Being enamored with Rosa Luxemburg's life resulted in Donna Blue Lachman's play, "The Language of Birds: Rosa Luxemburg and Me." The play is of Luxemburg reading letters or of her talking to birds. At one point, Lachman wanted to quit writing the play, noting it was too difficult to finish. Remembering the strong and courageous revolutionary Luxemburg was made her complete the play.
In her book, “Liberty Denied: The Current Rise of Censorship in America,” Donna Demac points out that we, as a society, are not as free as we think we are. Demac can’t understand why anyone would want to keep people from reading great pieces of literature. While some groups called certain books anti-Christian, Demac said no one has ever died from reading a four-letter word.
Discussing the book "Biko" with the author Donald Woods.
Author and historian Donald Sassoon discusses his book “One Hundred Years of Socialism: The West European Left in the Twentieth Century.” Sassoon discusses the history of socialism in European countries and the social and political circumstances that lead to socialist revivals. Studs plays "The Internationale (Recording of 1944)" - Arturo Toscanini, NBC Symphony Orchestra, The Westminster Choir.
Studs talks with Donald Johanson about his book "Lucy: The Beginnings of Humankind," in which the famed paleoanthropologist describes his discovery of the female hominin fossil in Ethiopia. The conversation includes talk of Charles Darwin, Eugène Dubois' Java Man discovery, what makes a hominid, holes in the fossil record, fossil dating, his disagreements with Louis and Richard Leakey, site discovery, and his belief that the Hadar Formation in the Afar Triangle of Ethiopia holds the keys to the evolutionary puzzle. Includes snippets of the Beatles' "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds."
Donald Gramm discusses working with composers and comparing contemporary and classical opera. He also talks about his approaches to different performances and his experiences singing in multiple languages. Music is played throughout the interview and performances include his role as Creon from Stravinsky's "Oedipus Rex"and selections from Ned Rorem's "War Scenes": "As Adam", "O You Whom", "To You", "Look Down, Fair Moon", and "A Night Battle". Next, a performance as Leporello singing "Madamina, il catalogo è questo" from "Don Giovanni" and "Zwei Gesänge, Op. 1: I.
"Toms, Coons, Mulattoes, Mammies and Bucks: An Interpretive History of Blacks in American Films is Donald Bogle's study of Black actors and the roles they played in movies. Bogle believed it was important for Black people to see Black heroes in movies. Bogle concluded there were too few roles available for Black actors and too many roles were of stereotypes.
South African exiles Donald and Wendy Woods discuss the anti-apartheid movement in South Africa and their exile. The two describe their ignorance to the privilege they experienced as white people in South Africa during Apartheid, an ignorance they maintained until meeting and forming a relationship with the founder of the Black Consciousness movement, Steve Biko. Studs plays "Kwela Blues" - Lemmy Special Mabaso.
American singer-songwriter Don McLean discusses his career and events in the 1960s and 1970s that have influenced his music.
Don McLean discusses his career and his music. Don McLean discusses his influences, life experiences, and his songwriting.
Terkel comments and presents Don Luce reading poetry
Don Gold, writer and editor, discusses his book "Bellevue: A Documentary of a Large Metropolitan Hospital." He recounts his time spent following doctors and nurses in Bellevue in New York City and discusses how healthcare has become depersonalized. The conversation involves patients who are dealing with mental illnesses, abortions, attempted suicide and the terminally ill. The interview includes reading of passages from his book.
Anti-war activist Don Luce and Doan Hong Hai, a visiting student from a village near Saigon, talk about the bombing and defoliation of Vietnam.*Please note: some sections have been edited out from the original recording due to copyright considerations