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[0:01] Chris: Good evening. Tonight, Mr. Langston Hughes, American poet, dramatist, novelist, lyricist, lecturer.

[0:08] Chris: He's in town to give a lecture at UBC, but he's here tonight to read poetry, his own poetry, to a jazz accompaniment.

[0:16] Chris: We have Alan Miller to interview him. We have Doug Parker and his band to provide the jazz.

[0:22] Chris: And Mr. Langston Hughes has his own accompaniment, his own introduction.

[0:57] ♪ Musical number: "The Weary Blues" — performed by Langston Hughes ♪

[3:49] ♪ Musical number: "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised" — performed by Gil Scott-Heron ♪

[5:07] Chris: Hey, y'all. Welcome back. Glad to be here. Glad to share.

[5:11] Chris: So, happy Black History Month.

[5:15] Chris: Yes, those 28 days our fine nation gave us to get more random retail discounts, hold black-themed parties, and run Selma, 12 Years a Slave, and Do the Right Thing nonstop on daytime television.

[5:30] Chris: Through all the superficialities, Black History Month is something to be celebrated.

[5:35] Chris: The lives, the deaths, the successes, the failures, all of it is powerful stuff that people should know about.

[5:43] Chris: Black history is American history.

[5:46] Chris: I'm going to say that a couple more times, just so it resonates better.

[5:51] Chris: Black history is American history.

[5:55] Chris: Black history is American history.

[5:59] Chris: Black history is American history.

[6:03] Chris: And Black history is and has forever been American history.

[6:10] Chris: So, happy American History Month.

[6:13] Chris: Slash that part they didn't go into detail in school.

[6:17] Chris: Part one. Like, that's the gag.

[6:21] Chris: This is part one of our nation designated a period of time to highlight a race and its relations with history in America.

[6:29] Chris: Some may say it's just to pay homage and respect.

[6:33] Chris: Others may say it's to say sorry for all the years of bad shit the country did and continues to do.

[6:39] Chris: Others just assume it's another installment of capitalism.

[6:42] Chris: All are fair arguments if you ask me.

[6:45] Chris: I'd vote for a healthy mix of it all, with a dash of some political motive that I'm sure has been buried with MLK.

[6:52] Chris: Needless to say, this is the system we live in.

[6:56] Chris: Pick and choose your battles wisely.

[6:59] Chris: Considering there's been a genocide of Black people going on for centuries now in this country, it's safe to say that the Black History Month debate is on the bottom of the priority list.

[7:11] Chris: Being African American, I usually feel pretty underwhelmed during quote-unquote my month until someone hosts a banger and I revel in the blessing that is being melanated.

[7:21] Chris: I don't know about y'all, but I shall not be attending any bangers this year.

[7:26] Chris: Let it be known.

[7:27] Chris: I may enjoy a little cute dinner with like six or so, but trust, I'm Black whether I have a party to celebrate it or not.

[7:35] Chris: This year, I plan to devour as much historical Black art, media, literature, anything.

[7:41] Chris: February is just the kickoff.

[7:44] Chris: Personally, it is a form of self-preservation that can lead to artistic motivation.

[7:49] Chris: Representation matters.

[7:52] Chris: I might as well put that on my tombstone.

[7:55] Chris: Like, everyone should watch and read stuff that they see themselves in because it can be a learning experience.

[8:01] Chris: One that is needed to fully be able to access knowledge when you learn shit about stuff that's foreign to you.

[8:08] Chris: Like, when you're attempting to clear your chakras, each passageway leads to a next.

[8:14] Chris: That path leads to a complete cleanse, not a partial cleanse.

[8:17] Chris: Trying to learn everything but knowing nothing about yourself feels like effort in vain.

[8:22] Chris: What can you really do with that knowledge?

[8:25] Chris: One is not more important than the other.

[8:28] Chris: In order to achieve harmony, you need balance.

[8:31] Chris: All right, all right, I'm not going to go on a chakra rant, even though, like, classics I'd rant.

[8:36] Chris: But everything connects, though. I'm just saying.

[8:38] Chris: All right, so, for real, Black History Month. Let's do this.

[8:43] Chris: Today, I do not want to go on and on and saturate you with more sad news.

[8:47] Chris: Keyword of the day is celebrate, so we shall do such.

[8:51] Chris: The rest of this episode is a party, so grab your drinks and relax.

[8:57] Chris: After a moment of silence for all of those we've lost, please enjoy the DJ stylings of DJ Malcolm Flex, featuring the work of up-and-coming Black artists who are featured on Broadway.

[9:08] Chris: Peace be with you, and also with you.

[9:27] ♪ Musical number ♪

[10:38] ♪ Musical number ♪

[11:16] ♪ Musical number ♪

[12:22] Phil: Yo, this is Phil, and you are tuned in with Chris Chats With. Let's get it.

[23:05] ♪ Musical number ♪

[24:28] Britton: What's up, soldiers? This is Britton from Britton in the Seine. You're tuned in to Chris Chats With.

[26:20] Ari Grooves: What's up? This is Ari Grooves and you are listening to Chris Chats With.

[27:01] ♪ Musical number ♪

[30:54] ♪ Musical number ♪

[33:51] The Ensemblist was produced today by Mo Brady, Jackson Klein, and me, Christine Shepard. There are two great ways you can be helping The Ensemblist right now. One is by leaving us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. The second is by becoming a Patreon member at patreon.com slash The Ensemblist. Please follow The Ensemblist wherever you listen to podcasts. Whether that be on Spotify, on Apple Podcasts, or at our home on Broadway Podcast Network at bpn.fm. Thanks for listening. Until next time.