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Strange Fruit: Tarell Alvin McCraney, And Black Art For Black People

OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network

This week we’re joined by Tarell Alvin McCraney, chair of play writing at the Yale School of Drama, 2013 recipient of a MacArthur Fellows Genius Grant, and the 2017 Academy Award winner for Best Adapted Screenplay for  Moonlight.

McCraney’s newest endeavor is his first television project, an original scripted series for Oprah Winfrey’s OWN Network called  David Makes Man. The compelling lyrical drama will premiereon August 14. 

David Makes Man centers on a 14-year-old prodigy from the projects of South Miami who is haunted by the death of his closest friend, and relied on by his hardworking mother to find a way out of poverty. We discuss the show, its phenomenal ensemble cast, his life since Moonlight, and how important it is for him to create Black art for Black people. 

Later in the show we speak to culture writer Beandrea July about the new documentary Toni Morrison: The Pieces I AmWe discuss the themes of the documentary, Morrison’s legacy as a writer, and the resistance and criticism Morrison encountered from many other writers when it came to celebrating and honoring the brilliance of her work.

In our Juicy Fruit segment this week, the model who cried “ trans.” And even the bell can’t save “Saved By the Bell” actor and  Extra TV host Mario Lopez from the  backlash after his recent commentary that supporting trans children is “dangerous.”

Listen to the show:

Why does Louisville have so many fish fries?

Jaison Gardner is co-creator and co-host of Louisville Public Media's "Strange Fruit" podcast. His work focuses on race, gender, and LGBTQ issues.