George is one of this country's most prominent chroniclers of black music and culture. He was the black music editor at "Billboard" for seven years and is a regular columnist for the "Village Voice." His new book "Buppies, B-Boys, Baps and Bohos: Notes on Post-Soul Black Culture," is a collection of his writings about the last two decades in Black urban culture. George also edited the book, "Stop the Violence," a collaboration of top rappers working to end black-on-black violence.
Reverend Youngblood is the leader of St. Paul Community Baptist Church in one of Brooklyn's poorest and most dangerous neighborhoods. Youngblood came to the church and turned it around from a dying institution to a thriving center for religious and community activity. It has created a school and, through innovative programs, brought young black men back into the church. St. Paul's has also, as part of a coalition with other churches, built housing in the area and replaced brothels and numbers joints. "Upon This Rock: The Miracles of a Black Church" by Samuel G.
Serrano's 1987 photograph, "Piss Christ," showed the figure of Christ on a cross in a pool of urine. It was one of the controversial art works which provoked a storm from the political-right. His work was denounced on the Senate floor by Senator Jesse Helms, who then began a crusade against the National Endowment for Arts. Serrano has a new exhibit of photographs taken of dead bodies, called "The Morgue."
Neely has brought a strong African-American female voice to the genre. The heroine of her debut book, "Blanche on the Lam," is Blanche White, a 40-year old housekeeper with big thighs, a wry sense of humor, and a jaundiced view of the rich. Blanche is on the lam from a 30-day jail sentence for a bad check; she can hide in plain sight, because of her invisibility as a black housekeeper. One reviewer writes though the book works well as a crime novel, it's "less about a mysterious murder. . .
Commentator Maureen Corrigan reviews "Flaubert - Sand: The Correspondence," translated by Francis Steepmuller and Barbara Bray. It's a collection of the more than 400 letters between French writers Gustave Flaubert and George Sand.
Journalist Phillip Longman specializes in politics and public policy. He'll talk with Terry about President Clinton's proposal to a impose higher-income tax on Social Security benefits for individuals with incomes over $25,000 and couples over $32,000. Longman is the author of "Born to Pay: The New Politics of Aging in America."
Psychologist and writer Carol Tavris. Her latest book, "The Mismeasure of Woman," looks at the widespread but unacknowledged custom of defining norms according to men's bodies and behavior. Tavris shows that the real differences in gender are in power, resources, and life experiences. She also wrote a review of two books dealing with incest, called "Beware the Incest-Survivor Machine," for The New York Times Book Review. In it, she calls for a more reasoned, cautious approach to a very complicated issue. The review received a fire-storm of letters from readers.
Turturro co-starred in Spike Lee's film, "Do the Right Thing." He's a favorite of the Coen Brothers, appearing in "Miller's Crossing," and "Barton Fink." Turturro just wrote, directed, and starred in the new movie, "Mac," based on his father.
Poet, journalist, and critic Luis Rodriguez's new book, "Always Running: La Vida Loca, Gang Days in L.A." is about his participation in gang life in the 1960s in East L.A., which began at age 12. By the time he was 18, 25 of his friends had been killed. After a stint in the county jail, Rodriguez turned his back on that lifestyle. He became involved in the Chicano movement, and was encouraged to write. "Always Running," is in part an attempt to save his 16-year-old son Ramiro from gang life. Ramiro joins the conversation later in the segment.
Book critic John Leonard reviews "Monnew," a novel by West African writer Amadou Kourouma. It imagines the history and politics of a fictional country based on Kourouma's native Ivory Coast.
Nishikawa's one-man show "I'm on a Mission from Buddha," is about some of the culturally-based absurdities he's endured as a Japanese-American. Nishikawa said he wrote it to answer, "all the nerdy, cliche-ridden, Asian-American images." His characters include a Japanese-American World War Two hero and a Sushi-phobic redneck. "I'm on a Mission from Buddha," can also be seen on PBS.
Book critic John Leonard remarks on the fourth anniversary of the death-sentence that sent writer Salman Rushdie into hiding. He says that, despite support from the literary community, Rushdie has been unfairly mocked by critics and journalists.
Civil Rights attorney Chai Feldblum, visiting professor, Georgetown University Law Center. She was also former legislative counsel to the AIDS and Lesbian and Gay Rights projects of the ACLU. She's talks about recent legislation and court decisions that support or curtail gay rights.
Ramis is one of the most influential forces behind some of the biggest comedy hits of the late 70s and 80s. But his influence is not generally known by those outside the industry. Ramis wrote for "The National Lampoon Show," and "SCTV." He co-wrote as well as acted in the movies, "Animal House," "Stripes," "Ghostbusters," and others. He directed the new movie, "Groundhog Day," starring Bill Murray.
Co-founder of the working women's advocacy group, "9 to 5," Karen Nussbaum. She helped found the group 20 years ago. Guest host Marty Moss-Coane will talk with her about the the changing role of women in the workplace in the last twenty years, and concerns like childcare.
TV critic David Bianculli reviews the sequel to "Prime Suspect," the miniseries on PBS about a woman who becomes a chief inspector, played by Helen Mirren.
