“Writers on Writing“ Radio Show (Replay)

About the Episode
Dr. Brenda Greene interviews Stanley Nelson, a MacArthur Fellow and a director, writer, and producer of documentaries examining African-American history and experiences. They discuss Nelson’s evolution as a documentarian and his films Tell Them We Are Rising: The Story of Black Colleges and Universities; The Black Panthers: Vanguard of the Revolution, and Miles Davis: Birth of the Cool. They also explore topics such as the social justice movement and the responsibility of the artist to his craft.

About the Author
Stanley Nelson has produced 20 documentaries on the history of Black activism, freedom work, and culture in the United States, including Marcus Garvey: Look for Me in the Whirlwind; The Murder of Emmett Till; Freedom Riders; The Black Panthers: Vanguard of the Revolution, and most recently Vick for ESPN’s “30 For 30” series. Nelson is a recipient of the 2013 National Humanities Medal from President Obama and has won three Primetime Emmy Awards. He is executive director and co-founder of Firelight Media with his wife, writer, and producer Marcia Smith, a nonprofit that provides technical education and professional support to emerging documentarians.