Bruce L. Turner, descendant of Nat Turner, discusses the life and legacy of his great-great-great-grandfather. This was an event convened by Dr. Otis Williams and the African Psychology Student Association at Bowie State University.
Dhoruba bin-Wahad, formerly of the Black Panther Party and Black Liberation Army, also a former political prisoner, talks about his criticism of one of our previous interviews regarding Birth of a Nation. His is a critique from the perspective of one who himself engaged in armed rebellion and one who is concerned with the intellectual and academic treatment of histories with which they (we) are not properly engaged or about which they (we) are not properly informed.
Dr. Iyelli Ichile joined us to discuss Birth of a Nation, film, and the (un)known contributions, leadership and queendom of African women.
Dr. Leslie Alexander joined us to discuss her recently published review, ‘The Birth of a Nation’ Is an Epic Fail. Alexander is a professor in the Department of African American and African Studies at The Ohio State University, where she specializes in 19th century Black culture and political consciousness. She teaches courses on slavery, resistance movements, and historical accuracy in film. She is also author of African or American?: Black Identity and Political Activism in New York City, 1784-1861.
I was happily involved in this panel after a screening of Nate Parker’s Birth of a Nation today at the Library of Congress. Even with the unfortunate loss of the last 10 minutes of the panel it was a lively and important conversation.
