Stepin Fetchit; Slam Dunks And No-Brainers; Defining The World
Stepin Fetchit
Stepin Fetchit, a.k.a. Lincoln Perry, was the first African American movie star. In the 1920’s and ‘30s he became famous for his degrading portrayals of the stereotyped “lazy Negro.” His colorful life was often celebrated and criticized in the press. Larry talks with Mel Watkins, author of Stepin Fetchit: The Life and Times of Lincoln Perry, the first definitive biography of the life of this actor turned American pop icon.
Slam Dunks And No-Brainers
Author Leslie Savan takes on "pop" language: catchphrases and buzz words spread by the media. Larry talks with Savan about her new book, Slam Dunks and No-Brainers: Language in Your Life, the Media, Business, Politics, and, Like, Whatever.
Defining The World
By the early 18th century France and Italy had impressive lexicon, but there was no authoritative dictionary of English. Dr. Samuel Johnson assumed the tremendous task and spent nearly a decade of his life on the project. Larry talks about Johnson’s work and it’s influence with Henry Hitchings, author of the new book, Defining the World: The Extraordinary Story of Dr. Johnson’s Dictionary.