Created by
Robinson, Brooks B. Ph.D., American
Interviewed by
Robinson, Brooks B. Ph.D., American
Makward, Edris PhD, Gambian
Interview of
Turner, Darwin, American, 1931 - 1991
Skerrett, Joseph, PhD, American, 1943 - 2015
Subject of
Toomer, Jean, American, 1894 - 1967
Yerby, Frank, American, 1916 - 1991
Wright, Richard, American, 1908 - 1960
Ralph Ellison, American, 1913 - 1994
Directed by
Cham, Robert
Date
1978
Medium
plastic and tape
Dimensions
H x W: 2 3/4 × 4 1/4 × 5/8 in. (7 × 10.8 × 1.6 cm)
Duration (side a): 15 min., 5 sec.
Duration (side b): 15 min., 4 sec.
Description
A white plastic audio cassette with recordings of two episodes of the Literary Corner radio show. The program number is handwritten on the cassette in graphite.
Side A: "Darwin Turner on Jean Toomer and Frank Yerby"
Episode 7 of the Literary Corner: Black Writers of the World radio program. It opens with Dr. Darwin Turner discussing some of the activities he is involved with, including editing material written by Jean Toomer and updating some of his essays as instrumental music plays in the background. This is followed by host Brooks Robinson introducing Dr. Turner as his guest and Profs. Edris Makward and Sarah Fabio as regular analysts that will participate in the discussion. One of the first questions posed to Dr. Turner is the extent to which the material he is working on relates to Cane, to which Turner responds that there is no relation although some of the works were prepared around the same time as Cane, such as his play Natalie Mann. Other topics discussed in the interview include Toomer's view of race in America; whether Toomer eschewed his Black background after publishing Cane; as well as whether Toomer resisted being referred as a Black writer after publishing Cane. In the second portion of the recording, Dr. Sarah Fabio leads a discussion on Frank Yerby, first asking Professor Turner to speak broadly about Yerby and his work. Some of the subjects discusses in this part of the program include whether Yerby, too, evaded racial identification in order to gain publication; a possible sequel to The Dahomean, that would be dedicated to Dr. Turner and his wife. The recording closes with
Side B: "Joseph Skerrett on Richard Wright and Ralph Ellison"
Episode 8 of the Literary Corner: Black Writers of the World radio program. It opens with host Brooks Robinson introducing his guest as Professor Joseph Skerrett and regular analyst Professor Sarah Fabio. Some of the topics discussed in the interview include comparisons between Wright's and Ellison's views on the role of the writer; the extent to which books by Black writers are addressed to white audiences; Wright's and Ellison's political ideologies; comparisons between how Wright and Ellison use their work. Toward the end of the discussion, Professor Turner also discusses some of Richard Wright's unpublished works that he encountered while doing research on the author.
Place printed
United States
Portfolio/Series
The Literary Corner: Black Writers of the World
Classification
Time-based Media - Audio
Movement
BAM (Black Arts Movement 1965-1976)
Type
audiotapes
Topic
Literature
Poetry
Radio
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
2010.17.1.4a
Restrictions & Rights
© Brooks B. Robinson
Permission required for use. Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
GUID
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd577f26dbd-8dcb-4715-8d12-1585ce8b6363

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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