Words and Music of Black America

Join Andrea Blain as we celebrate National Poetry Month with Words and Music of Black America. This special will pair music with texts by Black poets that raise issues of civil rights, social justice, racial divides and freedom in diverse and sometimes surprising ways.

Composers may include:

  • Florence Price: who set the words of poets Paul Lawrence Dunbar and Langston Hughes to music along with some of her own poetry.
  • Margaret Bonds: who has also worked with the poetry of Langston Hughes as well as Countee Cullen and others.
  • Harry Thacker Burleigh’s setting of spirituals and poetry.
  • William Grant Still
  • Coleridge Taylor Perkinson

Host

Andrea Blain
Andrea is a freelance host/producer for Minnesota Public Radio and APM. She has hosted several national specials in the past and was also a regular host for Music Through the Night. Andrea lived in Northern Ireland prior to working for APM and in May 2022, she returned to live in Ireland. She continues to work on a freelance basis on a variety of projects and broadcasts.

Length

One hour

Show Clock

Download Clock

ContentDepot File Transfer

Promo spot available: March 25, 2025
Program rundown available: March 31, 2025
Program content available to stations: April 1, 2025

ContentDepot

Broadcast Window

April 1, 2025 - April 30, 2025

Broadcast Rights

Affiliate stations may carry this program multiple times before May 1, 2025. The program must be carried in its entirety. No excerpting is permitted. Simulcast streaming rights are available for this program. Prior to carrying this program, stations must contact their American Public Media Station Relations Representative.


Questions about carrying APM Presents or your affiliation?