Read / See / Do
Week of April 2, 2018
Read
1) "Donald Glover Can't Save You" by Tad Friend for The New Yorker
The creator of “Atlanta” wants TV to tell hard truths. Is the audience ready?
2) "The Souls of Black Folk" by W.E.B. Du Bois
William Edward Burghardt Du Bois (1868-1963) is the greatest of African American intellectuals--a sociologist, historian, novelist, and activist whose astounding career spanned the nation's history from Reconstruction to the civil rights movement. Born in Massachusetts and educated at Fisk, Harvard, and the University of Berlin, Du Bois penned his epochal masterpiece, The Souls of Black Folk, in 1903. It remains his most studied and popular work; its insights into life at the turn of the 20th century still ring true.
3) "Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood" by Marjane Satrapi
Persepolis paints an unforgettable portrait of daily life in Iran and of the bewildering contradictions between home life and public life. Marjane’s child’s-eye view of dethroned emperors, state-sanctioned whippings, and heroes of the revolution allows us to learn as she does the history of this fascinating country and of her own extraordinary family. Intensely personal, profoundly political, and wholly original, Persepolis is at once a story of growing up and a reminder of the human cost of war and political repression. It shows how we carry on, with laughter and tears, in the face of absurdity. And, finally, it introduces us to an irresistible little girl with whom we cannot help but fall in love.
See
1) The Orchid Show by Daniel Ost at The New York Botanical Garden
Entrance: Weekdays $23 adults; $20 students/Weekends $28 adults; $25 students
Now in its 16th year, The Orchid Show showcases thousands of dramatically displayed orchids in the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory featuring a series of installations crafted by Daniel Ost. Each living sculpture celebrates the complex beauty of these stunning flowers, highlighting individual orchids attached in such a way that each flower and form can be seen and appreciated. One of the world’s leading floral artists, Ost uses flowers as a means of expression. His large-scale artworks have been tailored to the unique environment of the landmark Victorian-style Conservatory, complementing the architecture of the building while creating a transformative, dazzling spectacle of color, form, and texture. Learn more
2) "City of Ghosts" by Matthew Heineman
Directed, produced, and filmed by Emmy–winning filmmaker Matthew Heineman, City of Ghosts is a singularly powerful cinematic experience that is sure to shake audiences to their core as it elevates the canon of one of the most talented documentary filmmakers working today. Captivating in its immediacy, City of Ghosts follows the journey of “Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently” – a handful of anonymous activists who banded together after their homeland was taken over by ISIS in 2014. With astonishing, deeply personal access, this is the story of a brave group of citizen journalists as they face the realities of life undercover, on the run, and in exile, risking their lives to stand up against one of the greatest evils in the world today.
"Only 18 states explicitly and comprehensively protect trans people from discrimination. Many other state lawmakers are focused on targeting us for more discrimination. In 2017, lawmakers in 22 states introduced more than 50 bills restricting the rights of trans people. Even as these lawmakers signal that we are not worthy of protection, we persevere. Most of us have already spent years in dark places wrestling with our truths, feeling ashamed of who we are. But when we manage to survive, and even to love ourselves, we are stronger than ever. Try as they might, these lawmakers cannot erase us. Our rights will be hard won, but we are winning."
Do
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3) Donate to BRAC, ranked the #1 global NGO of 2018
BRAC's mission is a world free from all forms of exploitation and discrimination where everyone has the opportunity to realize their potential. To achieve this vision, BRAC develops and implement cost-effective, evidence-based poverty innovations in education, health, financial inclusion, girls’ empowerment, agriculture, human rights, and more. For example, in Bangladesh, BRAC is empowering ultra poor women to escape the poverty trap through a holistic two year program that provides them with a productive asset like a goat or cow, weekly stipends, technical and life skills training, financial and savings education, and healthcare. Learn more
