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Preacher Will Campbell discusses and reads from his book “Forty Acres and a Goat: A Memoir” and recounts his experience during the Civil Rights movement in the South. Studs plays “His Eye Is On The Sparrow” - Mahalia Jackson (1958).
Journalist, novelist, and historian George Feifer discusses his book “Tennozan,” focusing on Okinawa Island during World War II and the impact of the atomic bomb. Includes a 20 second test tone. Content Warning: This conversation includes racially and/or culturally derogatory language and/or negative depictions of Black and Indigenous people of color, women, and LGBTQI+ individuals. Rather than remove this content, we present it in the context of twentieth-century social history to acknowledge and learn from its impact and to inspire awareness and discussion.
Studs and Jules Feiffer read several of Feiffer’s political cartoons culminating in a performance of “Feiffer’s America.” The performance is preceded by Feiffer’s explanation of the inspiration behind these works. Feiffer attempts to answer what drives him to create these astute observations of political happenings, which are often used as an outlet for his anger regarding social and political events. Studs plays "On the Good Ship Lollipop" - Shirley Temple (1934).
Jules Feiffer and Studs read several of Feiffer's previous cartoons as they discuss his history as a cartoonist and his retrospective on display at the Walton Street Gallery in Chicago. Feiffer discusses his attempt to move away from political cartoons and instead shift focus to social commentary. Feiffer also discusses his play "Elliot Loves", a love story that captures the complications of love and the “gap” between the sexes.
Jules Feiffer discusses and reads from his children's graphic novel, "The Man in the Ceiling." The book has a central theme of overcoming failure and is slightly autobiographical in nature, with a comic book artist as its main character and author. Studs plays "Golliwog's Cakewalk" - Claude Debussy (1906-1908).
Jules Feiffer discusses his book “Jules Feiffer’s America: From Eisenhower to Reagan”, a retrospective that chronicles his years as a social and political cartoonist. Studs and Feiffer read through several of Feiffer’s cartoons featured in this book, working their way through the book in “eras” which are categorized based on the U.S. President of that particular time frame. Studs plays “Sh-Boom” - The Crew Cuts (1954), “Big Bad John” - Jimmy Dean (1961). “Yellow Submarine” - The Beatles (1966), and “Happy Days Are Here Again” - Casa Loma Orchestra.
According to Arnold Rampersad’s book, “Jackie Robinson: A Biography”, Jackie Robinson’s claim to fame was not soley being the first African American baseball player to play in the MLB, but Robinson was also a symbol of race relations and civil justice. Rampersad’s book also includes various stories of Robinson’s background & family life. Robinson was court martialed for not sitting in the back of a bus. Sadly, Robinson’s son, Jackie, Jr. could never handle being the son of Jackie Robinson and he turned to drugs.
Charles M. Hardin, political science professor, discusses his book, "Presidential Power and Accountability: Toward a New Constitution." Hardin discusses presidents from Roosevelt to Nixon and explores political parties and the Constitution and the role both play in the American Government. He explains his studies in political science and how he has come to believe that the Constitution should be re-written and creating more political parties could limit presidential powers, which he believes could cause problems in the future.
Author Laurence Shoup discusses his book, "The Carter Presidency and Beyond: Power and Politics in the 1980s," and explains how President Carter came to be elected. He describes the Trilateral Commission and other groups created by corporations and the richest American families to lobby. the government. He also discusses the Carter presidency and his double-dealing with major issues such as unions and regulating big businesses.