Daphne A. Brooks

Daphne A. Brooks, a Yale scholar specializing in Black music and feminist sound, joins to explore the legacy of Roberta Flack. They reminisce about Flack's profound impact, from her ethereal delivery in 'The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face' to her powerful duet with Donny Hathaway. Brooks connects Flack's quietness to Black resistance, emphasizing how her music shaped cultural memory and personal identity. The duo also reflects on Flack’s enduring relevance and her exclusion from music canons, asserting her rightful place in popular culture.

Martha Cutter, a professor at the University of Connecticut, dives into the incredible story of Henry Box Brown, an enslaved man who ingeniously mailed himself to freedom in the 1840s. Alongside Yale's Daphne Brooks and William R. Keenan, Jr., they explore Brown's transformation from a fugitive to a celebrated performer who used his escape box in subversive magic acts. The discussion highlights his legacy within the abolitionist movement, the complexities of identity after escape, and the lingering impacts of slavery on today's society.

Daphne A. Brooks, a music and Black feminism scholar, joins the discussion to unpack Beyoncé's Cowboy Carter-themed NFL halftime show and its implications. They explore whether Beyoncé is America’s greatest propagandist and the type of America she promotes. The conversation delves into the complexities of propaganda in pop culture, the role of artists in shaping political narratives, and the contradictions within Black popular culture. Brooks emphasizes the importance of critically engaging with media messages and recognizing the narrative power of art.