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Fresh Air Weekend: 'Loving Day'; Cable's Faux Newsmen; 'Dope' Director

Mat Johnson is the author of <em>Pym, Drop, </em><em>Hunting in Harlem </em>and <em>The Great Negro Plot</em> as well as several graphic novels including <em>Incognegro</em>, <em>Dark Rain </em>and <em>Right State</em>.
Meera Bowman Johnson
Mat Johnson is the author of Pym, Drop, Hunting in Harlem and The Great Negro Plot as well as several graphic novels including Incognegro, Dark Rain and Right State.

Fresh Air Weekend highlights some of the best interviews and reviews from past weeks, and new program elements specially paced for weekends. Our weekend show emphasizes interviews with writers, filmmakers, actors and musicians, and often includes excerpts from live in-studio concerts. This week:

Mat Johnson On 'Loving Day' And Life As A 'Black Boy' Who Looks White: As a biracial child growing up in Philadelphia, writer Mat Johnson identified as black – but looked white. His new novel is about a man who returns to his hometown after inheriting a run-down mansion.

From SCOTUS To The Confederate Flag, Cable Comedians Keep Tabs On The News: Critic David Bianculli says the commentary, questioning and ridicule of Jon Stewart, Larry Wilmore, John Oliver and Bill Maher help keep news outlets — and news-makers — honest.

'Dope' Director On Geekdom, The N-Word And Confronting Racism With Comedy: Rick Famuyiwa's new film is about a black high-school student who's into 90s hip hop and Japanese comic books. He calls Dope a celebration of kids whose interests don't fit into pop-culture norms.

You can listen to the original interviews here:

Mat Johnson On 'Loving Day' And Life As A 'Black Boy' Who Looks White

From SCOTUS To The Confederate Flag, Cable Comedians Keep Tabs On The News

'Dope' Director On Geekdom, The N-Word And Confronting Racism With Comedy

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