‘Left of Black’ Starts 16th Season

The series has grown into a vibrant platform that spotlights scholarship, while celebrating the creativity of Black artists

Left of Black We Tried to Tell Y'All Black Twitter's Cultural Legacy

Mark Anthony Neal set out to show another side of Black Studies scholars when he created the Duke web series “Left of Black.” He wanted viewers to understand the personal motivations behind the researchers’ work, as well as to help make sense of the complex forces of racism that shape the experiences of people of African descent. 

Neal does this through lively, on-camera conversations. Over the years, the series has grown into a vibrant platform spotlighting African American Studies scholarship, along with celebrating the creativity of Black artists.

Now in its 16th season on YouTube, the series has received two Telly Awards: Silver in the Interview and Talk Show category and Bronze in the Education and Discovery category. Neal, who joined Duke’s Department of African & African American Studies in 2004, says he drew inspiration for the show from journalist Gil Noble’s program “Like It Is,” which he watched while growing up in New York City. 

“Before I had any idea what Black Studies was, (‘Like It Is’) introduced me to such important figures as the legendary polymath Paul Robeson, significant historians like John Henrik Clarke and Yosef Ben-Jochannan, and compelling Black artists like Abbey Lincoln, Sonia Sanchez and Bob Marley,” Neal said.

Following that example, he invites scholars to discuss their recent books and reach a wider public, asking them what drives them, shapes their ideas and inspires their scholarship.

In the Season 15 finale, Neal speaks with Meredith D. Clark of UNC Hussman about her first book, “We Tried to Tell Y’All” which explores the cultural influence of Black Twitter before the platform became X. Duke undergraduates from Neal’s Spring 2025 course filmed the episode with guidance from director Eric Barstow, who produces the series for the John Hope Franklin Humanities Institute. The show began its latest season this Black History Month with a new international focus on the African diaspora.

Go to the Left of Black website to explore past episodes.