Episodes
| First Broadcast | Repeated | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| 20140109 | 20150615 (R4) |
In 1970, Berry Gordy, the founder of Motown, set up a Motown spoken word record label.
It was called Black Forum and recorded poetry, civil rights speeches, African-American soldiers in Vietnam and more. It closed in 1973 after eight releases. Those releases have started to attract interest with some reissued. They stand as a powerful testament to the African-American experience at a turbulent time in America.
The financial educator and spoken word record collector Alvin Hall listens to the recordings and talks to those involved in their creation.
Featuring: :
* Theatre director and producer Woodie King Jr., Producer of `Black Spirits: Festival of New Poets in America`, and `It's Nation Time: African Visionary Music`
* Professor Suzanne E Smith, author of "Dancing in the Street: Motown and the Cultural Politics of Detroit"
* Pat Thomas, author of "Listen Whitey: The Sights and Sounds of Black Power 1965 - 1975"
* Elaine Brown, singer/songwriter of the album `Elaine Brown` and former leader of the Black Panthers
* Suzanne de Passe, former Creative Director and President of Motown
* Amiri Baraka, star of `Black Spirits: Festival of New Poets in America`, `It's Nation Time: African Visionary Music` and civil rights activist, poet, and writer
Black Forum releases:
* Dr Martin Luther King Jr. - Why I Oppose The War In Vietnam
* Stokely Carmichael - Free Huey
* Langston Hughes and Margaret Danner - Writers Of The Revolution
* Guess Who's Coming Home - Black Fighting Men Recorded Live In Vietnam
* Ossie Davis and Bill Cosby - Address The Congressional Black Caucus
* Black Spirits - Festival of New Black Poets in America
* Imamu Amiri Baraka - It's Nation Time
* Elaine Brown - Elaine Brown
Producer: Ekene Akalawu
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in January 2014.
Alvin Hall on Motown's eight Black Forum spoken word records with the people behind them.
In 1970, Berry Gordy, the founder of Motown, set up a Motown spoken word record label.
It was called Black Forum and recorded poetry, civil rights speeches, African-American soldiers in Vietnam and more. It closed in 1973 after eight releases. Those releases have started to attract interest with some reissued. They stand as a powerful testament to the African-American experience at a turbulent time in America.
The financial educator and spoken word record collector Alvin Hall listens to the recordings and talks to those involved in their creation.
Featuring: :
* Theatre director and producer Woodie King Jr., Producer of `Black Spirits: Festival of New Poets in America`, and `It's Nation Time: African Visionary Music`
* Professor Suzanne E Smith, author of "Dancing in the Street: Motown and the Cultural Politics of Detroit"
* Pat Thomas, author of "Listen Whitey: The Sights and Sounds of Black Power 1965 - 1975"
* Elaine Brown, singer/songwriter of the album `Elaine Brown` and former leader of the Black Panthers
* Suzanne de Passe, former Creative Director and President of Motown
* Amiri Baraka, star of `Black Spirits: Festival of New Poets in America`, `It's Nation Time: African Visionary Music` and civil rights activist, poet, and writer
Black Forum releases:
* Dr Martin Luther King Jr. - Why I Oppose The War In Vietnam
* Stokely Carmichael - Free Huey
* Langston Hughes and Margaret Danner - Writers Of The Revolution
* Guess Who's Coming Home - Black Fighting Men Recorded Live In Vietnam
* Ossie Davis and Bill Cosby - Address The Congressional Black Caucus
* Black Spirits - Festival of New Black Poets in America
* Imamu Amiri Baraka - It's Nation Time
* Elaine Brown - Elaine Brown
Producer: Ekene Akalawu
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in January 2014.
Alvin Hall on Motown's eight Black Forum spoken word records with the people behind them.
| First Broadcast | Repeated | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| 20140109 | 20150615 (R4) |