‘Love & Mercy' told Brian Wilson's story in a way that fit him
Advertisement
Chris Vognar, a freelance culture writer, was the 2009 Nieman Arts and Culture Fellow at Harvard University.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Black America Web
10 hours ago
- Black America Web
The Life Of Harriet E. Wilson: The 1st Black Woman To Publish A Novel
Source: MarkNH / Getty Harriet E. Wilson, born Harriet Adams around 1825 in Milford, New Hampshire, is widely recognized as the first Black woman to publish a novel in the United States. Yet for more than a century, both her life and work were largely forgotten. In 1859, Wilson published Our Nig; or, Sketches from the Life of a Free Black, in a Two-story White House, North . Showing that Slavery's Shadows Fall Even There. Printed by George C. Rand and Avery in Boston, the semi-autobiographical novel tells the harrowing story of Frado, a biracial girl abandoned by her mother and raised by a white family in New Hampshire who subjected her to relentless abuse, despite living in a region known for its abolitionist leanings, according to Blackpast. Cultural Front notes that the book was published Sept. 5, 1859; however, Encyclopedia reports that 'the first edition' of Our Nig was printed by Rand and Avery, and copyrighted by Wilson on Aug. 18, 1859. We care about your data. See our privacy policy. The novel, likely selling fewer than 100 copies at the time, quickly faded into obscurity, NHPR noted. It wasn't until 1981 that scholar Henry Louis Gates Jr. rediscovered the work in a New York City bookstore. Upon republishing it in 1983, Gates revealed that Wilson was not white—as previously assumed—but a free Black woman writing largely from her own experience. This revelation reshaped the history of African American literature, which had previously credited Frances Ellen Watkins Harper (with lola Leroy , published in 1892) as the first Black woman novelist. Harriet E. Wilson's life story, according to historians. Wilson's life was marked by hardship. Her father, a free Black man, died when she was 7. Her mother, possibly a white woman from Portsmouth, abandoned her shortly after. Historians believe she was placed in indentured servitude with the Hayward family. She attended school sporadically and worked for various families before eventually relocating to Massachusetts to work as a seamstress and servant. In 1851, she married Thomas Wilson—a man later revealed to be a con artist—who abandoned her before the birth of their son, George Mason Wilson. Struggling with poor health and poverty, she was forced to place her infant son in a poorhouse while she returned to Boston to earn a living. Historians believe that her inspiration behind the book may have been largely fueled by her desperation to regain custody of her son. Wilson was certain she could make a living off the book to finally be able to provide for George. During this time, she began writing Our Nig , inspired by the growing popularity of slave narratives. She also launched a hair care business, selling 'Mrs. Wilson's Hair Regenerator,' one of the earliest known Black-owned beauty products. Ads for the product date back to 1857, NHPR reported. JerriAnne Boggis, executive director of the Black Heritage Trail of New Hampshire, said she was stunned to learn the book was published by an abolitionist printer in Boston, defying the era's most 'treasured institutions.' 'Take motherhood – Mrs. B, the protagonist, was an evil woman to her children. Motherhood took a blow. She called the church hypocrites. The abolitionist movement was hypocritical because here you are fighting for us, but you won't have one of us to dinner in your home,' Boggis explained during an interview with NHPR in 2018. Tragically, Wilson's son died not long after the book was published. His death certificate identified Harriet as a Black woman—an important detail that Gates Jr. uncovered during his research into the true identity of the author. Though little else is known about her later life, Wilson's contribution to American literature is now firmly cemented, and we wonder what life would have been like for the author had she continued writing. SEE MORE: Keke Palmer Announces New Novel's Upcoming Release Naval Academy Returns Library Books Removed for DEI Concerns SEE ALSO The Life Of Harriet E. Wilson: The 1st Black Woman To Publish A Novel was originally published on
Newsweek
4 days ago
- Newsweek
WWE Hall Of Famer Leaves The Door Open For Another Match
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. WWE Hall of Famer Torrie Wilson has addressed the possibility of an in-ring return, stating that she believes she still has another match in her. While she has not competed in a one-on-one match in over 17 years, the former star says she would be open to it for the right opportunity. Speaking with SHAK Wrestling, the popular star of the "Diva Era" confirmed that the door on her wrestling career is "never completely closed." Torrie Wilson: "The Door Is Never Completely Closed" Wilson explained that for any former wrestler, the desire to get back in the ring never truly goes away. She confirmed that she feels she could still compete at a high level, but the circumstances would have to be perfect. "I feel like if you've ever been in wrestling, the door is never completely closed," Wilson said. "People ask me a lot, do you have another match in you? I'm like, yes, of course." She added, "If something awesome came along, how would I not have that in me? It would take a lot more preparing on my end because I wouldn't want to go back and do something that didn't make people go, 'Oh wow, she is an athlete.'" Appolo crews and Titus battle in the ring during the WWE show at Zenith Arena on may 09, 2017 in Lille north France. / AFP PHOTO / PHILIPPE HUGUEN Appolo crews and Titus battle in the ring during the WWE show at Zenith Arena on may 09, 2017 in Lille north France. / AFP PHOTO / PHILIPPE HUGUEN A Star of the WWE "Diva Era" Torrie Wilson was one of the most popular female superstars of WWE's "Ruthless Aggression Era." After coming to WWE from WCW as part of the Invasion storyline in 2001, she quickly became a fan favorite. While known for her stunning looks and multiple Playboy magazine covers, she was also a capable in-ring performer who was part of many memorable storylines. More news: WWE Superstar Announces Retirement Match Her most famous feud was a bizarre and deeply personal angle with Dawn Marie, which controversially involved Wilson's real-life father, Al Wilson. After retiring from full-time competition in 2008 due to a back injury, she was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2019. Since stepping away from the ring, Wilson has become a successful web-based fitness instructor and coach. Her incredible physical condition at the age of 50 is a major reason why a potential in-ring return is a plausible scenario. She has made two previous one-off returns for special occasions. She was a surprise entrant in the battle royal at the first Evolution pay-per-view in 2018, and she also competed in the 2021 Women's Royal Rumble match. With other legends from her era, like Trish Stratus, making successful comebacks, Wilson's comments are sure to have fans fantasy booking potential dream matches for the Hall of Famer. More WWE News: For more on WWE, head to Newsweek Sports.
USA Today
4 days ago
- USA Today
Lainey Wilson previews 'Whirlwind' deluxe album as tour kicks off
Lainey Wilson is giving fans a taste of her newest music. In a video posted to social media this week, the singer treated followers to a porch-side performance of "Peace, Love, and Cowboys," a country-western anthem with hippie sensibilities. Clad in a large tan Stetson hat and '70s-inspired shades, Wilson strummed out several verses from the song, which is expected to be featured on the deluxe version of her "Whirlwind" album out later this month. "Westerns and whiskey, horses and hippies, we need more peace, love and cowboys / Long hair and Stetsons, barbed wire and blessings, we need more peace, love and cowboys," she crooned, drawing up imagery of a dusty, wild-west, but injecting a folk music sound. A post shared by Lainey Wilson (@laineywilson) Lainey Wilson inducted into the Grand Ole Opry by Garth Brooks, Trisha Yearwood "We need more peace, love and cowboys ✌🏼🤠 #WhirlwindDeluxe #PeaceLoveAndCowboys," she captioned the post, which was immediately flooded with fan comments hungry for the deluxe album to drop. The original album, Wilson's fifth, was released in August 2024. A 14-track ramble into honky-tonk sounds and boot stomping dance music, the "Whirlwind" deluxe album will drop Aug. 22 and feature three additional songs: "King Ranch, King George, King James" and "Yesterday, All Day, Everyday," along with "Peace, Love, and Cowboys." Wilson's tour to support the album kicked off Aug. 14 in Phoenix. Her set was opened by growing country acts Ernest and Kaitlin Butts. Other opening acts slated for the rest of the tour include Muscadine Bloodline, Maddox Batson, Drake Milligan, Lauren Watkins and Zach Meadows. Contributing: Ed Masley, Arizona Republic
