© 2024 WMRA and WEMC
WMRA : More News, Less Noise WEMC: The Valley's Home for Classical Music
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Maya Angelou's Black History Month Special

May Angelou
May Angelou

Maya Angelou defines Black History, as it is embraced in our popular culture with an emphasis on the civil rights era and a poetic acknowledgement of late activist, Rosa Parks.

Maya Angelou's Black History Month Special takes us from the 1950's thru the 1990's.

Dr. Maya Angelou renders a poetic portrait of the day-to-day lives of African Americans during the civil rights era, when artists and activists, musicians and ministers joined hands with people from all walks of life to bring about a historic change in our culture.

Program Highlights:

  • Congressman John Lewis, and fellow Presidential Medal of Freedom 2011 recipient, shares some of his experiences during the Freedom Rides of 1961 and the civil rights era.
  • Nikky Finney, winner of the 2011 National Book Award for Poetry, discusses her critically acclaimed acceptance speech and shares stories of growing up in a civil rights family, as she talks about how her work was impacted by the era.
  • Singer and songwriter Mary J. Blige, who will play Nina Simone in an upcoming film, discusses her five year preparation for the role aimed at encouraging and educating a new generation on the life and times of the singer and civil rights activist.
  • Economist and Bennett College President Dr. Julianne Malveaux discusses the impact of the Civil Rights movement on education, economics and how knowledge has begun to translate into a new prosperity with continued challenges.
  • Ambassador Andrew Young talks about his relationship with Martin Luther King and the fight for equality during a time when separate but equal was not enough.
Matt Bingay is the Executive Director and General Manager for WMRA and WEMC.