Entertainment
What James Earl Jones can teach us about activism and art in times of crisis
James Earl Jones starred in “The Great White Hope,” exploring a boxer’s life reflecting race and cultural struggles, symbolizing a different form of activism.
Dominic Taylor, University of California, Los Angeles
The death of James Earl Jones has forced me to consider the end of an era.
Harry Belafonte, Sidney Poitier and Jones were giants in my industry. They were Black performers whose ascents to stardom occurred in the tumultuous 1960s, when I was an infant. All three were politically active, although each operated in a significantly different way.
In 1967, there were more than 150 riots fueled by racial tensions in U.S. cities. Many Americans worried that the nation would implode over racial conflict, and President Lyndon B. Johnson appointed the Kerner Commission to study the sources of racial turmoil.
At the time, Jones was an actor of growing renown on television and the theatrical stage. He had performed in “Danton’s Death” on Broadway and was featured on NBC’s “Tarzan,” among other projects.
Jones found himself grappling with a question that has roiled many artists, then and now: In troubling times, what is an artist to do?
He didn’t give rousing speeches, as Belafonte did. Nor did he hand-deliver cash to student activists in Mississippi during the Freedom Summer, as Poitier had done.
Instead, Jones decided to work on a play about a boxer, “The Great White Hope,” which had been written by Howard Sackler at Arena Stage, a Washington-based theater company in the growing regional theater movement.
Embodying Black power
While cities were burning all over America, why would an actor hoping to make a difference sign on to play a boxer? If they aren’t willing to put their life on the line, shouldn’t they at least work on a play about the Civil Rights Movement, racism or police brutality?
However, “The Great White Hope” wasn’t a simple, sentimental sports drama. Sackler based the play’s protagonist, Jack Jefferson, on boxer Jack Johnson, who became the first Black heavyweight champion in 1908.
African Americans riotously celebrated Johnson, who had captured the title just 45 years after the Emancipation Proclamation. In the face of virulent Jim Crow racism, Johnson stood as a man who, if given a fair shot, could beat anyone.
In his book “A Beautiful Pageant: African American Theatre, Drama and Performance in the Harlem Renaissance, 1910-1927,” theater historian David Krasner argues that Johnson’s victory was one of the key events that fueled the Harlem Renaissance, the Black intellectual and cultural movement that birthed jazz music, the poetry of Langston Hughes, the writings of Zora Neale Hurston and the sculptures of Augusta Savage.
The confidence Johnson inspired was contagious: If a Black man could handily beat a white man in a boxing ring, there was no reason Black artists and writers couldn’t fashion groundbreaking works, plumbing their lives and their histories – as Hurston did – to become champions of Black culture.
The play is written in three acts, and it follows Jefferson and his fictional white lover, Eleanor Bachman, from 1908 to 1915. After Jefferson wins the title, the government hounds the couple, in part because of their interracial romance. Officials eventually detain them as they enter Ohio under the Mann Act, a law ostensibly enacted to halt prostitution but often used to intimidate interracial couples. The government tells Jefferson that it will drop the charges if he’s willing to throw a fight to an inferior white boxer.
Jones won a Tony Award for his portrayal of a Black man possessed with talent, confidence and strength, whose biggest problem was that he simply refused to stay in his lane. https://www.youtube.com/embed/IVyvwZ_Yh0g?wmode=transparent&start=0 A scene from the 1970 film version of ‘The Great White Hope,’ which also starred James Earl Jones.
A different kind of fighter
Boxer Muhammad Ali was also a big fan of Jones’ performance.
Ali had been stripped of his heavyweight title in 1967 because he was a conscientious objector to the Vietnam War, refusing to enlist after being drafted. When Ali saw “The Great White Hope,” he felt like he was looking in the mirror.
“You just change the time, date and the details and it’s about me!” Life magazine quoted him saying.
It’s strange to think about how historical events can be distilled into emotions like fear, love, jealousy and righteousness. But James Earl Jones was somehow able to hold a Black boxer who loved a white woman in conversation with someone unable to bring himself to fight in Vietnam.
Jones probably knew that a performance on a stage seen by a few thousand people would do little to end the Vietnam War, racial inequality or police brutality.
But I think Jones was looking to change the culture. He was trying to change the country’s understanding of what it means to fight – and what a freedom fighter is.
Is a fighter someone who knocks out their opponent? Or someone who follows their heart? Is a fighter someone who takes up arms at the behest of their government? Or is a fighter someone who’s willing to risk their livelihood for their values?
Sometimes, activism can be as simple as making art to the best of your abilities – or, as W.E.B. Du Bois wrote, “to use beauty to set the world right.”
Dominic Taylor, Acting Chair of Theater, School of Theater, Film and Television, University of California, Los Angeles
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
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podcasts
Does magic really exist? The Conversation’s Curious Kids podcast
Julia, a curious seven-year-old, wonders if scientific explanations will diminish the magic of phenomena like rainbows and Northern Lights, explored in The Conversation’s Curious Kids podcast.
Eloise Stevens, The Conversation
Seven-year-old Julia in London thinks that rainbows and the Northern Lights are magical. But if a scientist tells her how they work, will she still believe they are? Join us to find out on The Conversation’s Curious Kids podcast!
Featuring Partha Chowdhury, professor of physics at UMass Lowell in the US.
This is the last episode in the first season of The Conversation’s Curious Kids podcast, published in partnership with FunKids, the UK’s children’s radio station. It’s hosted and produced by Eloise. The executive producer is Gemma Ware.
Email your question to curiouskids@theconversation.com or record it and send your question to us directly at funkidslive.com/curious.
And explore more articles from our Curious Kids series on The Conversation.
Disclosure statement:
Partha Chowdhury does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Eloise Stevens, Host, The Conversation’s Curious Kids podcast, The Conversation
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
The science section of our news blog STM Daily News provides readers with captivating and up-to-date information on the latest scientific discoveries, breakthroughs, and innovations across various fields. We offer engaging and accessible content, ensuring that readers with different levels of scientific knowledge can stay informed. Whether it’s exploring advancements in medicine, astronomy, technology, or environmental sciences, our science section strives to shed light on the intriguing world of scientific exploration and its profound impact on our daily lives. From thought-provoking articles to informative interviews with experts in the field, STM Daily News Science offers a harmonious blend of factual reporting, analysis, and exploration, making it a go-to source for science enthusiasts and curious minds alike. https://stmdailynews.com/category/science/
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Entertainment
Linkin Park reform with a new singer – three other bands that have successfully done the same
Glenn Fosbraey, University of Winchester
Linkin Park 2024
Linkin Park have announced that they are reforming, seven years after disbanding due to the death of lead singer Chester Bennington.
Along with the announcement of a six-date international tour and the promised release of new music, it was also revealed that Emily Armstrong, formerly of the Los Angeles group Dead Sara, would be joining founding member Mike Shinoda on co-lead singer duties.
One of the most successful bands of the streaming age, and the only band to feature in Spotify’s top ten most-streamed albums of all time, Linkin’ Park’s legion of fans are divided on Armstrong’s appointment. Many are simply happy to see them return, but others have been critical of the decision to keep using the band name in the absence of Bennington.
Linkin Park are by no means the first band to enter a second phase after the loss of their lead singer. Here are three other notable examples.
1. Queen
How do you replace a singer who many believe is the greatest of all time? That’s the conundrum Queen faced when they decided to continue following the death of Freddie Mercury in 1991.
The surviving band members had a taste of performing with a different frontman during the following year’s Concert for Freddie Mercury, where George Michael’s performance of Somebody to Love stealing the show. After that, they had a go at trying to do it in-house, with Brian May and Roger Taylor sharing the vocals on the 1997 single No-One but You (Only the Good Die Young).
Then, after losing another quarter of the original lineup when bassist John Deacon called it a day, Paul Rodgers took on mic duties between 2004 and 2009.
Adam Lambert became the latest to fill Freddie Mercury’s Adidas high-tops in 2011 – a position he still holds today. Though the band has always performed as Queen + Paul Rodgers or Queen + Adam Lambert, never fully taking the plunge to officially “replace” Freddy.
2. New Order
Post-punk purveyors of gloom Joy Division may have ceased to exist following the death of frontman Ian Curtis – but it didn’t signal the end of the surviving band members’ creative output.
Rising phoenix-like from the ashes of their old group only a few months later as New Order, guitarist Bernard Sumner was recast as the lead singer. Gillian Gilbert turned the trio back to a quartet when she joined the ranks to play guitar and keyboards.
Gradually morphing from their post-punk roots to reinvent themselves as a dance and electronic act, with the release of Blue Monday in 1983, they made the move from indie darlings to bona fide superstars. Forty-four years on from their (re)birth and still going strong, New Order’s story is one of both survival and revival.
3. AC/DC
Following the death of original singer Bon Scott in February 1980, AC/DC acted swiftly to appoint new vocalist Brian Johnson in time to begin recording new material in April that year.
With 50 million units sold and the title of biggest selling rock album of all time, the resulting album Back in Black undoubtedly marks AC/DC’s commercial high point.
The five albums released with Scott at the microphone are often more celebrated by the critics but with 11 studio albums under his belt – and the last three reaching number one in many countries around the globe with multi-platinum sales – it’s hard to see Johnson’s tenure as anything but a massive success. Though the argument about which singer is better continues to rumble on with fans.
Moving on
In the case of the reformed Linkin Park, Shinoda has spoken about feeling empowered by the new lineup, seeing it as the beginning of a new chapter in the band’s history rather than “erasing its past” – an accusation some critics have levelled at him.
We’ll never know what Bennington himself would think, of course, but these words from an interview with Kerrang Radio shortly before his death might reassure Shinoda that he’s doing the right thing: “What matters is that you took the chance to do something that you felt was important to you and that’s what being an artist is all about.”
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Glenn Fosbraey, Associate Dean of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Winchester
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
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ST. LOUIS, Sept. 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ – Excitement is in the air as Dave & Buster’s prepares to unveil its completely reimagined location in St. Louis on Friday, September 27! Situated at 13857 Riverport Drive in Maryland Heights, the ultimate destination for dining and entertainment is back and better than ever, promising a day filled with fun, food, and fantastic games.
A Fresh Take on Fun
The newly updated Dave & Buster’s location brings a thrilling blend of dining and entertainment, perfect for families and friends looking to make unforgettable memories together. With its innovative gaming activities and new ways to engage with one another, this reimagined venue is designed to elevate your gameplay experience.
Here’s what you can look forward to:
The Arena
Step into The Arena, a game-changing experience exclusive to Dave & Buster’s! This wall-to-wall gaming environment offers guests an array of ways to connect, compete, and conquer alongside their friends. For a limited time, you can dive into this cutting-edge gameplay for just $5 per person, per session! With a transparent exterior and room for up to eight players, The Arena sets the stage for intense competition with intuitive tracking technologies and immersive media.
Interactive Social Bays
Looking for that next level of fun? The Interactive Social Bays are here to redefine the way you play! Enjoy high-tech activities like High-Tech Darts and Social Shuffleboarding in reservable suites for two to six players. These exciting games feature mind-blowing digital interactivity that makes socializing even more engaging and fun!
Immersive Watch Experience
Calling all sports fans! The brand-new Watch Experience elevates game day to a whole new level. Featuring a jaw-dropping 40-foot screen and surround sound, every seat is the best in the house. With additional oversized HDTVs surrounding the bar, you’ll catch all the action in style!
Evolved Menu
Bring your appetite because the revamped chef-crafted menu is packed with new and improved mouthwatering options! There’s something for everyone, whether you’re looking for classic pub fare or innovative new flavors.
Sleek New Design
Prepare to be wowed as you enter a vibrant, tech-forward environment that sets the perfect backdrop for eating, drinking, playing, and watching your favorite games!
Midway & Prizes
Dave & Buster’s wouldn’t be complete without its iconic Midway! With over 120 games, virtual reality experiences, and epic prizes waiting to be won, you’ll never run out of entertainment options. Plus, our Social Bays are available for booking private group events that are unforgettable!
Grand Opening Excitement
Don’t miss the grand opening on September 27! The first 200 people in line will receive free games for a year—a deal that’s too good to pass up! Doors open at 11 a.m., so be sure to arrive early to secure your spot and kickstart a year of gaming fun! Terms and conditions apply.
Celebrate with us during the opening day special, featuring a $5 Happy Hour where you can sip on delicious drinks like the new Tres Tequila Rita, 22 oz. Domestic Drafts, wine, Backwoods Blueberry Lemonade, and the ever-popular D&B Long Island Iced Tea.
Hours of Operation:
- Monday-Friday: 11 a.m. – Midnight
- Saturday: 10 a.m. – 1 a.m.
- Sunday: 10 a.m. – Midnight
Join us for an epic entertainment experience at Dave & Buster’s St. Louis! For more information, visit www.daveandbusters.com.
Gather your crew and join us as we embark on this thrilling new chapter in St. Louis! 🎉🏓🍔
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