Created by
Robinson, Brooks B. Ph.D., American
Interview of
Kunene, Daniel, PhD, South African, 1923 - 2016
February, Vernon, South African, 1938 - 2002
Brathwaite, Edward PhD, Barbadian, 1930 - 2020
Subject of
Eersel, Hein, Surinamese, born 1922
Directed by
Cham, Robert
Date
1978
Medium
plastic and tape
Dimensions
H x W (audiocassette): 2 3/4 × 4 1/4 × 5/8 in. (7 × 10.8 × 1.6 cm)
Duration (side a): 00:15:07
Duration (side b): 00:14:47
Description
A white plastic cassette tape with recordings of two episodes of the radio program The Literary Corner. The cassette has a beige label on which typewritten text on one side reads [THE LITERARY CORNER / Vernon February]. The typewritten text on the other side reads [THE LITERARY CORNER / Edward Braithwaite].
Side A: “Vernon February’s Life and Works”
Episode 20 of the Literary Corner radio program. It is a discussion of creole literature and Professor February’s works entitled “Vernon February’s Life and Works.” The episode begins with Professor February commenting on the role black writers should play in the world before host Brooks Robinson formally introduces February to the audience. Some of the topics covered in this episode include Professor February’s inspiration for researching creole literature; a comparison between Negritude (Francophone) writers and Surinamese writers; a discussion of the works of the Surinamese scholar Heim Eersel. Additionally, Professor February reads some of his own poetry and poetry by Hein Eersel; poems such as “They Shoot Children, Don’t They” and several others.
Side B: “Edward Brathwaite’s Life and Works”
Episode 21 of the Literary Corner radio program entitled “Edward Brathwaite’s Life and Works.” It begins with host Brooks Robinson introducing his guest Edward Brathwaite. Some of the subjects discussed in this episode are Brathwaite’s childhood and his Methodist upbringing; the impact of emigrating to England on his writing, such as his experience of racism; the impact of emigrating to Ghana on his writing, and the way African culture helped him appreciate the Caribbean; the relationship between Africa and the New World; cultural, linguistic and phenotypical similarities between Ghanaians and West Indians; the connection between his work in Jamaica and his previous work. Additionally, he reads two of the poems from his book Rites of Passage. The episode concludes with Brathwaite reciting his poem “Starvation” in a West Indian dialect as the outro music plays.
Place made
United States, North and Central America
Place depicted
Netherlands, Europe
Suriname, Caribbean, South America
South Africa, Africa
Barbados, Caribbean, North and Central America
Ghana, West Africa, Africa
Portfolio/Series
The Literary Corner: Black Writers of the World
Classification
Media Arts-Audio Recordings
Movement
BAM (Black Arts Movement 1965-1976)
Anti-apartheid movements
Type
audiotapes
Topic
Literature
Methodist
Poetry
Radio
Religion
Violence
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Contributed in memory of Professor Sarah Webster Fabio (1928-1979), poet, educator, Black Arts Movement icon, and one of the Literary Corner's analysts.
Object number
2010.17.1.11a
Restrictions & Rights
© Brooks B. Robinson
Permission required for use. Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
GUID
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd53284cdab-850d-4ff9-bc6b-502be2fa292f

Cataloging is an ongoing process and we may update this record as we conduct additional research and review. If you have more information about this object, please contact us at NMAAHCDigiTeam@si.edu

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