Left of Black Celebrates Black Female Artists Julie Dash and Lizz Wright on Next Episode [October 3, 2011]

Filmmaker Julie Dash joins host and Duke University Professor Mark Anthony Neal on Left of Black. This year marks the 20^th Anniversary of the release of Dash’s ground-breaking film Daughters of the Dust which was the first feature by an African-American woman to gain national theatrical release. The film draws on Dash’s South Carolina heritage and focuses on three generations of women with roots in the Sea Islands and Gullah culture. Dash discusses how she became a filmmaker and the challenges she faced along the way. Dash also reveals her surprising view of filmmaker Tyler Perry.

In the second segment, musical artist and vocalist Lizz Wright joins Neal. The Georgia born singer discusses how her family’s tradition in storytelling inspired her career as a vocalist. Wright, whose music is difficult to place in one genre, talks about incorporating religion into her music as well. Wright also identifies the musicians who influenced her and the inspiration for her album artwork. Finally Wright explains how she’s maintained control of her music. Wright has released four full-length recordings, including the recent Fellowship. She performs at Duke University’s Reynolds Industries Theater on October 7^th.

Left of Black airs at 1:30 p.m. (EST) on Mondays on Duke’s Ustream channel: ustream.tv/dukeuniversity. Viewers are invited to participate in a Twitter conversation with Neal and featured guests while the show airs using hash tags #LeftofBlack or #dukelive.

Left of Black is recorded and produced at the John Hope Franklin Center of International and Interdisciplinary Studies at Duke University.

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