Tavis Smiley and Cornel West Join Bootsy Collins at the NURFC for a High Voltage Discussion of African American Music
Tavis Smiley and Dr. Cornel West
Television host Tavis Smiley and historian Dr. Cornel West will join musician and entertainer Bootsy Collins Saturday at the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center for what promises to be a lively discussion of the cultural impact of African American music.
The trio’s presentation, which is free, will be in the Freedom Center’s 300-seat Harriet Tubman Theater from 2 – 4 pm. Radio One’s Faith Daniels will moderate the discussion. Smiley will speak about African-American Music from the broader pop cultural standpoint; and Dr. West will provide historical context.
Smiley’s exhibition on African-American culture, “America I Am,” is currently showing at the Cincinnati Museum Center. Smiley and West will hold a forum about that exhibition at 10 Saturday morning at the Museum Center, before coming to the Freedom Center for their conversation with Collins.
The event with Smiley, West and Collins provides the perfect accompaniment to the Freedom Center’s Textural Rhythms exhibition, a jazz inspired quilt exhibit, said the Freedom Center’s community programs manager, Charles Davis.
“All in one weekend, you have a well-known cultural critic and observer in Tavis Smiley, a high profile historian in Dr. Cornel West, and a Cincinnati musical icon in Bootsy Collins coming together at the Freedom Center to talk about music, at the same time we’re offering an exceptional exhibition on jazz and quilting – and with the Jazz Festival in town,” Davis said. “You can hardly beat that!”
This program is free and open to the public. Seating is first come, first serve. You must pay admission to tour the Freedom Center or view our current exhibition Textural Rhythms.
Wow!I was shocked [in a good way] when you did not let that innane comment by your guest about how the SEALS can never be second guessed in their actions. At first it seemed like you would be like everyone else in the media and not push back-but you actually did and that was a rare instance of the truth coming out . This false narrative and revisionist history is so much part of the media and that you had it in you to challenge the standard narrative about the SEALS-here that they chose to kill Osama and we cannot question[they are sacred cows morally and tactily] their actions- was a true breadth of fresh air.The common sense and obvious fact that they follow orders was something you saw fit to push back on even as your guest wanted to deny that.Just be aware Tavis that if you keep challening the innane false narratives ,you might find yourself out of a job in the mainstream media.Kudos for doing it -happy New Year.