Welcome to the inaugural episode of Scribe, a podcast series by Kingmakers of Oakland dedicated to celebrating the brilliance, history, and impact of Black authors, writers, and filmmakers .

In this episode, we sit down with acclaimed author and retired UC Berkeley professor Cecil Brown to discuss his work, James Baldwin's World . Recorded live in West Oakland, the panel features Grammy-winning musician Roger Glenn and retired professor and poet Cecil Ciscrown .

Key Topics Covered:

• James Baldwin’s life in exile and his mastery of language
• Literary dynamics with Richard Wright, Norman Mailer, and William Styron
• The history and liberating impact of Black musicians and artists in Europe
• Tracing oral storytelling traditions from George Moses Horton to Tupac Shakur
• The ongoing mission of Kingmakers of Oakland to create safe spaces for youth

Timestamps:

0:00 - Introduction & Launch of Scribe

03:00 - James Baldwin's World & The Reality of Exile

09:00 - Baldwin’s Love of Language and Mastery of French

14:15 - Richard Wright, Norman Mailer, and Literary Rivalries

36:00 - Black Musicians in Europe & The Legacy of Jazz

54:00 - George Moses Horton, Tupac Shakur, and the Oral Tradition

1:04:00 - Safe Spaces: The Mission of Kingmakers of Oakland

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• Website: https://kingmakersofoakland.org
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