- published: 01 Mar 2013
- views: 6043
Bonnie Greer, OBE (born 16 November 1948, Chicago), is an American-British playwright, novelist and critic, who has been living in the UK since 1986.
She has appeared as a panellist on television programmes such as Newsnight Review and Question Time and has served on the boards of several leading arts organisations, including the British Museum, the Royal Opera House and the London Film School. She is also the Chancellor of Kingston University in Kingston upon Thames, Surrey.
Greer was born on the West Side of Chicago, the eldest of seven children born to Ben, a factory worker, and Willie Mae, a home maker. Greer's father was born to a family of Mississippi sharecroppers. He was stationed in the UK during World War II and took part in the D-Day landings.
Although she began writing plays at the age of nine, Greer originally set out on a legal career, but dropped out when her professor told her he did not think women should have a career in law. Instead she studied theatre in Chicago under David Mamet's supervision and at the Actors Studio in New York with Elia Kazan.
Question time in a parliament occurs when members of the parliament ask questions of government ministers (including the prime minister), which they are obliged to answer. It usually occurs daily while parliament is sitting, though it can be cancelled in exceptional circumstances. Question time originated in the Westminster system of the United Kingdom, and occurs in other countries, mostly Commonwealth countries, who use the system.
In practice, the questions asked in question time are usually pre-arranged by the organisers of each party; although the questions are usually without notice. Questions from government backbenchers are either intended to allow the Minister to discuss the virtues of government policy, or to attack the opposition. A typical format of such a government backbencher's question might be "Could the Minister discuss the benefits of the government's initiative on <issue>, and is the Minister aware of any alternative policies in this area?"
The American Dream is a national ethos of the United States, the set of ideals (Democracy, Rights, Liberty, Opportunity, and Equality) in which freedom includes the opportunity for prosperity and success, and an upward social mobility for the family and children, achieved through hard work in a society with few barriers. In the definition of the American Dream by James Truslow Adams in 1931, "life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement" regardless of social class or circumstances of birth.
The American Dream is rooted in the Declaration of Independence, which proclaims that "all men are created equal" with the right to "Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."
The meaning of the "American Dream" has changed over the course of history, and includes both personal components (such as home ownership and upward mobility) and a global vision. Historically the Dream originated in the mystique regarding frontier life. As the Royal Governor of Virginia noted in 1774, the Americans "for ever imagine the Lands further off are still better than those upon which they are already settled". He added that, "if they attained Paradise, they would move on if they heard of a better place farther west."
Bonnie, Bonny or Bonne is a given name commonly used for females. It is rarely used as a male given name and is sometimes used as a descriptive reference. It comes from the Scottish word "bonnie" meaning "pretty, attractive" also similar adjectives like charming, beautiful and excellent. That is in turn derived from the Latin word "bonus" meaning good. This link also explains the French meaning of "bon" meaning also meaning good and also "sweet". The name can also be used as a pet form of Bonita. Bonnie is often used as a nickname or a form of endearment towards a loved one.
It is phonetically related to many eastern traditions such as Bon in Tibet the ancient religion preceding Buddhism and the Bon Festival in Japan.
Bonnie is the main character in the Scottish folk song My Bonnie Lies over the Ocean. It was covered by The Beatles a year after their formation in 1961, peaking at #5 in a German chart. Legend suggests the title My Bonnie played a role in their early recognition and later success.
Greer may refer to:
Bonnie Greer | Don't Dream The American Dream
Playwright, novelist and critic Bonnie Greer says "Donald Trump doesn't want to be president"
Bonnie Greer OBE & Nick Griffin, BNP on Question Time 22.10.09
Question Time (Plebgate) - Always trust a Police Officer? - Bonnie Greer
Bonnie Greer on the Parthenon sculptures at the British Museum
'Solidarity is for white women'
29th of September 2016 - BBC Question Time from Boston, Lincolnshire - #BBCQT
Bonnie Greer gives some wise advice to Leave - hope it's not too late...
Bonnie Greer at TEDxYouth@Hackney
NUS Students' Unions 2014: Bonnie Greer
Eleventh Graduation Ceremony, 2:30pm, Tuesday, 19 April 2011 - The University of Adelaide
Alex Katz and The American Dream
Harper's Bazaar Interiors September 2013 Hollywood, CA
Diversity Festival 2013 - Launch Event
Bonnie Greer gives her argument in opposition of dreaming the American dream. SUBSCRIBE for more speakers ► http://is.gd/OxfordUnion Facebook @ http://fb.me/theoxfordunion Twitter @ http://www.twitter.com/OxfordUnion Oxford Union Website @ http://www.oxford-union.org/ Bonnie Greer is an American, she opens by saying he heart is on the proposition but her head is opposed to the motion. She urges the union to vote against the American Dream as a way of telling America to wake up. She says America is like "I have a Dream" as Martin Luther King once said, but more "I have a drone". The American Dream was based on the idea of helping the common man. Now that doesn't exist because there is an Aristocracy in place, the same type of aristocracy that immigrates who originally came to America we...
bonnie greer gives her views on donald trump
One of the most controversial BBC Question Time episodes ever as viewers were split as to whether leader of the far right, British political party; BNP should be allowed on the popular political programme. Bonnie Greer; author, playwright and deputy chairman of the British Museum took Nick to task over his party's incorrect website.
Plebgate reaches fever pitch and makes BBC Question Time. Only panellist Bonnie Greer manages a sensible answer.
Playwright, author and British Museum trustee, Bonnie Greer celebrates the enduring beauty and humanity of the Parthenon Sculptures. The Parthenon was built as a temple dedicated to the goddess Athena. It was the centrepiece of an ambitious building programme on the Acropolis of Athens. The temple's great size and lavish use of white marble was intended to show off the city's power and wealth at the height of its empire.
This week a new hashtag 'Solidarity is for white women' has been trending on social network sites author and critic Bonnie Greer, and deputy editor of the News Statesman, Helen Lewis join the debate.
David Dimbleby presents the show from Boston, Lincolnshire. On the panel are Priti Patel MP, Richard Burgon MP, Steven Woolfe MEP, Bonnie Greer and Rod Liddle.
BBC Daily Politics 24 May 2016
Bonnie Greer, OBE, studied theatre in Chicago under David Mamet, in New York City at the Actors Studio with Elia Kazan, and at the Negro Ensemble Company under the West Indian-American playwright Steve Carter. Greer has lived in the UK since 1986 and became a citizen in 1997. She holds dual nationality. Her plays, books and novels are concerned with the lives of minorities within majority cultures, particularly those of women. She has been Arts Council playwright in residence at the Soho Theatre, and at the Black Theatre Co-operative. She was awarded the Verity Bargate Award for Best Play by the Soho Theatre Company, and shortlisted for an Arts Council award for Best Play. She has had over a dozen plays produced over BBC Radio; one short film for BBC 2, and co-produced and wrote and presen...
Eleventh Graduation Ceremony, 2:30pm, Tuesday, 19 April 2011 Faculty of Sciences FACULTY OF SCIENCES Degree of Doctor of Philosophy For a thesis entitled Chemistry, Phytotoxicity and Remediation of Alkaline soils, David John Brautigan. For a thesis entitled: Towards the Synthesis of the Monoterpene Furanoid Oxides via the Ozonolysis of Bicyclic Bridged 1,2-Dioxines, Nicole Marie Cain. For a thesis entitled: Improved Techniques for the Characterisation of Soil Organic Phosphorus Using 31P Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy and Their Application to Australian Soils, Ashlea Louise Doolette. For a thesis entitled: Identification and Expression Analyses of Genes Involved in Early Endosperm Development in Arabidopsis and Cereals, Ming Li. For a thesis entitled: Improving fructose u...
Martin Colthorpe talks to Bonnie Greer, Sarah Churchwell and Merlin James about Alex Katz and the American Dream, on the occasion of the exhibition Alex Katz: Give Me Tomorrow, 6 October 2012 to 13 January 2013 at Turner Contemporary. Filmed by Mark Castro and Max Philo
Harper's Bazaar Interiors September 2013 Issue Hollywood, California "Behind The Scenes" Photoshoot Creative Director and Producer : Luigi Irauzqui Film Produced & Directed by: Paul Dorfi and P R DORFI STUDIOs Cinematographer: Paul Dorfi Editor: Kristin "KP" Power First Cut Editor: Nicole Taher Digital Integration: Jerdonald "JD" Cobbs Audio Dubbing: Melrose Studios at Raleigh Studios Music Supervisor: Maximilian Law Piano Composer and recording: Summer Rosa Sound Design: Keith Burrows Assistant to Paul Dorfi: Margarite Hickey Photoshoot Photographer: Ascanio Vardan Photography Assistants: Raphael Chatelain ...
Youth as the Future, Bonnie Greer, playwright, novelist and critic
Professor Gus John and Dr Samina Zahir talk Bonnie Greer through their research on race and ethnicity, theatre and theatre-makers…and what ‘identity’ means in Britain today. Edited and Produced by Steven McLean
Video of Bonnie Greer in conversation with artists selected to receive the shape of things bursaries.
The UK’s social and economic landscape has been facing many challenges since the 2008 credit crunch. This has profound implications for charity and philanthropy in the UK. What kind of civil society do we need and want, who is responsible for it, and how will it be affected by future social and economic upheaval? To gain a greater understanding of the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead, Esmée Fairbairn Foundation invited ten civil society leaders to set out their ideas about what charity might look like in 2020.
This video features several different Miko Kuro's Midnight Tea events. This December 2012, the midnight tea team will venture off to India to create another one of a kind collaboration. If you are inspired to donate to this cause, please go to: kickstarter.com/projects/1565439438/midnight-tea-in-mumbai-0 After kickstarter deadline, please go to mikokuro.com to make donations =) *Please note that unlike my other MKMT pieces, I did not do the camera work for this specific piece. I am simply the filmmaker/editor. So big thanks to all the contributing camera operators... Special Thanks to the *many* people who contributed their time and talent to the creation of this video, especially: Miko Kuro (G-hostess, creator) Kelly O (African Tek Support) Stafanya Talenti (lead videographer/filmmaker)...
http://iai.tv Bonnie Greer and David Aaronovitch discuss different forms of rule as part of the debate After Democracy at IAI's summer festival How The Light Gets In. Isabel Hilton chairs. Watch the full video and more at http://iai.tv
Network was the fifth commissioned exhibition in Peckham Space's venue on Peckham Square, SE15. This specially commissioned film from artist Sonia Boyce explores how forms of social communication such as mobile phones and social networking sites like Facebook have become the most popular ways for young people to maintain their relationships with friends and family. This video by Gordon Beswick documents the artist's talk during which artist Sonia Boyce discussed her artwork Network with writer and critic Bonnie Greer, alongside members of Southwark Council's Visual and Performing Arts Young Women's Group. Film by Gordon Beswick.
We caught up with the wonderful Bonnie Greer before her Book Festival event for a quick chat about the first volume of her memoirs, A Parallel Life. You can also see her hour-long event, filmed live at Edinburgh International Book Festival, here on the edbookfest's youtube channel.
Bonnie Greer gives us a fascinating insight in to Marilyn Monroe's political leanings and her support for the American Civil Rights movement. The play tackles the challenges of being a Black musician in the 50's and how Marilyn's influence got Ella Fitzgerald a gig at whites only McCombe Club.
Clinton or Trump? Watch The Spectator debate On 18 October 2016, Andrew Neil chaired a debate on the US Presidential election at Westminster’s Church House attended by 650 guests. The FT’s Gideon Rachman, playwright Bonnie Greer and Robert Ravelli of Democrats Abroad UK spoke for Clinton; Taki, Conrad Black and the American Spectator’s Robert Emmett Tyrell Jr of The American Spectator for Trump. Andrew Neil chaired. Watch the debate here. In association with Rathbones. || SUBSCRIBE TO THE SPECTATOR Subscribe for £12 for 12 weeks http://spectator.co.uk/subscribe || FOLLOW US http://www.twitter.com/spectator http://www.facebook.com/OfficialSpectator https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-spectator
bonnie greer gives her views on donald trump
One of the most controversial BBC Question Time episodes ever as viewers were split as to whether leader of the far right, British political party; BNP should be allowed on the popular political programme. Bonnie Greer; author, playwright and deputy chairman of the British Museum took Nick to task over his party's incorrect website.
Bonnie Greer, OBE, studied theatre in Chicago under David Mamet, in New York City at the Actors Studio with Elia Kazan, and at the Negro Ensemble Company under the West Indian-American playwright Steve Carter. Greer has lived in the UK since 1986 and became a citizen in 1997. She holds dual nationality. Her plays, books and novels are concerned with the lives of minorities within majority cultures, particularly those of women. She has been Arts Council playwright in residence at the Soho Theatre, and at the Black Theatre Co-operative. She was awarded the Verity Bargate Award for Best Play by the Soho Theatre Company, and shortlisted for an Arts Council award for Best Play. She has had over a dozen plays produced over BBC Radio; one short film for BBC 2, and co-produced and wrote and presen...
Playwright & Deputy Chair, British Museum
Plebgate reaches fever pitch and makes BBC Question Time. Only panellist Bonnie Greer manages a sensible answer.
Travel Expert-at-Large Nelson George sits down with Bonnie Greer, a Chicago native who now lives in London and serves as Deputy Chairman of the British Museum's Board of Trustees.