Maya Angelou's Black History Month Special on WRVO-1: NPR News

Maya Angelou defines Black History, as it is embraced in our popular culture with an emphasis on the civil rights era and a poetic acknowledgement of late activist, Rosa Parks. This one hour historical trek takes us from the 1950's thru the 1990's. Dr. Maya Angelou renders a poetic portrait of the day-to-day lives of African Americans during the civil rights era, when artists and activists, musicians and ministers joined hands with people from all walks of life to bring about a historic change in our culture.

Program Highlights include:

• Congressman John Lewis, and fellow Presidential Medal of Freedom 2011 recipient, shares some of his experiences during the Freedom Rides of 1961 and the civil rights era.
• Nikky Finney, winner of the 2011 National Book Award for Poetry, discusses her critically acclaimed acceptance speech and shares stories of growing up in a civil rights family, as she talks about how her work was impacted by the era.
• Singer and songwriter Mary J. Blige, who will play Nina Simone in an upcoming film, discusses her five year preparation for the role aimed at encouraging and educating a new generation on the life and times of the singer and civil rights activist.
• Economist and Bennett College President Dr. Julianne Malveaux discusses the impact of the Civil Rights movement on education, economics and how knowledge has begun to translate into a new prosperity with continued challenges.
• Ambassador Andrew Young talks about his relationship with Martin Luther King and the fight for equality during a time when separate but equal was not enough.