Arts

Richard Roundtree pictured in August 1972.

Arts

Richard Roundtree, star of 'Shaft,' dies at 81

12:14pm October 25, 2023

by Neda Ulaby

Private eye John Shaft was a new kind of figure in film: unapologetically Black with swagger. He clapped back at white cops, he busted mobsters, and helped create the entire genre of Blaxploitation.

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Scholastic says it will stop offering the controversial collection of race- and gender-related titles at middle school book fairs starting in January.

Scholastic backtracks, saying it will stop separating diverse books for fairs in 2024

11:34am October 25, 2023

by Rachel Treisman

Scholastic faced backlash for putting books dealing with race, gender and sexuality in their own optional category for middle school book fairs. It's now apologizing and working to reverse course.

'The Comfort of Crows' is fuel to restore spirts in dealing with ecological grief

9:53am October 25, 2023

by Barbara J. King

Here the New York Times columnist and author of Late Migrations and Graceland Margaret Renkl brings alive in 52 chapters her love for the animals and plants in her yard and nearby parks in Tennessee.

Some religious leaders say they're struggling to navigate Israel-Hamas crisis

8:08pm October 24, 2023

by Jason DeRose

Worry over a backlash from expressing support or sympathy for either side in the Israel-Hamas crisis is leaving some Muslim and Jewish friends feeling abandoned.

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Northern Irish trio Kneecaps raps about politics and the desire for a united Ireland

5:07pm October 24, 2023

by Fatima Al-Kassab

The Belfast trio Kneecap raps in Irish. Their popularity reflects a demographic shift: Catholics now outnumber Protestants there. Experts say Irish reunification isn't a matter of 'if' but 'when.'

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Books
Arts

'Charlie Chaplin vs. America' explores the accusations that sent a star into exile

1:38pm October 24, 2023

by Terry Gross

Author Scott Eyman explains how Chaplin was smeared in the press, scandalized for his affairs with young women, condemned for his alleged communist ties and banned from returning to the U.S.

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Acclaimed writer Viet Thanh Nguyen reading in 2017. His cancelled reading at 92NY led to staffers at the cultural center resigning.

Books
Arts

Staff at NYC cultural center resign after acclaimed author's event canceled

11:26am October 24, 2023

by Andrew Limbong

After a talk by Pulitzer winner Viet Thanh Nguyen was "postponed," some authors also pulled out of future events. The writer had signed an open letter criticizing Israel and calling for a ceasefire.

Books
Arts

'Let Us Descend' follows a slave on a painful journey — finding some hope on the way

10:27am October 24, 2023

by Gabino Iglesias

Jesmyn Ward's narrative forces readers to look at our country's ugly past and face the lingering effects of history — but it also tells a story of perseverance and the power of the spiritual world.

In Hijabs Off, comic Zainab Johnson jokes about dating and growing up Muslim in Harlem, one of 13 siblings.

Arts

With 12 siblings, comic Zainab Johnson has plenty to joke about in new special

5:02am October 24, 2023

by Elizabeth Blair

Comedian, writer and actor Zainab Johnson turns personal chaos into comedy. In her new special, Hijabs Off, she talks about being a Black Muslim, growing up in Harlem, having 12 siblings, and dating.

'The House of Doors' by Tan Twan Eng explores frustrated love on a diverse island

6:13pm October 23, 2023

NPR's Ari Shapiro speaks with author Tan Twan Eng about his latest book, The House of Doors, a decade shifting novel delving into tragedy, cultural dissonance and memory loss.

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