kennedy, novelist Baldwin and other Black activists and artists deeply involved in the civil rights movement and shows how issues discussed 55 years ago still remain unresolved. The powerful preacher, scholar, and national political commentator appears in Los Angeles this weekend to expound on the topic of race and hopes to inspire believers and nonbelievers alike to
The documentary tilted, “Lorraine Hansberry: Sighted Eyes/Feeling Heart” is part of PBS’s American Masters year-long series and Inspiring Woman online campaign.
This Week In Black History (January 11 – January 17)