Explore Black History

1978

A white plastic cassette tape with recordings of two episodes of the radio program The Literary Corner. The cassette has a beige label on which typewritten text on one side reads [THE LITERARY CORNER / Vernon February]. The typewritten text on the other side reads [THE LITERARY CORNER / Edward Braithwaite].
Side A: “Vernon February’s Life and Works”
Episode 20 of the Literary Corner radio program. It is a discussion of creole literature and Professor February’s works entitled “Vernon February’s Life and Works.” The episode begins with Professor February commenting on the role black writers should play in the world before host Brooks Robinson formally introduces February to the audience. Some of the topics covered in this episode include Professor February’s inspiration for researching creole literature; a comparison between Negritude (Francophone) writers and Surinamese writers; a discussion of the works of the Surinamese scholar Heim Eersel. Additionally, Professor February reads some of his own poetry and poetry by Hein Eersel; poems such as “They Shoot Children, Don’t They” and several others.
Side B: “Edward Brathwaite’s Life and Works”
Episode 21 of the Literary Corner radio program entitled “Edward Brathwaite’s Life and Works.” It begins with host Brooks Robinson introducing his guest Edward Brathwaite. Some of the subjects discussed in this episode are Brathwaite’s childhood and his Methodist upbringing; the impact of emigrating to England on his writing, such as his experience of racism; the impact of emigrating to Ghana on his writing, and the way African culture helped him appreciate the Caribbean; the relationship between Africa and the New World; cultural, linguistic and phenotypical similarities between Ghanaians and West Indians; the connection between his work in Jamaica and his previous work. Additionally, he reads two of the poems from his book Rites of Passage. The episode concludes with Brathwaite reciting his poem “Starvation” in a West Indian dialect as the outro music plays.

Cassette tape with two episodes of the Literary Corner radio program

National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection

The Literary Corner: Black Writers of the World

Time-based Media - Audio

BAM (Black Arts Movement 1965-1976)
Anti-apartheid movements

Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Contributed in memory of Professor Sarah Webster Fabio (1928-1979), poet, educator, Black Arts Movement icon, and one of the Literary Corner's analysts.

National Museum of African American History and Culture

2010.17.1.11a

audiotapes

© Brooks B. Robinson
Permission required for use. Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.

plastic and tape

H x W (audiocassette): 2 3/4 × 4 1/4 × 5/8 in. (7 × 10.8 × 1.6 cm)
Duration (side a): 00:15:07
Duration (side b): 00:14:47

Title • The Literary Corner: Vernon February’s Life and Works (side a) / Edward Brathwaite's Life and Works (side b)

nmaahc_2010.17.1.11a

NMAAHC

THE LITERARY CORNER: VERNON FEBRUARY’S LIFE AND WORKS (SIDE A) / EDWARD BRATHWAITE'S LIFE AND WORKS (SIDE B)

National Museum of African American History and Culture

CC0

1970s

Brathwaite, Edward • Kunene, Daniel • Robinson, Brooks B. • Cham, Robert • February, Vernon • Eersel, Hein

South America • Netherlands • Barbados • United States • North and Central America • Europe • West Africa • South Africa • Suriname • Ghana • Caribbean

Anti-apartheid movements • Literature • Violence • Religion • BAM (Black Arts Movement 1965-1976) • Poetry • Radio • Methodist

Country • United States • Continent • North and Central America • Country • Netherlands • Continent • Europe • Country • Suriname • Subregion • Caribbean • Continent • South America • Country • South Africa • Continent • Africa • Country • Barbados • Country • Ghana • Region • West Africa

Sound recordings

Limited Use