Red Flags: Sex and the Soviet Union

In the final episode of Harlem and Moscow: Red Flags we’re taking the conversation to the present day with the daughter of the 1932 trip organizer Louise Thompson Patterson. Playwright Alle Mims sits down for an enlightening and heartwarming conversation with MaryLouise Patterson. The pair discuss MaryLouise’s childhood as a “red-diaper baby” with parents in the Communist Party USA, famous family friends like Harry Belafonte, Beah Richards, and Paul Robeson, and a teenage trip to the USSR in the 1960s. Alle and MaryLousie also talk about McCarthyism, Louise’s FBI file, and the modern concerns of leftist organizers. Then, MaryLouise leaves us with a positive word about her love for Black  people and encourages us to get active in our own communities.  CREDITSMusic Courtesy Of:TransitionURSS Soviet Chorus 

In this episode of Harlem and Moscow: Red Flags we get hot, heavy and a little messy. Host Sam Riddell talks to experts about the hook-ups and heartbreaks of the 1932 trip to the Soviet Union. We learn about what the dating landscape was like during the Harlem Renaissance, the culture around marriage, views towards interracial sex, polyamorous and open relationships within the New Negro Movement, lavender marriages, and respectability politics levied toward Queer Black folks. Plus we spill tea on a certain couple who became known for their wild parties and delve into the motivations behind Dorothy’s proposal. And we link our 1932 tripgoers to phenomena of today like the Passport Bros and Love Is Blind. Sam is joined by the playwright of “Harlem and Moscow” Alle Mims as well as Angela Tate, the Women’s History Curator at the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture. With a special guest appearance by historian, cultural critic, and author of  “Our Secret Society,” Tanisha C. Ford.   CREDITSMusic Courtesy Of:Transition

In a desperate attempt to get to Langston Hughes, Dorothy West decides to propose marriage. Louise Thompson tries to talk her out of it and shares the reality of what it means to be in love with a man like Langston.  Louise also reveals a secret behind her own failed marriage.  As plans for life after Moscow remain unclear, Mildred Jones offers to stay with Dorothy in the Soviet Union for another season. But what type of relationship is Mildred looking for?  Dorothy shares her unconventional plans for the future. Executive Producers:Byron AllenCarolyn FolksJennifer LucasGeraldine MoribaRegina Griffin Cast:J Ivy As Langston HughesEvan Frazier As Dorothy WestNancy Gilliam As Rachel WestKyla Lacey As Helene JohnsonAnd Tarrey Torae As Sylvia GarnerBroderick Clavery as Henry Lee, James The Translator and The Meschrapbom Official. Breanna Cosette As Mildred JonesSusaye Lawson As Louise ThompsonBasil Rodericks  As Countee Cullen Stephan Rumphorst as  Carl Junghans and Boris The Russian Sergeant Sidney Apolonio as The Volunteer CoordinatorSam Riddell as The Train ConductorJon Kelly as The News Reporter Written By Alle MimsDirected By Ares Harper and Regina Griffin Producer and Sound Design Sam RiddellAudio Engineers  Aaron Reppert and Carey Durham.Technical Support Craig Ross and Sabua Samandu.Booking Producer And Logistics Coordinator  Taji SeniorAudio Podcast Editor Justin SloanDramaturg   Alexis WilliamsArt Design By Trevor IrmlerMusic By: Transitions And URSS Soviet Chorus Audio Recording Smash StudiosVideographer Templeton Wright  Research for Harlem And Moscow was facilitated by The Schomburg Center,  Project Muse,  The Schlesinger  Library On The History Of Women In America At The Harvard Radcliffe Institute, Cherene Sherrard-Johnson’s Book “Dorothy West’s Paradise,”  as well as  Literary Sisters by  Verner D. Mitchell And Cynthia Davis.  Sincere thanks go to The Dramatist  Guild,  The Dramatist Guild Foundation,  Dr. Jennifer Wilson,  Dr. Saidiya Hartman, Dr. Brent Hayes-Edwards, and Dr. Lauren Brik-Elmore.And theGrio gives a special thanks to Gabrielle Holder,  Genia Nooks and the Gill Talent Group team.

The group of Harlem Renaissance actors and artists return to Moscow moving from the Grand Hotel to a small hostel.    Henry Lee Moon tells Langston Hughes that he thinks the film has been sabotaged by Americans. In a heartfelt moment, Louise Thompson speaks to Dorothy West and Mildred Jones about another woman on the trip who is heartbroken over a breakup and attempts to take her own life. The three women discuss the freedoms, or lack thereof, for women at this time, each coming to their own conclusion about what the future holds for them as single women.  Mildred entertains a Russian man while Langston is seen with Soviet Sweetheart, Sylvie Chen, leaving Dorothy feeling more alone and uncertain about her future than ever.    CastJ Ivy As Langston HughesEvan Frazier As Dorothy WestKyla Lacey As Helen Johnson Nancy Gilliam As Rachel WestSusaye Lawson As Louise ThompsonBreanna Cosette As Mildred JonesBroderick Clavery  As Henry Lee and James The Translator  Harlem And Moscow   Written By Alle MimsDirected By Ares Harper And Regina Griffin Producer And Sound Designer Sam RiddellAudio Engineers Aaron Reppert And Carey Durham Music By Transitions

In this episode of Harlem and Moscow: Red Flags, host Michael Harriot is talking to experts about the conditions in America circa the 1930s that made the Soviet Union and Communism very appealing to Black folks in the states. We learn more about the African Blood Brotherhood, the CPUSA, and other communist movements led by Black Americans. The experts dispel myths about Black Americans’ relationship to communism and dive into the history of Black workers' movements in the South. Plus we learn about the real origins of the phrase “Stay Woke,” and much more! Michael is joined by historian and author of the book “Hammer and Hoe,” Dr. Robin D.G. Kelley as well as the playwright of “Harlem and Moscow” Alle Mims. CREDITSMusic Courtesy Of:Transition “Город под подошвой”OxxxymironScady, Max Kravtsov, Erik GamansCourtesy of Sonic Librarian “Scottsboro Boys”Lead BellyThe Smithsonian Folkways Collection

The production of the film “Black And White”  gets underway IN Moscow with a less than stellar first rehearsal that is only saved by the star of the Harlem Renaissance performers, Sylvia Garner.    Langston  Hughes reveals his doubts on the script. Dorothy West receives devastating news from home and then struggles to understand the comfort she finds in Mildred Jones. As the group becomes more comfortable in Moscow,  they are surprised with a trip to Odessa, only to learn that the film is in even bigger trouble than they thought.    CastJ Ivy As Langston HughesEvan Frazier As Dorothy WestTarrey Torae As Sylvia GarnerKyla Lacey As Helen JohnsonNancy Gilliam As Rachel WestBreanna Cosette As Mildred JonesSusaye Lawson As Louise ThompsonBroderick Clavery As Henry Lee Stephan Rumphurst, As Carl Junghans and Boris, the Russian sergeant Harlem And Moscow  Was Written By Alle MimsDirected By Ares Harper And Regina Griffin Producer And Sound Designer Sam RiddellAudio Engineers Aaron Reppert And Carey Durham Music By Transitions

Dorothy West and the Harlem  Renaissance artists and activists get settled into the Grand Hotel and enjoy the lavish luxuries the Soviets have to offer.  Caviar anyone?  While exploring Moscow, Mildred  Jones and Langston Hughes push the prim and proper  Dorothy out of her comfort zone.  While partying,   the group finally meets the director of the film, Carl Jungans but the all-Black cast sees red flags as the filmmaker reveals himself to be quite ignorant when it comes to race.   CastJ Ivy As Langston HughesEvan Frazier As Dorothy WestNancy Gilliam As Rachel WestBreanna Cosette As Mildred JonesSusaye Lawson As Louise ThompsonStephan Rumphorst As Carl Junghans And Broderick Clavery As  James The Translator  Harlem And Moscow  Was Written By Alle MimsDirected By Ares Harper And Regina Griffin Producer  And Sound Designer Sam RiddellAudio Engineers Aaron Reppert And Carey Durham Music By Transitions

In this episode of Harlem and Moscow: Red Flags, host Panama Jackson is talking to experts about the people of the Harlem Renaissance who went on this trip to Moscow back in 1932. We learn more about Dorothy West, Langston Hughes, Henry Lee Moon, Louise Thompson, and others who journeyed to the Soviet Union. We also talk about other Black artists in the “Harlem and Moscow” circle like Zora Neale Hurston, Countee Cullen, Paul Robeson, and many others. Plus we dish on the gossip of the era and how surprisingly shady folks in that time were! Panama is joined by the playwright of “Harlem and Moscow” Alle Mims as well as historian, cultural critic, and author of  “Our Secret Society,” Tanisha C. Ford.   Music Courtesy Of: Transition "Fantastic Voyage” Lakeside BMG Gold Songs, H&R Lastrada Music, Tiemeyer McCain Publishing Fred Alexander, Norman Paul Beavers, Marvin Craig, Frederick E. Lewis, Tiemeyer Le’Mart, Thomas Oliver Shelby, Stephen Preston Shockley, Otis Stokes, Mark Adam Wood

Dorothy West anxiously awaits the arrival of Langston Hughes on their voyage from Harlem to  Moscow to make a movie.  Dorothy gets to know some of the other  Harlem Renaissance artists and activists, including Louise Thompson, the organizer, and Mildred Jones, an artist she will be rooming with. On the train, Dorothy and Henry Lee Moon get into a spat about sexual expectations abroad. Could their romantic getaway be over before it begins?    CASTJ. IVY AS LANGSTON HUGHES EVAN FRAZIER AS DOROTHY WESTNANCY GILLIAM AS RACHEL WESTBRODERICK CLAVERY AS   HENRY LEE AND THE MESCHRAPBOM OFFICIAL SUSAYE LAWSON AS LOUISE THOMPSONBREANNA COSETTE AS MILDRED JONESJARED ALEXANDER AS  THE NARRATORSAM RIDDELL AS THE TRAIN CONDUCTORHARLEM AND MOSCOW  WAS WRITTEN BY ALLE MIMSDIRECTED BY ARES HARPER AND REGINA GRIFFIN PRODUCER  AND SOUND DESIGNER SAM RIDDELLAUDIO ENGINEERS AARON REPPERT AND CAREY DURHAM MUSIC BY TRANSITIONS

In this true story of the Harlem Renaissance in the Soviet Union, we are introduced to the young writer and actress Dorothy West and her mother, Rachel West, who wants to hear all about her daughter’s year in Moscow making a film.    Rachel is especially curious about the famous poet Langston Hughes.   Dorothy promises to tell all that and more, starting with the invitation for the trip that she received from her sweetheart and local reporter, Henry Lee Moon. After failing to convince her cousin, Helene Johnson, to accompany her, Dorothy sets sail with Henry Lee and 20 other Harlemites to the other side of the world, with no idea what this new world has in store for her.    CASTJ. IVY AS LANGSTON HUGHES EVAN FRAZIER AS DOROTHY WESTNANCY GILLIAM AS RACHEL WESTKYLA LACY AS HELENE JOHNSONBRODERICK CLAVERY  AS HENRY LEEBASIL RODERICKS AS COUNTEE CULLENSYDNEY APOLONIO AS THE VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR JON KELLY AS THE NEWS REPORTERHARLEM AND MOSCOW  WAS WRITTEN BY ALLE MIMSDIRECTED BY ARES HARPER AND REGINA GRIFFIN.PRODUCER  AND SOUND DESIGNER SAM RIDDELLAUDIO ENGINEERS AARON REPPERT AND CAREY DURHAM MUSIC BY TRANSITIONS AND THE  URSS SOVIET CHORUS