Explore Black History

1978

A white plastic audio cassette with recordings of two episodes of the Literary Corner radio show. The program number is handwritten on the cassette in graphite.
Side A: "Darwin Turner on Jean Toomer and Frank Yerby"
Episode 7 of the Literary Corner: Black Writers of the World radio program. It opens with Dr. Darwin Turner discussing some of the activities he is involved with, including editing material written by Jean Toomer and updating some of his essays as instrumental music plays in the background. This is followed by host Brooks Robinson introducing Dr. Turner as his guest and Profs. Edris Makward and Sarah Fabio as regular analysts that will participate in the discussion. One of the first questions posed to Dr. Turner is the extent to which the material he is working on relates to Cane, to which Turner responds that there is no relation although some of the works were prepared around the same time as Cane, such as his play Natalie Mann. Other topics discussed in the interview include Toomer's view of race in America; whether Toomer eschewed his Black background after publishing Cane; as well as whether Toomer resisted being referred as a Black writer after publishing Cane. In the second portion of the recording, Dr. Sarah Fabio leads a discussion on Frank Yerby, first asking Professor Turner to speak broadly about Yerby and his work. Some of the subjects discusses in this part of the program include whether Yerby, too, evaded racial identification in order to gain publication; a possible sequel to The Dahomean, that would be dedicated to Dr. Turner and his wife. The recording closes with
Side B: "Joseph Skerrett on Richard Wright and Ralph Ellison"
Episode 8 of the Literary Corner: Black Writers of the World radio program. It opens with host Brooks Robinson introducing his guest as Professor Joseph Skerrett and regular analyst Professor Sarah Fabio. Some of the topics discussed in the interview include comparisons between Wright's and Ellison's views on the role of the writer; the extent to which books by Black writers are addressed to white audiences; Wright's and Ellison's political ideologies; comparisons between how Wright and Ellison use their work. Toward the end of the discussion, Professor Turner also discusses some of Richard Wright's unpublished works that he encountered while doing research on the author.

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)

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

2010.17.1.4a

audiotapes

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

plastic and tape

H x W: 2 3/4 × 4 1/4 × 5/8 in. (7 × 10.8 × 1.6 cm)
Duration (side a): 15 min., 5 sec.
Duration (side b): 15 min., 4 sec.

Title • The Literary Corner: Darwin Turner on Jean Toomer and Frank Yerby (side a) / Joseph Skerret on Richard Wright and Ralph Ellison (side b)

nmaahc_2010.17.1.4a

NMAAHC

THE LITERARY CORNER: DARWIN TURNER ON JEAN TOOMER AND FRANK YERBY (SIDE A) / JOSEPH SKERRET ON RICHARD WRIGHT AND RALPH ELLISON (SIDE B)

National Museum of African American History and Culture

CC0

1970s

Robinson, Brooks B. • Makward, Edris • Toomer, Jean • Skerrett, Joseph • Cham, Robert • Turner, Darwin • Wright, Richard • Ellison, Ralph Waldo • Yerby, Frank

Literature • BAM (Black Arts Movement 1965-1976) • Poetry • Radio

Country • United States

Sound recordings

Limited Use