While Black History Is On the Calendar for the Month of February, We Celebrate 365 Days ~ Showcasing the Essence of Black History ~
While Black History Is On the Calendar for the Month of February, We Celebrate 365 Days ~ Showcasing the Essence of Black History ~
Dream it
While Black History Is On the Calendar for the Month of February, We Celebrate 365 Days ~ Showcasing the Essence of Black History ~ While Black History Is On the Calendar for the Month of February, We Celebrate 365 Days ~ Showcasing the Essence of Black History ~ Dream it
“A MIND IS A TERRIBLE THING TO WASTE”
RESEARCH, READ, REFLECT W/LITERATURE OF THE AFRICAN DIASPORA GENRES
Essence Book Gallery
At Essence Book Gallery our goal is to focus on each customer’s African American/Black History and Cultural reading experiences of African Diaspora, yearning to learn of our ancestors/trailblazers worldwide journey to current status. Their journey through many paths and ways of their successes has been captured from their adversities, struggles, oppression, death, systemic racism, etc. Each readers book experience will be influenced by Black Authors & Poets, Farmers, Inventors, Athletes, Civil Rights Activists - Trailblazers, Icons, Educators, Doctors, Nurses, Lawyers, Entrepreneurs, Veterans, Politicians, Artists, Journalists & Historians…
COMING SOON - PRE ORDER 2026 NEW RELEASES
LOVE IS IN THE AIR
In the tradition of Jordan Peele and Tiffany Jackson’s The Weight of Blood, a YA thriller about a Black teen whose fight for survival forces a small southern vacation town to face its dark history of racial violence.
When sixteen-year-old Naomi Ward and her family head to a secluded cabin in the Shenandoah Valley for summer vacation they don’t know the small, mountain town of Sparksburg, Virginia has a dark and twisted past. But when they arrive, Naomi can’t shake the feeling that something about Sparksburg just isn’t right—and it smells god awful, but for some reason Naomi is the only who can smell the town’s stench. When she learns Sparksburg had once been a Sundown Town—a town where Black people weren’t allowed after sunset lest they be murdered—Naomi’s unease starts to make sense.
As Naomi digs more into Sparksburg’s violent origins, she finds herself haunted by the ghost of a girl, appearing nightly outside her window. Then she learns of two girls who’ve recently gone missing and suspects the past may still be present in Sparksburg and beneath the quaint façade of this tourist town is a palpable danger.
When Naomi decides to track the disappearance of the two girls herself, she becomes suspicious of a local man who has kindled fear in Naomi more than once. She soon learns he has a connection to one of the missing girls, and Naomi is certain he’s responsible for the disappearances.
When no one believes her, Naomi takes matters into her own hands. But to save the missing girls, she’ll have to finally face her own past trauma as a “missing girl” as she finds herself in a fight for survival.
Gripping and triumphant, L.S. Stratton tells an important and unforgettable story of racial reckoning inspired by historical events.
From The Queen of Sugar Hill author ReShonda Tate—a new novel inspired by beloved Harlem jazz performer Hazel Scott and the equal parts exhilarating and tumultuous relationship that changed the course of her life.
Harlem, 1943. At just twenty-three, Hazel Scott is a woman on fire. A jazz prodigy, a glamorous film star, and a fierce advocate for civil rights, she’s breaking barriers and refusing to play by the rules. Then Adam Clayton Powell Jr. walks into her life. Harlem’s most electrifying preacher-turned-politician, Adam is as bold and unyielding as Hazel—charismatic, powerful…and married.
This kicks off a decades-long relationship that propels them into the center of a political and cultural revolution. As Hazel’s star rises, Adam takes the national stage in Congress and the couple becomes the toast of the country. But when their affair turns into a marriage, behind the glamorous façade is a battlefield of ego, ambition, and sacrifice. Forced to choose between her music and her family, Hazel must decide what she’s willing to lose—and what she refuses to give up.
Set against the pulsing backdrop of twentieth-century Harlem and featuring icons like Billie Holiday, Langston Hughes, and James Baldwin, With Love from Harlem is a sweeping, emotionally charged romantic drama, rich with historical detail. ReShonda Tate delivers a powerful portrait of love, art, and the price of being unforgettable.
The risks have never been more personal—or more dangerous—in this powerful Regency romance, as a resilient viscountess risks everything for the daughter she loves . . . and the duke she can’t forget.
Katherine Wilcox Palmers, the Viscountess of Hampton, has lost custody of the daughter she secretly bore to Jahleel Charles, now the Duke of Torrance. The bitter court ruling was engineered by the duke himself, but now he is gravely ill. If he dies, Katherine, branded a scandalous bigamist by her late husband’s vengeful family, may never see her child again—unless she makes a bold offer . . .
Desperate, Katherine swallows her pride and proposes that she will nurse the Jahleel back to health, serve his every need, and keep up appearances, on one condition: he will secure her a respectable husband to silence society’s gossip. In private, she will be his mistress. . . .
But Jahleel has plans of his own. Pressured to produce an heir, he resolves to marry someone else. The hereditary blood sickness that plagues them both means Katherine can never be his bride again—no matter how fiercely their old passions reignite.
As dangerous forces gather, composed of those who would erase their child from the peerage for her mixed heritage, Jahleel and Katherine must confront the betrayals and deceptions that tore them apart. To protect their daughter, and fight for the future they were denied, they must jeopardize everything. Especially their hearts.
Love isn't about finding the right person—it's about becoming the right person.
No matter your relationships status—single, dating, engaged, married, or divorced—Student of Love invites you back into the classroom to learn what it truly takes to build healthy, loving and long-lasting relationships. From Laterras R. Whitfield, the host of the Dear Future Wifey Podcast and widely regarded as "The Relationship Whisperer," comes an essential guide packed with refreshing wisdom and heartfelt lessons designed to equip you to make the right decisions in all your relationships.
In a world fixated on finding love, Student of Love shifts the focus to becoming love—offering raw, relatable lessons and hopeful perspectives that resonate with healing, growth, and self-discovery.
What makes this book a must-read?
Laterras steps into the classroom not as a professor, but as a fellow student—creating a space where vulnerability meets wisdom. Here's what's in the curriculum:
A fresh approach to relationships: Learn from your mistakes and use them as steppingstones to build a more intentional and fulfilling love life.
Recognize and define the types of Love: Gain the clarity, knowledge, and courage to seek the right connections.
Guidance for every stage of love: Whether you're navigating the early days of dating, strengthening a marriage, or healing from heartbreak, or focusing on yourself, this book meets you where you are.
Courageous conversations: Laterras tackles the tough topics with compassion and candor, offering profound insights that challenge and heal.
Find the roadmap to self-awareness: Discover how to show up in your relationships with confidence, clarity, and authenticity.
Hope after heartbreak: Heartache isn't the end of your story—it's a chance to rewrite it. Learn how to reassess, rediscover, and rebuild from a place of strength and self-love.
With brutal honesty and heartfelt authenticity, Student of Love explores the complexities of love in all its forms. It's not just a book—it's a guide to uncovering the love you deserve, starting with the love you give yourself.
Your love story isn't over. It's just beginning. So, grab your backpack, open your heart, and let Student of Love help you write the next chapter—one lesson at a time.
Friendship is the love story you can count on.
Remy is lucky. Her debut novel, based on her three best friends, became an instant bestseller when it was released, and her agent and publisher are clamoring for a follow-up. But just as Remy’s creative inspiration seems to leave her, so too do her friends: one moves to New York, one gets pregnant, and one gets back together with her (awful) boyfriend. After an ill-advised one-night stand complicates matters further, Remy is left deeply alone―and unable to find her next book idea.
Simone is successful. A Kindergarten teacher with a passion for kids, and a well-paying side hustle that affords her all the material comforts she desires, she doesn't have time for a robust social life. All Simone needs is her close-knit family―but after the true nature of her work is revealed, they cut her off, and she realizes for the first time just how isolated she is.
When Simone and Remy bump into each other (literally) in a bookstore, it isn’t exactly soulmates at first sight. Simone is guarded and prickly, Remy is insecure and heartbroken, and each woman is harboring a secret. And yet they might just be the missing piece the other has been searching for―if only they can let each other in.
Can Simone help Remy make one of the most important decisions of her life―and can Remy help Simone recover all that she’s lost? In Jessica George’s heartwarming, funny, and soulful second novel, she explores the restorative nature of female friendship and the life-changing power of platonic love.
In this young adult speculative mystery, a teen must find a way to free a cursed witch in order to save her best friend before time runs out.
Every year horror-loving Simone Washington throws an epic Halloween party for her classmates. Party-planning is her favorite escape from the dark secrets in her past, and this year, she’s taking things up a notch with an invitation-only event to celebrate her eighteenth birthday―something that will leave the halls of Pinegrove Academy flooded with gossip about the big ghoulish bash. The overnight stay at Doll’s Head Lake will be filled with spooky pranks and scary stories told by the fire―including the legend of a local witch named Regret.
But those dark secrets from Simone’s past are forced to the surface at the party when her best friend Kira dies under questionable circumstances. The witch appears and offers Simone a deal: if Simone can figure out how to release Regret from the curse trapping her at the lake within fourteen days, all of Simone’s regrets will be erased. If Simone accepts, Kira’s life will be immediately restored. But if she fails, Kira will die again―and Simone will be the one to kill her.
Sports agent Jackie Miles is a petite powerhouse who has built her empire on killer instincts, designer stilettos, and tough skin. Her client roster is legendary, her temper is hotter than Georgia asphalt, and aside from her French bulldog PeeWee and her "boss chick village," she's perfectly content flying solo. Then Antonio Steele walks back into her life, and all hell breaks loose. The towering former football star turned rival agent has always known exactly which buttons to push. Just when Jackie thinks she can handle their explosive chemistry and complicated past, she mysteriously loses her voice. But this isn't ordinary laryngitis; a cryptic stranger's message implies that Jackie must "quiet her tongue and listen with her heart" to lift whatever spell she's under. With a career-defining client trip to Mexico looming, and only the devastatingly handsome Antonio as backup, Jackie must learn to let go-if only she could trust him to catch her. Struck Speechless is book two in the Boss Chicks Village Series, following the hit romcom Losing Sight.
From the award-winning New York Times and Indie bestselling author of Ace of Spades comes a mystery about five teen geniuses, their billionaire father, and the aftermath of his murder―perfect for fans of One of Us is Lying, Holly Jackson, and How to Get Away with Murder!
Five prodigies, one dead father, a mansion full of suspects…
Octavius the Maestro.
Fola the Brain.
Bilal the Olympian.
Perdita the Artist.
Romeo the Failure.
These are the five heirs of the illustrious billionaire Leontes Button. Adopted and viciously trained with their father’s infamous “Button Method” to prove his hypothesis for creating prodigies―child geniuses―the Button siblings have had no choice but to be brilliant according to their father's impossibly high standards.
Until he is murdered at his annual Prodigy Ball.
Now, all who attended the ball are required to stay in the Button Manor while the police investigate. But the officers have their work cut out for them―each of the Button siblings has something to hide, but The Heirs aren't the only ones with secrets. After all, Leontes Button was especially good at making enemies. . .
A wickedly funny, adrenaline-rush of a novel about a graduate student who murders bad men and justifies it in the name of feminism, by a bold new voice in fiction
She just wants to know what justice feels like.
Yrsa is bored: bored with her PhD program, her entitled students, and the never-ending pages of racial violence and feminist theory she has to read. But most of all, she’s bored with the men in her life—especially the bad ones.
And then, one sunny afternoon, she accidentally kills one.
Suddenly a problematic professor is dead, and Yrsa, well—she’s no longer bored.
Emboldened, she starts to chase the high, and soon no misbehaving sexist man within commuting distance is safe.
Finally Yrsa’s academic research feels useful. But how long can killing in the name of feminist and racial solidarity justify her actions? And how long until her actions—and buried family secrets—come back to unravel her?
From the buzzy, viral sensation Only for the Week, comes the next book in Natasha Bishop’s The Forever Falling series, featuring an intimate bucket list road trip, sexy banter, and a sweet and spicy second chance romance.
If you’re reading this, I’m dead.
Dani Jenkins is a boss. A model turned influencer, she doesn’t have time for taking a risk on romance. She prefers to keep things casual, but when her mentor Tanya dies, she is brought face-to-face with the man who broke her heart.
Dani and Micah had their chance at love . . .
Artist Micah Wright is a protector who loves fiercely. He’s known as the man everyone can count on, but he’s never forgiven himself for letting down the woman he loves. With Tanya’s dying wish forcing Dani and Micah back together to complete a scavenger hunt road trip, Micah sees a second chance for them to get things right.
Does time heal all wounds?
Tensions are high as their undeniable connection reignites, but Dani refuses to let her guard down. As they continue their journey, Micah is determined to prove to Dani that love is worth fighting for, but can she release her fears and relearn the art of loving?
Y. A. NEW RELEASES
In the tradition of Jordan Peele and Tiffany Jackson’s The Weight of Blood, a YA thriller about a Black teen whose fight for survival forces a small southern vacation town to face its dark history of racial violence.
When sixteen-year-old Naomi Ward and her family head to a secluded cabin in the Shenandoah Valley for summer vacation they don’t know the small, mountain town of Sparksburg, Virginia has a dark and twisted past. But when they arrive, Naomi can’t shake the feeling that something about Sparksburg just isn’t right—and it smells god awful, but for some reason Naomi is the only who can smell the town’s stench. When she learns Sparksburg had once been a Sundown Town—a town where Black people weren’t allowed after sunset lest they be murdered—Naomi’s unease starts to make sense.
As Naomi digs more into Sparksburg’s violent origins, she finds herself haunted by the ghost of a girl, appearing nightly outside her window. Then she learns of two girls who’ve recently gone missing and suspects the past may still be present in Sparksburg and beneath the quaint façade of this tourist town is a palpable danger.
When Naomi decides to track the disappearance of the two girls herself, she becomes suspicious of a local man who has kindled fear in Naomi more than once. She soon learns he has a connection to one of the missing girls, and Naomi is certain he’s responsible for the disappearances.
When no one believes her, Naomi takes matters into her own hands. But to save the missing girls, she’ll have to finally face her own past trauma as a “missing girl” as she finds herself in a fight for survival.
Gripping and triumphant, L.S. Stratton tells an important and unforgettable story of racial reckoning inspired by historical events.
From the award-winning New York Times and Indie bestselling author of Ace of Spades comes a mystery about five teen geniuses, their billionaire father, and the aftermath of his murder―perfect for fans of One of Us is Lying, Holly Jackson, and How to Get Away with Murder!
Five prodigies, one dead father, a mansion full of suspects…
Octavius the Maestro.
Fola the Brain.
Bilal the Olympian.
Perdita the Artist.
Romeo the Failure.
These are the five heirs of the illustrious billionaire Leontes Button. Adopted and viciously trained with their father’s infamous “Button Method” to prove his hypothesis for creating prodigies―child geniuses―the Button siblings have had no choice but to be brilliant according to their father's impossibly high standards.
Until he is murdered at his annual Prodigy Ball.
Now, all who attended the ball are required to stay in the Button Manor while the police investigate. But the officers have their work cut out for them―each of the Button siblings has something to hide, but The Heirs aren't the only ones with secrets. After all, Leontes Button was especially good at making enemies. . .
In this young adult speculative mystery, a teen must find a way to free a cursed witch in order to save her best friend before time runs out.
Every year horror-loving Simone Washington throws an epic Halloween party for her classmates. Party-planning is her favorite escape from the dark secrets in her past, and this year, she’s taking things up a notch with an invitation-only event to celebrate her eighteenth birthday―something that will leave the halls of Pinegrove Academy flooded with gossip about the big ghoulish bash. The overnight stay at Doll’s Head Lake will be filled with spooky pranks and scary stories told by the fire―including the legend of a local witch named Regret.
But those dark secrets from Simone’s past are forced to the surface at the party when her best friend Kira dies under questionable circumstances. The witch appears and offers Simone a deal: if Simone can figure out how to release Regret from the curse trapping her at the lake within fourteen days, all of Simone’s regrets will be erased. If Simone accepts, Kira’s life will be immediately restored. But if she fails, Kira will die again―and Simone will be the one to kill her.
NATIONAL BESTSELLER • From the National Book Award finalist and author of Pet comes a novel set in a magical West African world, about a teen girl who must save her missing twin while learning to navigate her own terrifying new powers.
ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR: Elle, Horn Book, The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, The Boston Globe Blue Ribbon Awards List
Somadina and her twin brother, Jayaike, are practically the same person: they finish each other's sentences and make each other whole. When the twins come of age, their magical gifts begin to develop, but while Jayaike's powers enchant, Somadina's cause fear to ripple through her town.
Always an outsider, Somadina now faces blatant--and dangerous--hostility. And things go from bad to worse when her brother—the one person she trusted—vanishes. Somadina knows that no matter the dangers, she must track him down. Even if it means entering the Sacred Forest. Even if it means grueling, otherworldly travel she may not survive. Even if it means finding the hidden places where those closest to the spirit world don't dare to go. Does Somadina have the strength --within both her body and her soul -- for the trying journey ahead?
National Book Award finalist Akwaeke Emezi masterfully weaves a tale of family, identity, and the power of the past, in a world where the extraordinary is ordinary.
In this debut speculative YA mystery, a Black teen with premonition-like powers must solve her friend's disappearance before she finds herself in the same danger, perfect for fans of Ace of Spades.
Sariyah Lee Bryant can hear what people need―tangible things, like a pencil, a hair tie, a phone charger―an ability only her family and her best friend, Malcolm, know the truth about. But when she fulfills a need for her friend Deja who vanishes shortly after, Sariyah is left wondering if her ability is more curse than gift. This isn’t the first time one of her friends has landed on the missing persons list, and she’s determined not to let her become yet another forgotten Black girl.
Not trusting the police and media to do enough on their own, Sariyah and her friends work together to figure out what led to Deja’s disappearance. When Sariyah’s mother loses her job and her little brother faces complications with his sickle cell disease, managing her time, money, and emotions seems impossible. Desperate, Sariyah decides to hustle her need-sensing ability for cash―a choice that may not only lead her to Deja, but put her in the same danger Deja found herself in.
NEW RELEASES
From hip-hop moguls and political candidates to talk radio and critically acclaimed films, society communicates that Black girls don’t matter and their girlhood is not safe. Alarming statistics on physical and sexual abuse, for instance, reveal the harm Black girls face, yet Black girls’ representation in media still heavily relies on our seeing their abuse as an important factor in others’ development. In this provocative new book, Aria S. Halliday asserts that the growth of diverse representation in media since 2008 has coincided with an increase in the hatred of Black girls.
Halliday uses her astute expertise as a scholar of popular culture, feminist theory, and Black girlhood to expose how we have been complicit in the depiction of Black girls as unwanted and disposable while letting Black girls fend for themselves. She indicts the way media mistreats celebrity Black girls like Malia and Sasha Obama as well as fictional Black girls in popular shows and films like A Wrinkle in Time. Our society’s inability to see or understand Black girls as girls makes us culpable in their abuse. In Black Girls and How We Fail Them, a revelatory book for political analysts, hip-hop lovers, pop culture junkies, and parents, Halliday provides the critical perspective we need to create a world that supports, affirms, and loves Black girls. Our future depends on it.
From Charles R. Smith Jr., with striking artwork by Adrian Brandon, comes an exuberant collection of poems honoring a dozen outstanding baseball stars from the Negro leagues.
Ladies and gentlemen,
the man you came to see,
strolling onto the field
cool
and confidently . . .
Baseball has been and always will be America’s pastime. And with the creation of the Negro leagues, men who were denied the chance to play professionally were finally able to participate in the sport they loved. The Negro leagues were always a richness of talent; it provided a space for community and inspired a passion for baseball for all who came to watch. Nothing beat watching iconic players like Satchel Paige, Josh Gibson, and Willie Wells. They, along with the nine other players celebrated in this collection, changed the trajectory of baseball forever with their incredible versatility in both skill and athleticism. Charles R. Smith Jr.’s dramatic and energetic poems are written with undeniable care as he pays homage to twelve of the greatest Black baseball players to ever play the game and are accompanied by stunning illustrations by Adrian Brandon. Back matter presents player notes and more context about the Negro Leagues.
What if love wasn’t just a feeling, but a movement?
What if every Black relationship was a radical act of resistance, a blueprint for power, and a legacy in motion?
Together We Rise is more than a relationship book—it’s a cultural revolution wrapped in personal stories, wisdom from the ancestors, and hard-earned insight from the frontlines of Black love. From self-discovery to community-building, from emotional healing to economic power, this is the blueprint for Black couples ready to rewrite the narrative, build wealth, raise kings and queens, and love each other out loud.
In this unapologetic and poetic manifesto, artist and visionary Don Faro—founder of Lyrical Trap Music and author of Future Black History—takes readers on a powerful journey through the six foundations of becoming a Black power couple. Blending deeply personal storytelling with social commentary, historical context, and laugh-out-loud moments, this book speaks to the soul of every Black man and woman who’s tired of surviving and ready to build, heal, and rise.
You’ll discover:
Why loving yourself is the most revolutionary act
How to move from a victim mindset to a victory mission
Where to find your person in a world full of distractions
The real meaning of “power couple” (and how to become one)
How to build thriving communities and cities rooted in Black love
How relationships can fight back against systemic oppression, including policies like Project 2025
This book is for:
Black singles ready to date with purpose
Black couples craving depth, growth, and legacy
Anyone committed to the future of Black families and Black freedom
A marriage on the rocks, a missing friend, and a tangle of shocking lies converge at a peaceful North Carolina lakefront cottage in this irresistibly twisty new psychological thriller from New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Shanora Williams – perfect for readers of Liv Constantine, Tarryn Fisher, Kellye Garrett, and Caroline Kepnes.
Investigative reporter Rose Howard is exhausted from trying to manage her seemingly perfect life. With her marriage to the man she thought was her one true love collapsing, she desperately needs for one thing to go right.
While striving for a promotion to senior reporter, her efforts are interrupted when she learns her former best friend and travel vlogger, Eve Castillo, isn't responding to attempts to contact her at the North Carolina cottage she's reviewing. Rose knows Eve can be flaky and irresponsible. And after Eve breaks the ultimate ethical friendship code and crosses boundaries to the point of no return, Rose wants nothing to do with her. Still, Rose heads to the tranquil small town of Sage Hill . . .
Rose soon discovers that Eve has vanished without her purse and passport—even after booking a trip abroad. The personable cabin owners’ accounts of Eve's stay just don’t add up . . . and most of the town's initially hospitable inhabitants become increasingly less helpful . . .
Rose's instincts tell her the solution lies somewhere in Eve's—and Sage Hill's—past. To get answers, she’ll have to ask inconvenient questions, stumble onto shocking truths, and face vicious attempts on her life. But some truths are best left alone. And secrets Rose never saw coming could easily sink her, and her future, without a
trace . . .
They say be careful what you wish for…
An ELLE Best Book of Summer 2025
For Lydia, Jenny, and Selene, au pairing in Seoul is the opportunity of a lifetime. Lydia wants nothing more than to transform into a leading lady; Jenny is determined to swear off love for good 5,955 miles away from her ex; and Selene is convinced working in Korea will finally lead her to her biological mother.
During a combined family vacation with their host families, the women visit an enchanted waterfall on Jeju Island and make a wish under a full moon. Overnight, everything changes. Suddenly, Lydia is the girl everyone wants—except, strangely, her mysterious art class partner from Spain. Jenny is having secret, no-strings-attached fun with her host mom’s irresistible younger brother. And Selene is finally getting somewhere in her search for her mother thanks to a research-savvy photographer.
But when Jenny’s romantic feelings begin to deepen, she realizes her wish is standing in the way of true, lasting love. Her decision to return to the waterfall will have unexpected consequences and force the au pairs to confront the hardest question of all. Could it be that their friendship was the real magic all along?
NAMED A MOST ANTICIPATED BOOK BY: Time, USA Today, People, AARP, Harper's Bazaar, Today.com, BookRiot, Bustle, LitHub, BookPage, The Millions, Ms., Our Culture, Electric Literature, W, and Vulture
A surprising and beautiful meditation on the color blue—and its fascinating role in Black history and culture—from National Book Award winner Imani Perry
Throughout history, the concept of Blackness has been remarkably intertwined with another color: blue. In daily life, it is evoked in countless ways. Blue skies and blue water offer hope for that which lies beyond the current conditions. But blue is also the color of deep melancholy and heartache, echoing Louis Armstrong’s question, “What did I do to be so Black and blue?” In this book, celebrated author Imani Perry uses the world’s favorite color as a springboard for a riveting emotional, cultural, and spiritual journey—an examination of race and Blackness that transcends politics or ideology.
Perry traces both blue and Blackness from their earliest roots to their many embodiments of contemporary culture, drawing deeply from her own life as well as art and history: The dyed indigo cloths of West Africa that were traded for human life in the 16th century. The mixture of awe and aversion in the old-fashioned characterization of dark-skinned people as “Blue Black.” The fundamentally American art form of blues music, sitting at the crossroads of pain and pleasure. The blue flowers Perry plants to honor a loved one gone too soon.
Poignant, spellbinding, and utterly original, Black in Blues is a brilliant new work that could only have come from the mind of one of our greatest writers and thinkers. Attuned to the harrowing and the sublime aspects of the human experience, it is every bit as vivid, rich, and striking as blue itself.
Her mother named her Sugar Baby James because of the strong sweet tooth she had while pregnant. Sugar Baby inherited her mother’s sweet tooth, and along with it, a desire for her own bakery. Unfortunately, she’s not in the right environment for her dream to come to fruition . . . until she meets the living urban legend Cassius Clay Williams.
Named after the boxing great, Cassius AKA Cash is a punisher. He’s feared, revered, and unparalleled. Watching his mother struggle financially after his father died sent him into the streets and manhood far earlier than it should have. That lifestyle hardened him, and there was nothing soft about Cash . . . until he met Sugar Baby.
When Sugar Baby’s cousin gets into trouble and takes something that belongs to Cash, she’s determined to do whatever it takes to save his life. What she wasn’t expecting was for both her heart and life to be put on the line in the process.
"Vital, brilliant" ―New York Times Book Review A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection 4 starred reviews
National Book Award–winning and #1 New York Times–bestselling author Dr. Ibram X. Kendi brings a global icon to life in the first major biography of Malcolm X for young people in more than thirty years--perfect for fans of blockbuster hit STAMPED: A REMIX with Jason Reynolds.
As a youth, Malcolm endured violence, loss, hunger, foster care, racism, and being incarcerated. He emerged from it all to make a lasting impact. As a Black Muslim. As a family man. As a revolutionary. Malcolm’s life story shows the promise of every human being. Of you!
To trace Malcolm’s childhood and adult years, Kendi draws on Malcolm’s stirring oratory style, using repetition and rhetoric. Short, swift chapters echo Malcolm’s trademark fast walk. An abundance of never-before-published letters, notes, flyers, photos, extensive source notes, and more give young readers a front-row seat to his life.
One hundred years after his birth in 1925, Malcolm’s antiracist legacy lives on in this thoughtful and accessible must-read for all people. For you!
Just like history, Malcolm lives.
His cello made him famous. His father made him a target.
“In this perfectly crafted thriller, Slocumb acts as the master conductor, bringing together a twisty plot and gorgeously wrought characters.” —The Boston Globe
Curtis Wilson is a cello prodigy, growing up in the Southeast D.C. projects with a drug dealer for a father. But through determination and talent, and the loving support of his father’s girlfriend, Larissa, Curtis claws his way out of his challenging circumstances and rises to unimagined heights in the classical music world—even soloing with the New York Philharmonic.
And then, suddenly, his life disintegrates. His father, Zippy, turns state’s evidence, implicating his old bosses. Now the family—Curtis included—must enter the witness protection program if they want to survive. This means Curtis must give up the very thing he loves the most: sharing his extraordinary music with the world. When Zippy’s bosses prove too elusive for law enforcement, Curtis, Zippy, and Larissa realize that their only chance of survival is to take on the criminals themselves. They must create new identities and draw on their unique talents, including Curtis’s musical ability, to go after the people who want them dead. But will it be enough to save Curtis and his family?
A propulsive and moving story about sacrifice, loyalty, and the indomitable human spirit, The Dark Maestro is Brendan Slocumb at the height of his powers.
NATIONAL BOOK AWARD LONGLIST!
"A must-read."
"Achingly tender."
"Intimate and astonishing."
For fans of You've Reached Sam and If I Stay, a hauntingly beautiful, ultimately hopeful novel-in-verse about a girl in between life and death, by National Book Award Finalist Amber McBride.
Gospel is the Keeper of the Leaving Room―a place all young people must phase through when they die. The young are never ready to leave; they need a moment to remember and a Keeper to help their wispy souls along.
When a random door opens and a Keeper named Melodee arrives, their souls become entangled. Gospel's seriousness melts and Melodee’s fear of connection fades, but still―are Keepers allowed to fall in love? Now they must find a way out of the Leaving Room and be unafraid of their love. In a novel that takes place over four minutes, National Book Award finalist Amber McBride explores connection, memory, and hope in ways that are unforgettable and poignant.
CHILDREN’S NEW RELEASES
Food, family, love, and laughter make for the perfect recipe in this sweet picture book from acclaimed author Shauntay Grant.
Taking place over the course of a summer day, we follow a young girl as she and her family gather at her nana's house for a get-together where lessons are shared, food is prepared, and lifelong memories are created. Told in African proverbs, Where There Is Love explores the importance of familial bonds and their lasting impact while presenting proverbs to inspire readers long after the story ends. Throughout the book, Nana's house provides a safe space for our protagonist to make mistakes, learn lessons, and most importantly, find and feel love. This gorgeous picture book provides that same comforting space for readers page after page.
Empowerment for Every Girl, Every Day
Slay All Day is the empowering, interactive workbook every young Black girl—and the women who love them—have been waiting for. Bursting with affirmations, coloring pages, and hands-on activities, this vibrant guide helps girls ages 8–12 claim their brilliance, build unstoppable confidence, and celebrate their unique magic.
Every girl deserves to feel seen, celebrated, and powerful. Slay All Day bridges generations, inviting moms, aunties, mentors, and big sisters to pour love and encouragement into the next wave of world-changers. With culturally resonant illustrations, affirming language, and real-world wisdom, this book is a joyful toolkit for self-esteem and sisterhood.
From bestselling author Elizabeth Leiba, this workbook is more than just a read—it’s a "do." Drawing on the success of her adult bestseller I Came to Slay, Leiba delivers an interactive experience that mirrors Black girlhood, uplifts voices, and makes confidence tangible through journaling, reflection, and creativity.
A young girl is determined to celebrate the women in her community and beyond in this inspiring book by #1 New York Times bestselling author of Ambitious Girl, Meena Harris.
Maya is proud of who she is: a curious kid who loves to ask questions. When her class takes a trip to Washington, DC, and only visits monuments dedicated to men, Maya asks: “Where are all the women?” With help from a park ranger who knows that asking questions is one of the most powerful things you can do, Maya decides to celebrate the women in her community with a monument of their own. But how can a kid build something so big? It takes creativity, community, and ambition—and Maya is the right person for the job!
Inspired by real-life park ranger Betty Reid Soskin, this latest book from #1 New York Times bestselling author Meena Harris encourages kids to question the status quo, and to embrace their part in writing the next chapter of history.
From Young People's Poet Laureate Carole Boston Weatherford and award-winning illustrator Bryan Collier, a stirring account of the 1965 Selma to Montgomery marches, as witnessed by the Alabama River.
Some say water is the mightiest force on earth.
But the yearning for freedom is even stronger.
For centuries, the Alabama River has been a witness. Buried in its riverbed are countless fossils and artifacts-as well as souls, secrets, and stories.
Troubled Waters brings history to life through the voice of this mighty waterway, from the earliest settlers on its shores to 1965, when Black citizens in Selma rose up like a river to demand their right to vote.
In this breathtakingly original picture book, celebrated creators Carole Boston Weatherford and Bryan Collier show that the Alabama River is much more than a witness to history. It is also a source of strength, keeping hope afloat through times of trouble; and a rising tide, coursing on a journey toward justice.
From bestselling illustrator and Coretta Scott King honoree Laura Freeman and award-winning author Glennette Tilley Turner comes the little-known story of Harriet Tubman’s daring rescue of her enslaved brothers on Christmas Day
This historical picture book about the legendary Underground Railroad conductor, abolitionist, and suffragist was written based on personal interviews with Tubman’s last surviving relative. A story of courage, hope, and family, The Gift of Freedom takes readers on an inspiring journey during one of America’s darkest times.
Harriet Tubman was always a keen observer. She learned to use the North Star for a compass, to tell time by the stars, and to find her way by natural signs as well as any hunter could.
She could navigate dense forests, locate waterways in the area, and identify the white Quakers and Black mariners who were willing to help enslaved people escape.
When Tubman first fled north, she knew she might never have another chance to run away. Yet after she arrived safely in the free city of Philadelphia, she risked her own freedom again and again to help other Freedom Seekers―and those she’d had to leave behind.
She never forgot her family in Maryland, and on Christmas Day in 1854, Tubman returned again, hoping to give three of her brothers the best possible gift―the gift of freedom!
From his childhood in the Jim Crow South to his triumphant reign as the King of Blues, Blues Boy tells the aspirational story of American music icon B.B. King. For readers of Trombone Shorty, When Marian Sang, and Drum Dream Girl. Includes a timeline, author’s note, and suggestions for reading and listening.
At twelve years old, Riley B. King borrowed fifteen dollars from his boss to buy a used guitar. Before long, he was playing his music for jubilant crowds all over the world. Blues Boy chronicles B. B. King’s inspiring journey from his childhood in the Jim Crow South to global stardom. It is a compelling biography about the widely known and celebrated American music figure as well as a beautifully illustrated picture book with themes of family, community, history, kindness, empathy, and justice.
Acclaimed author Alice Faye Duncan makes B.B. King’s story both accessible and inspiring for young readers. The text is sometimes uplifting and sometimes heart-wrenching, but always carries emotional depth, much like the music it celebrates. Illustrator and visual artist Carl Joe Williams provides artwork that is rich and distinctive, bringing B.B. King’s story to life on every page. Blues Boy will find a place on the shelf with books like Trombone Shorty and Radiant Child. Includes backmatter.
A Journey Through God's Unchanging Word
Walk through the whole Bible—from the very first page in Genesis to the powerful ending in Revelation. This book helps you see how God’s love, truth, and plan never change. It’s made to help you know God better and understand what His Word says about your life today.
What You’ll Find Inside:
One Chapter for Each Bible Book: Learn what each of the 66 books in the Bible is about, one step at a time.
God Is the Focus: Every part of this book shows who God is—His love, His power, His justice, and His plan for the world.
Made for Black Women: Discover how the Bible speaks to your strength, your story, and your faith in a way that honors your journey.
Big Bible Ideas Made Simple: Learn about God’s promises, His faithfulness, and how He works for good in every season.
Use It in Real Life: Get clear, simple steps for how to live out God’s truth at work, at home, and in your heart.
And so much more!
This book is your guide to knowing God more deeply and trusting Him more fully. It will help you stay close to Him and grow strong in your faith, one page at a time.
FAITH/RELIGION
Prayer Wins: Unlocking the Power of Effective Prayer is a transformative guide to anyone ready to go beyond routine and tap into the real power of prayer. In this inspiring yet practical book, you'll discover how to align your words, heart, and faith to pray with purpose, clarity, and results. Whether you're facing personal battles, standing in the gap for others, or simply longing for a deeper connection with God, this book equips you to pray boldly and believe confidently.
This book will help you:
Strengthen your prayer life with intentionality and focus
Break through spiritual stagnation and discouragement
Develop a deeper awareness of God's presence and power
Activate faith that moves mountains
Build a lifestyle where prayer isn't a last resort - it's your first response
If you've ever wondered "Does prayer really work?" - This book is the answer.
A NATIONAL BESTSELLER!
Do you ever feel like you’re pretending? Do you ever feel like the “real you” is concealed by the disguise you wear every day? Do you even know who the real you is?
Many of us feel confused about who we are and what God created us to be. We go through the motions, doing what’s expected of us, but we feel lost, empty, or just a deep-down sense that there must be more out there for us. We have never taken the time to—or been allowed to—find out who we are at our core. Often, it’s not easy to understand who you are at your core. Sometimes, you have to fight for it.
In The Fight to Find Yourself, Pastor Joel Tudman pairs biblical content, practical teaching, and deeply personal stories to help guide readers struggling with grief, confusion, or feeling lost, to move forward into hope, joy, and a better future. He helps readers:
Uncover and face the deeply-held beliefs that have defined you so far
Confront their deepest disappointments and desires and use those to orient their future
Root out false ideas about what you can do, become, and be
Walk through transitions with confidence and boldness
Find mentors to guide and walk with you through this process
Understand the calling God has placed on their lives
Believe that their value lies in who they are, now what they do
When you truly know who God made you to be, you will be able to know yourself, accept yourself, feel like you, and walk out into the world with your head held high, knowing you are a beloved child of God, already loved, already good enough. This is a powerful and inspiring manifesto to help readers move from being lost, feeling guilty, confused about their callings, or wrestling with grief, to moving forward into healing, health, and happiness in their lives.
A 52-Week Spiritual Journey Designed for the Faith-Filled Black Woman Ready to Go Deeper with God
Build a more intentional, soul-nourishing relationship with God—right where you are.
This beautifully crafted workbook is your trusted companion for a transformative year-long journey of faith, reflection, and growth. Created especially for women seeking spiritual depth and clarity, it guides you through 52 weeks of powerful devotionals, journal prompts, and real-life Scripture application.
Whether you’re a seasoned believer or just stepping into your walk with Christ, this workbook welcomes you into a space of truth, grace, and transformation—withno pressure to be perfect, only an invitation to be present and honest before God.
Here’s just a portion of what you’ll explore inside:
Knowing God Deeper – Cultivate a more intimate understanding of who He is—His character, His heart, and His promises that never fail.
Living Out Your Faith – Learn to walk out biblical truth in everyday life with wisdom, strength, and grace.
Connecting with Others – Strengthen your relationships through Christ-centered love, forgiveness, and communication.
Living with Purpose – Embrace your divine calling and align your gifts with what God placed you on this earth to do.
And so much more—every week is an invitation to grow.
What makes this workbook different?
Each week offers a structured yet gentle rhythm that includes:
An encouraging, truth-filled devotional
Guided Scripture reflections to anchor your heart
Thought-provoking questions for spiritual self-examination
Dedicated journaling space to track your growth, prayers, and God-moments
It’s not about doing more—it’s about being with God more intentionally. This interactive format creates room for you to listen, reflect, and respond as the Holy Spirit leads.
Written With You in Mind
This workbook understands the weight you carry, the faith you hold, and the fire God placed inside you. It honors your rhythm, your resilience, and your desire for more—more connection, more clarity, more of Him.
Whether you use it in quiet mornings, Sunday afternoons, or alongside your sisters in Christ, you’ll find that this is more than a devotional—it’s a sacred journey into wholeness, purpose, and divine identity.
Discover how to find healing from the pain and heartbreak in your life when you allow God and His people to come alongside you.
Author and founder of Broken Crayons Still Color, Toni Collier shows you that it's not only possible to heal from the things that have broken you but that you can build a strong, life-giving community to support you, be with you in the valleys, and speak love and truth into your life as God puts you back together again.
There's no avoiding pain in this world. Whether it's in the form of betrayal, trauma, illness, grief, or abandonment, we've all experienced the kind of pain that completely consumes us and transforms how we show up in the world. Whatever pain is felt, we're often left feeling alone, ashamed, and unsure where to turn for help. We're not sure we can trust others again, we pull back from social engagement, and we feel as if our hearts may never recover. But it doesn't have to be this way.
In Don't Try This Alone, Toni Collier shares how you can have hope in the midst of your most difficult days when you let others in. Opening up about her own experiences of walking through heartbreak, betrayal, and suffering, she shows you the importance of being vulnerable and allowing others to come alongside you as you heal—instead of trying to do it on your own—and gives you practical advice for how to actually heal.
Don't Try This Alone will encourage and guide you to:
Discover that healing is a hard, nonlinear, but worthwhile journey
Understand why being alone in your pain is dangerous
Identify problematic thoughts and the misguided responses from others that keep you trapped in toxic patterns
Recognize the qualities of safe people
Toni teaches you that in every tough circumstance, the way forward is always with God and his people. The hard stuff is coming, but we can get through it if we don't do it alone.
Love isn't about finding the right person—it's about becoming the right person.
No matter your relationships status—single, dating, engaged, married, or divorced—Student of Love invites you back into the classroom to learn what it truly takes to build healthy, loving and long-lasting relationships. From Laterras R. Whitfield, the host of the Dear Future Wifey Podcast and widely regarded as "The Relationship Whisperer," comes an essential guide packed with refreshing wisdom and heartfelt lessons designed to equip you to make the right decisions in all your relationships.
In a world fixated on finding love, Student of Love shifts the focus to becoming love—offering raw, relatable lessons and hopeful perspectives that resonate with healing, growth, and self-discovery.
What makes this book a must-read?
Laterras steps into the classroom not as a professor, but as a fellow student—creating a space where vulnerability meets wisdom. Here's what's in the curriculum:
A fresh approach to relationships: Learn from your mistakes and use them as steppingstones to build a more intentional and fulfilling love life.
Recognize and define the types of Love: Gain the clarity, knowledge, and courage to seek the right connections.
Guidance for every stage of love: Whether you're navigating the early days of dating, strengthening a marriage, or healing from heartbreak, or focusing on yourself, this book meets you where you are.
Courageous conversations: Laterras tackles the tough topics with compassion and candor, offering profound insights that challenge and heal.
Find the roadmap to self-awareness: Discover how to show up in your relationships with confidence, clarity, and authenticity.
Hope after heartbreak: Heartache isn't the end of your story—it's a chance to rewrite it. Learn how to reassess, rediscover, and rebuild from a place of strength and self-love.
With brutal honesty and heartfelt authenticity, Student of Love explores the complexities of love in all its forms. It's not just a book—it's a guide to uncovering the love you deserve, starting with the love you give yourself.
Your love story isn't over. It's just beginning. So, grab your backpack, open your heart, and let Student of Love help you write the next chapter—one lesson at a time.
Do you feel like you live life looking in from the outside? From the way you speak, to the color of your skin, to the way you vote, or the way you pray, you don't fit the mold. And yet you find yourself still trying to prove yourself to others. In Set Me Free, New York Times bestselling author Lecrae invites you on a poetic and artistic exploration of how you can persevere against the lies of unworthiness to experience the freedom given to you in Jesus.
Under the weight of America's racial history, church traditions, and cultural pressures, Lecrae found himself trapped in the belief that he had to earn his freedom or prove his right to be on the stage, or even in the pews of a church. As he learns to shed these old ways of thinking, Lecrae beckons you to step out of the beliefs that are holding you captive and to reconstruct your faith.
Within this inspirational collection of poetry and essays, you will experience:
Raw, lyrical expressions of what it means to be unfree in America
Confessional essays explaining Lecrae's personal journey to claim his freedom and his faith
Empowering words to help heal your wounded soul
A testimony of God's unfailing love and eternal acceptance
This book is perfect for:
Followers of Jesus who feel disillusioned or who are deconstructing from their church experience
Spiritual seekers who feel on the outside of modern religious institutions
Fans of Lecrae's music and album art
This dynamically designed collection is perfect to display on a coffee table or shelf. Provocative, vulnerable, convicting, and inspiring, Set Me Free is a poetry collection for our time.
The pastor and founder of Redefined TV offers a transformative journey to self-love and healing, revealing how addressing our inner struggles is the key to loving others and fulfilling God's purpose.
“Heart Rehab helps you move from hurt to healing, and guides you through a process to repair the hole in your soul—and become whole.”—Jon Gordon, bestselling author of The Energy Bus and The Carpenter
When our inner world feels messy and out of control—we’re stuck in damaging patterns, haunted by traumatic memories, struggling in relationships—it’s tempting to imagine worst-case scenarios and exhaust ourselves by trying to bury the brokenness and put on a happy heart.
Sound familiar? If you are worn out from the pain of unhealed wounds clouding your mind and stealing your joy, Jerry Flowers, Jr., invites you to pause, breathe, and dare to believe that God’s destiny for you is much more than merely settling and surviving.
Heart Rehab offers a respite, a caring shoulder, an encounter with the transforming power of the Great Physician. The grace and truth within these pages will meet you in your deepest hurts, quiet your crowded soul, and fill you anew with strength and hope. As you engage the wisdom here, a revived version of you will emerge—one that:
• finds healing from past trauma and loss;
• breaks free from overthinking and catastrophizing;
• grows in trust of God’s good plans;
• navigates relationships with wisdom and confidence; and
• learns to love God, yourself, and others from a place of wholeness.
This refreshing reality awaits on the other side of your heart rehabilitation.
EDUCATION
GIVE THE GIFT OF READING ~ EMPOWERMENT
The acclaimed author of the “stirring, definitive, and engrossing” (NPR) The Woman’s Hour returns with the story of four activists whose audacious plan to restore voting rights to Black Americans laid the groundwork for the Civil Rights Movement.
In the summer of 1954, educator Septima Clark and small businessman Esau Jenkins travelled to rural Tennessee’s Highlander Folk School, an interracial training center for social change founded by Myles Horton, a white southerner with roots in the labor movement. There, the trio united behind a shared mission: preparing Black southerners to pass the daunting Jim Crow era voter registration literacy tests that were designed to disenfranchise them.
Together with beautician-turned-teacher Bernice Robinson, they launched the underground Citizenship Schools project, which began with a single makeshift classroom hidden in the back of a rural grocery store. By the time the Voting Rights Act was signed into law in 1965, the secretive undertaking had established more than nine hundred citizenship schools across the South, preparing tens of thousands of Black citizens to read and write, demand their rights—and vote. Simultaneously, it nurtured a generation of activists—many of them women—trained in community organizing, political citizenship, and tactics of resistance and struggle who became the grassroots foundation of the Civil Rights Movement. Dr. King called Septima Clark, “Mother of the Movement.”
In the vein of Hidden Figures and Devil in the Grove, Spell Freedom is botha riveting, crucially important lens onto our past, and a deeply moving story for our present.
A stunning visual homage to Black bookstores, featuring a selection of shops around the country alongside essays that celebrate the history, community, activism, and culture these spaces embody, with an original foreword by Nikki Giovanni.
Black literature is perhaps the most powerful, polarizing force in the modern American zeitgeist. Today—as Black novels draw authoritarian ire, as Black memoirs shape public debates, as Black polemics inspire protest petitions—it’s more important than ever to highlight the places that center these stories: Black bookstores.
Traversing teeming metropolises and tiny towns, Prose to the People explores a these spaces, chronicling these Black bookstore's past and present lives. Combining narrative prose, eye-catching photography, one-on-one interviews, original essays, and specially curated poetry, Prose to the People is a reader’s road trip companion to the world of Black books.
Thoughtfully curated by writer and Black bookstore owner Katie Mitchell, Prose to the People is a must-have addition to the shelves of anyone who loves book culture and Black history. Though not a definitive guide, this dynamic book centers profiles of over fifty Black bookstores from the Northeast to the mid-Atlantic, the South, and the West Coast, complete with stunning original and archival photography.
Interspersed throughout are essays, poems, and interviews by New York Times bestsellers Kiese Laymon, Rio Cortez, Pearl Cleage, and many more journalists, activists, authors, academics, and poets that offer deeper perspectives on these bookstores' role throughout the diaspora. Complete with a foreword by world-renowned poet and activist Nikki Giovanni, Prose to the People is a beautiful tribute to these vital pillars of the Black community.
A powerful, incisive reckoning with the impacts of school desegregation that traces four generations of the author’s family to show how the implementation of integration decimated Black school systems and did much of the Black community a disservice
"Rooks deftly sketches this lamentable, sobering history."—The Atlantic
On May 17, 1954, Brown v. Board of Education determined that racial segregation in schools was unconstitutional. Heralded as a massive victory for civil rights, the decision’s goal was to give Black children equitable access to educational opportunities and clear a path to a better future. Yet in the years following the ruling, schools in predominantly Black neighborhoods were shuttered or saw their funding dwindle; Black educators were fired en masse; and Black children faced discrimination and violence from white peers and educators as they joined resource-rich schools that were reticent to accept the new students.
Award-winning scholar Noliwe Rooks weaves together sociological data, cultural history, and personal records to challenge the idea that integration was a boon for Black children. At once assiduously researched and deeply engaging, Integrated tells the story of how education has remained both a tool for community progress and a seemingly inscrutable cultural puzzle. Rooks’s deft hand turns the story of integration’s past and future on its head and shows how we may better understand and support generations of students to come.
BLACK MEN BOLD WORDS
A NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER
Pulitzer Prize winning writer, editor and TV host Jonathan Capehart recounts powerful stories from his life about embracing identity, picking battles, seizing opportunity and finding his voice.
MSNBC anchor Jonathan Capehart is one of the most recognizable faces in cable news. But long before that success, Capehart spent his boyhood growing up without his father, shuttling back and forth between New Jersey and rural Severn, North Carolina, and contemplating the complexities of race and identity as they shifted around him. It was never easy bridging two worlds; whether being told he was too smart or not smart enough, too Black or not Black enough, Capehart struggled to find his place. Then, an internship at The Today Show altered the course of his life, bringing him one step closer to his dream. From there, Capehart embarks on a journey of self-discovery.
Yet Here I Am takes us along that journey, from his years at Carleton College, where he learns to embrace his identity as a gay Black man surrounded by a likeminded community; to his decision to come out to his family, risking rejection; and finally to his move to New York City, where time and again he stumbles and picks himself up as he blazes a path to become the familiar face in news we know today.
Honest and endearing, Yet Here I Am is an inspirational memoir of identity, opportunity, and finding one's voice and purpose along the way.
This companion to Bold Words from Black Women offers clear-eyed advice from inspirational Black men throughout history, paired with vibrant, museum-worthy art.
Immerse yourself in words of affirmation, power, resilience, truth, beauty, love, whimsy, and wonder spoken by Black men whose leadership, thought, and perspectives have not only inspired nations, but helped to create the blueprint for Black manhood and humanity.
Featuring men like actor Sidney Poitier, rapper Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter, basketball player LeBron James, astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson, and former president Barack Obama, this stunning book will have an immeasurable impact on any reader seeking faith, spirit, and purpose.
To heal a world in crisis, we must rethink “legacy”—and commit to something bigger than ourselves.
From the time he was born, Martin Luther King III has carried the weight of his father’s legacy—and his dream of a Beloved Community built on justice, love and equal rights for all. Today, in a world burdened by histories of violence, oppression, racism, poverty, fear and disconnectedness, that dream seems more remote than ever.
In answer to these challenges, Martin has teamed up with his wife and fellow activist, Arndrea Waters King, and legacy architects Marc Kielburger and Craig Kielburger to find a new way forward. Drawing on breakthroughs in neuroscience, psychology, epigenetics and their own lived experiences, they have created a groundbreaking new framework called Living Legacy. It’s based on the simple but profound recognition that our small, day-to-day actions create legacies that have the power to transform, uplift and unite us all. It’s time to reevaluate, recognize, and reclaim those legacies. Living Legacy invites us to live our best lives and lives larger than ourselves—and in doing so, discover the most sought-after yet elusive state of being: fulfillment.
In conjunction with the Realize the Dream campaign, What Is My Legacy? kicks off an essential conversation on how to best refocus our individual stories to achieve collective change. Featuring never-been-told stories from the King family and contributions from celebrities and thought leaders—including His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Jay Shetty, Julia Roberts, Yara Shahidi, Rev. Al Sharpton and Sanjay Gupta—it’s an extraordinary road map for finding genuine connection, bringing us closer to Dr. King’s dream of a Beloved Community.
“What I learned from Greg is still a part of who I am today.”—Tom Brady, 7-time Super Bowl champion
Greg Harden changes lives.
This is why hundreds of world-class athletes, doctors, lawyers, teachers, business leaders, college students, and professionals from all walks of life have come to him for advice and direction—including 7-time Super Bowl Champion Tom Brady, 23-time Olympic Gold Medalist Michael Phelps, Heisman Trophy winners Desmond Howard and Charles Woodson, CEOs of major companies, and championship coaching staffs from all over the world.
Harden teaches his students how to practice, train, and rehearse to give 100 percent, 100 percent of the time, and challenges them by asking: If you don’t believe in yourself, why should I believe in you?
Champions aren’t born. They’re built. Greg Harden spent over 30 years building them at the University of Michigan, including 400 future professional athletes, 50 NFL first-round draft picks, and 120 Olympians from over 20 countries. He gained national recognition when 60 Minutes Sports profiled him as “Michigan’s Secret Weapon.”
Now, in his first book, Greg Harden is reaching out to help anyone who wants to live their best life by offering powerful and practical advice.
You will learn to:
Stop being afraid of being afraid: Fear and self-doubt are the enemy. As soon as you learn that fear and self-doubt are predictable, they become manageable.
Control the controllables: How you control your own emotions, reactions, and responses to circumstances is what you must master first. You are the only one who has control over your mind. Stop letting others determine the way you feel about yourself.
Commit, improve, and maintain: Learn to build better habits. Making small improvements every day is the secret to a completely transformed life.
Become the world’s greatest expert on yourself: It’s the only way to become the very best version of yourself.
Practice self-love and self-acceptance: These are the keys to eliminating and replacing self-defeating attitudes and behaviors.
This is a one-of-a-kind book that will give you the indispensable lessons and tools necessary to create real change in your life.
The Authentic Edge: Leading Without Losing Yourself
A Leadership Guide for Black Men Moving from Middle Management to the Executive Table
You’ve mastered the work. Now it’s time to master the room without shrinking your voice or sacrificing your soul.
The Authentic Edge is a powerful leadership guide for Black men navigating the climb from middle management to senior leadership. Written with bold honesty and strategic clarity, this book confronts the unspoken pressures of executive advancement while offering a liberating path forward: one rooted in identity, alignment, and legacy.
Drawing from lived experience and coaching across industries, the author unpacks how to lead with presence, build trust in high-stakes spaces, reclaim your voice, and sustain performance without burnout. Whether you’re the only one in the room or the first to reach the table, this book will help you rise without erasing who you are.
Inside you'll discover:
How to navigate micro-tensions and the hidden rules of power
Why authenticity is a leadership advantage, not a liability
Tools to define your leadership DNA and lead with quiet power
Strategies for high-impact influence, executive presence, and resilience
Reflection prompts, leadership scorecards, and real talk from Black male leaders across sectors
This is more than a leadership book, it’s a permission slip to lead from your truth, not the script.
For Black men ready to move differently, lead boldly, and build something that lasts, The Authentic Edge is your guide to rising without losing yourself.
BLACK HISTORY, BLACK LIVES, STORIES, AND PURPOSE
The acclaimed author of the “stirring, definitive, and engrossing” (NPR) The Woman’s Hour returns with the story of four activists whose audacious plan to restore voting rights to Black Americans laid the groundwork for the Civil Rights Movement.
In the summer of 1954, educator Septima Clark and small businessman Esau Jenkins travelled to rural Tennessee’s Highlander Folk School, an interracial training center for social change founded by Myles Horton, a white southerner with roots in the labor movement. There, the trio united behind a shared mission: preparing Black southerners to pass the daunting Jim Crow era voter registration literacy tests that were designed to disenfranchise them.
Together with beautician-turned-teacher Bernice Robinson, they launched the underground Citizenship Schools project, which began with a single makeshift classroom hidden in the back of a rural grocery store. By the time the Voting Rights Act was signed into law in 1965, the secretive undertaking had established more than nine hundred citizenship schools across the South, preparing tens of thousands of Black citizens to read and write, demand their rights—and vote. Simultaneously, it nurtured a generation of activists—many of them women—trained in community organizing, political citizenship, and tactics of resistance and struggle who became the grassroots foundation of the Civil Rights Movement. Dr. King called Septima Clark, “Mother of the Movement.”
In the vein of Hidden Figures and Devil in the Grove, Spell Freedom is botha riveting, crucially important lens onto our past, and a deeply moving story for our present.
A powerful, incisive reckoning with the impacts of school desegregation that traces four generations of the author’s family to show how the implementation of integration decimated Black school systems and did much of the Black community a disservice
"Rooks deftly sketches this lamentable, sobering history."—The Atlantic
On May 17, 1954, Brown v. Board of Education determined that racial segregation in schools was unconstitutional. Heralded as a massive victory for civil rights, the decision’s goal was to give Black children equitable access to educational opportunities and clear a path to a better future. Yet in the years following the ruling, schools in predominantly Black neighborhoods were shuttered or saw their funding dwindle; Black educators were fired en masse; and Black children faced discrimination and violence from white peers and educators as they joined resource-rich schools that were reticent to accept the new students.
Award-winning scholar Noliwe Rooks weaves together sociological data, cultural history, and personal records to challenge the idea that integration was a boon for Black children. At once assiduously researched and deeply engaging, Integrated tells the story of how education has remained both a tool for community progress and a seemingly inscrutable cultural puzzle. Rooks’s deft hand turns the story of integration’s past and future on its head and shows how we may better understand and support generations of students to come.
A stunning visual homage to Black bookstores, featuring a selection of shops around the country alongside essays that celebrate the history, community, activism, and culture these spaces embody, with an original foreword by Nikki Giovanni.
Black literature is perhaps the most powerful, polarizing force in the modern American zeitgeist. Today—as Black novels draw authoritarian ire, as Black memoirs shape public debates, as Black polemics inspire protest petitions—it’s more important than ever to highlight the places that center these stories: Black bookstores.
Traversing teeming metropolises and tiny towns, Prose to the People explores a these spaces, chronicling these Black bookstore's past and present lives. Combining narrative prose, eye-catching photography, one-on-one interviews, original essays, and specially curated poetry, Prose to the People is a reader’s road trip companion to the world of Black books.
Thoughtfully curated by writer and Black bookstore owner Katie Mitchell, Prose to the People is a must-have addition to the shelves of anyone who loves book culture and Black history. Though not a definitive guide, this dynamic book centers profiles of over fifty Black bookstores from the Northeast to the mid-Atlantic, the South, and the West Coast, complete with stunning original and archival photography.
Interspersed throughout are essays, poems, and interviews by New York Times bestsellers Kiese Laymon, Rio Cortez, Pearl Cleage, and many more journalists, activists, authors, academics, and poets that offer deeper perspectives on these bookstores' role throughout the diaspora. Complete with a foreword by world-renowned poet and activist Nikki Giovanni, Prose to the People is a beautiful tribute to these vital pillars of the Black community.
The US racial wealth gap is large, and it's compounding. It's time to close it. Minding the Wealth Gap shines a light on people doing this important work and explores how you can get involved too.
Generations of public and private practices have left Black households $15 trillion and 400 years behind white households.Engaging storytelling backed by data, Minding the Wealth Gap highlights the wide-ranging impact of this lack of wealth parity. It explores the intricate connections between issues such as housing disparities, employment opportunities, education, investment barriers, social networks, and over-policing, all of which contribute to the staggering wealth gap between Black and white households.
While the numbers are astounding, there is also hope. Investment professional Cliff Goins IV shines a spotlight on the courageous efforts of nine Black entrepreneurs and executives who are actively working to bridge this chasm:
- Kedra Newsom Reeves is a highly accomplished, very curious management consultant by day, serving as a partner at the Boston Consulting Group, where she drives holistic solutions to wealth creation.
- Mark Wilson became an accidental entrepreneur, then used his platform to empower economic mobility for under-resourced team members.
- C-suite executive Selena Cuffe is a world traveler and a talented business leader. She is a poster child for the power of cultivating diverse talent.
- Lee Henderson leveraged his role as partner at Ernst & Young LLP to help launch a network of resources to accelerate the growth of underserved ethnic minority-owned businesses.
- Shundrawn Thomas champions underdogs and unleashes access to financial and human capital as CEO of The Copia Group, a private investment firm.
- Tony Wilkins, an advisor for Google for Startups, is an entrepreneur whisperer, imparting wisdom and money that they need to flourish.
- Corporate lawyer turned entrepreneur George Fatheree III advocates for real estate justice and turbocharges home and land ownership.
- Small business banker Steve Hall locates the diamonds in the rough, putting capital to work in overlooked communities.
- Serial entrepreneur and sage Robert Blackwell Jr. is compelling large organizations to "just do business" and free the enterprises.
These "gap closers" have much to teach us, having pioneered initiatives such as empowering economic mobility, advocating for homeownership, and championing economic parity. Goins invites us to get in the game and become gap closers ourselves, unleashing trillions of dollars of potential trapped in our poorest communities. Minding the Wealth Gap is both a powerful catalyst and a call to arms, urging America's entrepreneurs, executives, government officials, and other leaders to join these efforts and take meaningful steps toward a more equitable future for all.
A Brother's Insight is an invitation to get off the sidelines and contribute to ending racism in your own unique way.
This empowering and thought-provoking guide draws on the author’s personal story and professional experiences to help you understand key issues and how to make your own unique contributions to ending racism and other forms of oppression.
Dr. Joe-Joe McManus witnessed firsthand the devastating impact that racism had on his racially, ethnically, and religiously diverse family growing up in a white flight town south of Boston. This led him to dedicate his life to fighting for equity, inclusion, and justice across the full spectrum of diversity.
An executive advisor on antiracist leadership and inclusive excellence, “Dr. Joe-Joe” unpacks false narratives and explains how avoiding the antiracism conversation does harm to all of us. He breaks down what living an antiracist life means, focusing on decisions related to shopping, philanthropy, socializing, and even dating and how they impact individuals, as well as educational, economic, and other systems. Dr. Joe-Joe emphasizes that every antiracist effort we make matters and encourages you to recognize the importance of your voice, particularly within your circles of influence.
Why is less than 1% of rural land in the U.S. owned by Black people? An acclaimed writer and activist explores the impact of land theft and violent displacement on racial wealth gaps, arguing that justice stems from the literal roots of the earth.
“With heartfelt prose and unyielding honesty, Baker explores the depths of her roots and invites readers to reflect on our own.”—Donovan X. Ramsey, author of the National Book Award for Nonfiction semi-finalist When Crack Was King
To understand the contemporary racial wealth gap, we must first unpack the historic attacks on Indigenous and Black land ownership. From the moment that colonizers set foot on Virginian soil, a centuries-long war was waged, resulting in an existential dilemma: Who owns what on stolen land? Who owns what with stolen labor? To answer these questions, we must confront one of this nation’s first sins: stealing, hoarding, and commodifying the land.
Research suggests that between 1910 and 1997, Black Americans lost about 90% of their farmland. Land theft widened the racial wealth gap, privatized natural resources, and created a permanent barrier to access that should be a birthright for Black and Indigenous communities. Rooted traces the experiences of Brea Baker’s family history of devastating land loss in Kentucky and North Carolina, identifying such violence as the root of persistent inequality in this country. Ultimately, her grandparents’ commitment to Black land ownership resulted in the Bakers Acres—a haven for the family where they are sustained by the land, surrounded by love, and wholly free.
A testament to the Black farmers who dreamed of feeding, housing, and tending to their communities, Rooted bears witness to their commitment to freedom and reciprocal care for the land. By returning equity to a dispossessed people, we can heal both the land and our nation’s soul.
BOLD BODACIOUS COOKBOOK RECIPES
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BOLD BODACIOUS COOKBOOK RECIPES *
The culmination of years of research, this evocative volume looks in detail at the history and geography, customs and festivities, as well as all the local ingredients, and presents a mouthwatering selection of classic recipes, beautifully photographed. Hospitality is of utmost importance in Morocco. Offering, sharing and receiving are intertwined and, even in the humblest of homes, a guest will be offered dates to dip in milk, or a simple glass of milk flavoured with rosewater, sometimes with scented petals floating on top. Freshly baked or griddled bread, scented sweetmeats or fruit may also be offered to welcome guests and wherever you go in the country a glass of hot, sweet mint tea is the essence of hospitality, friendship, family gatherings and trade. This is just the beginning. What has yet to come is a feast for the senses. Spicy and scented, fruity and sweet, offering creative combinations of cumin and ginger, honey and cinnamon, saffron and rose chillies and turmeric, nuts, marinated olives and preserved lemons, served in painted, earthenware bowls and tagines,
Moroccan food is both exciting and inspiring. It is no wonder that the cuisine has been described as the 'perfumed soul' of the culture. A table laden with a Moroccan feast can tell the fascinating story of the country and its people and the influences from the ancient and medieval cultures that have left their mark on the region. At the root of the culinary culture are the indigenous Amazigh, the Berber communities, with their traditions of tagines and couscous; the nomadic Bedouins from the desert who brought dates, milk and grains; the Moors expelled from Spain who relied heavily on olives and olive oil and brought with them the Andalucian flavours of paprika and herbs; the Sephardic Jews with their preserving techniques employing salt; the Arabs who introduced the sophisticated cuisine from the Middle East along with Islamic culinary restrictions; the slaves from central Africa with their tribal secrets; the Ottoman influence of kebabs and pastry making; and the finesse of the French. Sensually intertwining the ancient and medieval influences within the modern, the cuisine is regarded as the most exquisite and refined of the Maghreb, the North African region comprising Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria. Libya and Mauritania.
"While I walked up to the Kasbah du Toubkal, a magnificent mountain retreat in the Atlas Mountains, my young children were transported on the back of a gentle mule. Chatting and giggling, they were blissfully unaware of the draining heat, but I was thankful when we arrived at the walls of the ancient refuge. In the shelter and shade of the pretty courtyard garden, a vision of colour from lush green herbs and scented pink roses, we were greeted warmly with a cool sprinkling of rose water to refresh our hands, faces and necks and the most succulent dates I have ever tasted dipped in a bowl of milk - traditional Berber hospitality. Welcome to Morocco!"
A transportive, highly personal cookbook of 100 West African-influenced recipes and stories from Top Chef finalist Eric Adjepong.
"Sankofa" is a Ghanaian Twi word that roughly translates to the idea that we must look back in order to move forward. In his moving debut cookbook, chef Eric Adjepong practices sankofa by showcasing the beauty and depth of West African food through the lens of his own culinary journey.
With 100 soul-satisfying recipes and narrative essays, Ghana to the World reflects Eric's journey to understand his identity and unique culinary perspective as a first-generation Ghanaian American. The recipes in this book look forward and backward in time, balancing the traditional and the modern and exploring the lineage of West African cooking while embracing new elements. Eric includes traditional home-cooked meals from his mother, like a deeply flavorful jollof rice and a smoky, savory kontomire stew thick with leafy greens, alongside creative dishes influenced by his culinary education, like a sweet summer curried corn bisque and sticky tamarind-glazed duck legs.
Full of stunning photography shot in Ghana and remembrances rooted in family, tradition, and love, Ghana to the World shows readers how the unsung story of a continent's cuisine can shine a powerful light on one person's exploration of who he is as a chef and a man.
A culinary exploration of Ethiopian cuisine, showcasing both time-honored traditions and innovative new flavors.
Immerse yourself in the rich and diverse world of Ethiopian cooking with this comprehensive cookbook. Featuring a curated collection of classic and modern recipes, this book is an essential guide for both seasoned cooks and curious newcomers.
Inside you'll find:
Authentic recipes: Master the art of preparing traditional Ethiopian dishes like doro wat, injera, tibs, and shiro, with clear instructions and expert guidance.
Modern interpretations: Discover exciting new flavors and contemporary twists on classic recipes, showcasing the versatility of Ethiopian ingredients and techniques.
Stunning photography: Vivid images capture the beauty and vibrancy of Ethiopian cuisine, inspiring you to create your own culinary masterpieces.
Cultural insights: Gain a deeper understanding of Ethiopian food culture, from the significance of spices to the etiquette of shared meals.
Whether you're seeking to recreate the flavors of your heritage or explore a new culinary landscape, this cookbook will equip you with the knowledge and inspiration to create authentic and delicious Ethiopian meals.
This cookbook is perfect for:
Home cooks of all levels, from beginners to experienced chefs
Food enthusiasts interested in exploring global cuisines
Anyone seeking to expand their culinary repertoire with authentic Ethiopian recipes
Order your copy today and embark on a culinary adventure to the heart of Ethiopia!
A groundbreaking collection of essays about food and its powerful link to identity, culture and community, from twenty exciting voices around the world.
We hear about a family ritual of drying mango and pickling limes in India, and the search for a father’s favourite hotdog in North Carolina. We investigate Latino food in cinema and vegetarianism in Buddhist diets, the cultural appropriation of Chinese food and the effect of gentrification on Black communities. And we learn about the grassroots organisations fighting for change, for equality for farmers and for better mental health provisions in kitchens, where toxicity and micro-aggressions are rife.
Edited by renowned chef and activist Zoe Adjonyoh, and featuring a foreword by acclaimed author and broadcaster Yasmin Khan, Serving Up is an electric, urgent anthology campaigning for representation around our dinner tables, wherever that dinner table may be.
Includes essays from: Abigail Koffler, Apoorva Sripathi, Chris Nigro, Cynthia Greenlee, Duron Chavis, Fatima Tarkleman, Hassel Aviles, Izzie Ramirez, Lee Tran Lam, Lenore Adkins, Mavis-Jay Sanders, Samah Dada, Scott Alves Barton, Selasie Dotse, Tambra Raye Stevenson, Tiffani Rozier, Vanessa Parish, Yoshivel Elise Chirinos.
‘In Caribe, Sakarah has lovingly created a book to cook from, to learn from,and to savour.’ -DR JESSICA B. HARRIS, historian and author of High on the Hog (now a Netflix docuseries)
‘A rich and traversal tapestry of food, culture, a people, and their past. Caribe is remarkable. Keshia Sakarah isn’t just a chef, she’s an archivist.’ - CANDICE CARTY-WILLIAMS, showrunner and author of Queenie
‘An instant classic; a rich deep dive into the history of food across the Caribbean islands with beautiful, transportive photography and mouth watering recipes.’ - IXTA BELFRAGE, chef and author of MEZCLA
An incredible journey through the social and culinary history of the Caribbean, with recipes from every nation.
Caribe is the first cookbook to explore Caribbean food culture of the entire region: Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Petite Martinique and the Carriacou, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, The French Caribbean, The Dutch West Indies and Trinidad and Tobago. Through years-long research including collaborations with historians and extensive travel to the islands, food writer and chef Keshia Sakarah explores the complicated and varied stories of each nation through its beloved dishes, addressing difficult truths while at the same time creating a joyful collection of the most celebrated recipes in the region to pay homage to those who created them, from Haitian Independence – Soup Joumou and Dominican Saltfish Accra Fritters, to Guyanese Pepperpot and Montserratian Fish Broth, passed on through generations.
Including stunning location photography, essays and recipes for breakfast, lunch, dinner and everything in between, Caribe is the ultimate tome of Caribbean cooking.
An enthralling, intimate collection of essays and over 75 recipes exploring the history of eight countries to understand the impact of geopolitical conflict and its outcomes on cuisine and food system, from Somali refugee and James Beard Award-winning author of In Bibi's Kitchen.
Countries dealing with major conflict are rarely portrayed in a well-rounded light by the media. Images of disarray and decline saturate their narratives, ignoring the strength, resourcefulness, and ingenuity that arise from having to navigate conflict. With empathy, curiosity, and an insistence on sharing different aspects of human survival, Hawa Hassan gathers singular, multifaceted narratives for eight countries from around the world.
Each chapter is devoted to a different country and opens with an informative essay on the culture and its history. Recipes follow highlighting indigenous ingredients and share intimate portraits of the people preserving food culture, including food from:
• Afghanistan, such as Bolani (Stuffed Flatbread) and Borani Banjan (Stewed Eggplant with Garlic Yogurt)
• Democratic Republic of Congo, such as Chikwanga (Cassava Flour Cake) and Pondu (Cassava Leaf Stew)
• Egypt, such as Ta'ameya (Fava Bean Fritters) and Ghorayeba (Shortbread Cookies)
• El Salvador, such as Sopa de Res (Beef Shank Soup) and Pupusas con Curtido (Filled Masa Flatbreads with Cabbage Slaw)
• Iraq, such as Shorbat Adas (Lentil Soup) and Bamia (Lamb and Okra Stew)
• Lebanon, such as Malfouf (Stuffed Cabbage Rolls) and Mouhamara (Spicy Walnut and Red Pepper dip)
• Liberia, such as Ground Peanut Soup and Kala (Sweet Fried Dough)
• Yemen, such as Saltah (Lamb Stew with Fenugreek Fruth) and Sahawiq
An original and groundbreaking work, Setting a Place for Us returns agency to the people whose stories, up until now, have been ignored in the media. It sheds light on the important work of preserving recipes and food traditions in places of conflict and migration.
‘A sweeping love letter to the region that shaped America’s palate.’ – Eric Adjepong
A home cook’s guide to one of America’s most diverse – and delicious – cuisines, from James Beard Award-winning author and culinary historian Michael W. Twitty
‘Our cuisine, with its grits and black-eyed peas, crab cakes, red rice, and endless variations on the staple foods of the region, casts a spell that, if you’re lucky, gets passed down with snapping string beans at the table and chewing cane on the back porch.’ – Michael W. Twitty
In the introduction to this groundbreaking recipe collection, acclaimed historian Michael W. Twitty declares, ‘No one state or area can give you the breadth of the Southern story or fully set the Southern table.’ To answer this, Recipes from the American South journeys from the Louisiana Bayou to the Chesapeake Bay, showcasing more than 260 of the region’s most beloved dishes.
Across more than 400 pages, Twitty explores the broad culinary sweep that Southern history and its many cultures represent. Recipes for breads and biscuits, mains and sides, stews, sauces, and sweets feature insightful headnotes and clear, step-by-step instructions. Home cooks will discover both iconic dishes and lesser-known specialties: Chicken and Dumplings, She-crab Soup, Red Eye Gravy, Benne Seed Wafers, Hummingbird Cake, and Mint Juleps appear alongside Shrimp Pilau, Chorizo Dirty Rice, Sumac Lemonade, and Cajun Pig’s Ears Pastry.
A masterful storyteller, Twitty enriches his extensive recipe collection with lyrical, deeply researched essays that celebrate the region’s “multicultural gumbo” of influences from immigrants from across the globe. Vibrant food photography adds further color to the fascinating narrative.
Expansive, authoritative, and beautifully designed, Recipes from the American South is a classic cookbook in the making.
NATIONAL BESTSELLER • Discover the sweeping story of how Indigenous, European, and African traditions intertwined to form an entirely new cuisine, with over 90 recipes for the modern home cook—from the James Beard Cookbook Hall of Famer and star of the Netflix docuseries High on the Hog.
One of our preeminent culinary historians, Dr. Jessica B. Harris has conducted decades of research throughout the Americas, the Caribbean, and Africa. In this telling of the origins of American food, though, she gets more personal. As heritage is history, she intertwines the larger sweeping past with stories and recipes from friends she’s made over the years—friends from all three threads of the braid, descended from Native peoples, Europeans, and Africans, whose family dishes speak to the crucial era when each thread formed a trinity, and the origins of American food.
Through this mix, we learn that Clear Broth Clam Chowder has both Indigenous and European roots; the same, too, with Enchiladas Suizas, tomatillo-smothered tortillas made “Swiss” with cheese and dairy; and that the hallmarks of African American food through the centuries have been evolution based on region, migration, and innovation, resulting in classics like Red Beans and Rice and Peach Bread Pudding Cupcakes with Bourbon Glaze.
With recipes ranging from everyday meals to festive spreads, Braided Heritage offers a new, in-depth, delicious look at American culinary history.
Discover the rich culinary legacy of the Gullah Geechee people with this definitive collection of 100 traditional recipes passed down through generations. This authentic Gullah Geechee cookbook celebrates the West African-rooted cuisine of South Carolina's Lowcountry and the Sea Islands, where soul food meets history.
Why This Book Stands Out:
✔ 100 True-to-Roots Recipes – No modern twists, just real Gullah Geechee cooking as it's been made for centuries.
✔ Staple Ingredients & Methods – Master the use of rice, seafood, okra, and benne seeds the traditional way.
✔ Perfect for Food Historians & Home Cooks – Whether you're exploring Black culinary history or craving authentic Southern flavors, this book delivers.
Ideal for fans of:
Gullah Geechee culture books
African-American soul food cookbooks
Lowcountry and Southern cuisine
Historical cooking & heritage recipes
James Beard Award-winning chef Nina Compton shares recipes that tell the story of her thrilling culinary journey from St. Lucia to Jamaica, Miami, and New Orleans, and celebrate the diverse African heritage that threads these cuisines together.
Growing up in St. Lucia, a small island in the Eastern Caribbean, chef Nina Compton developed a strong sense of community through cooking and food. As she traveled and worked in restaurants abroad, she was eager to learn, improvise, and innovate by doing what transplants like herself do best: Bring the best of home with them wherever they go. Kwéyòl / Creole explores the cuisines and pivotal locales that form the basis of Nina’s unique culinary perspective: from her birthplace in St. Lucia, to Jamaica where her view of Caribbean cuisines broadened, to Miami where she was immersed in Afro-Latin influences and continued to hone her cooking style, and finally New Orleans, her adopted city whose Creole cuisine brought her home in new ways.
In St. Lucia, when they say “Creole,” they don’t mean French-influenced. The St. Lucian Creole, or Kwéyol, celebrates a diverse African heritage, beautifully reflected in the 100 recipes presented here. The dishes are both transportive and irresistible, each telling a story of its multi-faceted history and influences: steamed snapper with a peppery ginger sauce, slow-cooked curried goat, green fig and saltfish, coconut-braised collard greens, Creole-stewed conch, the countless possibilities of the beloved plantain. In these pages, the weather is warm and tropical, and the vibe is easygoing, just like the places Nina’s lived. The dishes are full of flavor and the mood is chill.
Full of stunning travel photography and anchored by Nina’s singular culinary vision, Kwéyòl / Creole celebrates the rich history of where she comes from, while forging something that feels a little new, a little hers. And now, with this book, a little yours, too.
One of the Best Nonfiction Books of 2022, Kirkus Reviews
"A righteous indictment of racism and misogyny."—Publishers Weekly
A powerful account of violence against Black women and girls in the United States and their fight for liberation.
Echoing the energy of Nina Simone's searing protest song that inspired the title, this book is a call to action in our collective journey toward just futures.
America, Goddam explores the combined force of anti-Blackness, misogyny, patriarchy, and capitalism in the lives of Black women and girls in the United States today.
Through personal accounts and hard-hitting analysis, Black feminist historian Treva B. Lindsey starkly assesses the forms and legacies of violence against Black women and girls, as well as their demands for justice for themselves and their communities. Combining history, theory, and memoir, America, Goddam renders visible the gender dynamics of anti-Black violence. Black women and girls occupy a unique status of vulnerability to harm and death, while the circumstances and traumas of this violence go underreported and understudied. America, Goddam allows readers to understand
How Black women—who have been both victims of anti-Black violence as well as frontline participants—are rarely the focus of Black freedom movements.
How Black women have led movements demanding justice for Breonna Taylor, Sandra Bland, Toyin Salau, Riah Milton, Aiyana Stanley-Jones, and countless other Black women and girls whose lives have been curtailed by numerous forms of violence.
How across generations and centuries, their refusal to remain silent about violence against them led to Black liberation through organizing and radical politics.
America, Goddam powerfully demonstrates that the struggle for justice begins with reckoning with the pervasiveness of violence against Black women and girls in the United States.
"A beautifully written political-social page turner" (Joy-Ann Reid) about the legendary party hosted by Diahann Carroll for Shirley Chisholm's 1972 presidential campaign, which changed the playing field for Black women in politics.
In 1972, New York Representative Shirley Chisholm broke the ice in American politics when she became the first Black woman to run for president of the United States. Chisholm left behind a coalition-building model personified by a once-in-an-era Hollywood party hosted by legendary actress and singer Diahann Carroll, and attended by the likes of Huey P. Newton, Barbara Lee, Berry Gordy, David Frost, Flip Wilson, Goldie Hawn and others. In A More Perfect Party, MSNBC political analyst Juanita Tolliver presents a path to people-centered politics through the lens of this soiree, with surprising parallels to our current electoral reality.
Chisholm worked the crowd of movie stars, media moguls, music executives and activists gathered at Carroll’s opulent Beverly Hills home, forging relationships with laughter as she urged guests to unify behind her campaign. With the feminist movement on the rise and eighteen- to twenty-year-olds voting for the first time in American history, the Democratic Party and the nation were on the cusp of long-overdue change.
Zooming in on one party attendee per chapter, A More Perfect Party brings this whimsical event out of the margins of history to demonstrate that there is an opportunity for all of us to fight for a better nation and return power to the people.
Born and raised on the South Side of Chicago, Marla Glen discovered her gifts at the young age of 3 when Muddy Waters gave out toy harmonicas at a birthday party. Not only was Marla aware of how to create music, but the artist was also aware that living life as a girl was not an option.
The young Marla grew up to be a young stud that drifted about the country playing open mic nights, and mentored by legends such as Nina Simone and Bo Diddley. While drifting in New Orleans, a Frenchman gave him an opportunity to perform abroad, and it turned into a whirlwind of musical successes, winning Gold and Platinum awards. However, the naïve artist encountered pitfalls and ended up on the streets of France asking fans if he could live with them, to get on his feet again. Several lows continued, until ultimately Marla finally meets a fellow artist, who assisted him in making music for his fans.
THE JOURNEY OF WOMEN OF COLOR
SISTER’S SHOULDERS WE STAND ON
The New York Times-bestselling, National Book Award-nominated author of The Love Songs of W.E.B. Du Bois and The Age of Phillis makes her nonfiction debut with this personal and thought-provoking work that explores the journeys and possibilities of Black women throughout American history and in contemporary times.
Honorée Fanonne Jeffers is at a crossroads.
Traditional African/Black American cultures present the crossroads as a place of simultaneous difficulty and possibility. In contemporary times, Kimberlé Crenshaw coined the phrase “intersectionality” to explain the unique position of Black women in America. In many ways, they are at a third crossroads: attempting to fit into notions of femininity and respectability primarily assigned to White women, while inventing improvisational strategies to combat oppression.
In Misbehaving at the Crossroads, Jeffers explores the emotional and historical tensions in Black women’s public lives and her own private life. She charts voyages of Black girlhood to womanhood and the currents buffeting these journeys, including the difficulties of racially gendered oppression, the challenges of documenting Black women’s ancestry; the adultification of Black girls; the irony of Black female respectability politics; the origins of Womanism/Black feminism; and resistance to White supremacy and patriarchy. As Jeffers shows with empathy and wisdom, naming difficult historical truths represents both Blues and transcendence, a crossroads that speaks.
Necessary and sharply observed, provocative and humane, and full of the insight and brilliance that has characterized her poetry and fiction, Misbehaving at the Crossroads illustrates the life of one extraordinary Black woman—and her extraordinary foremothers.
“Black women are dope because they rise and are yet rising. This dopeness is not hyperbolic or symbolic—rather, it is borne of persecution that has failed to frustrate a perseverant persistence to prevail.”
Before sea to shining sea. Before spacious skies were pierced by purple mountains. Before the uniting of one nation. Black women learned to rise. In POWER: THE RISE OF BLACK WOMEN IN AMERICA, award-winning journalist and digital media executive Charity C. Elder posits that there has never been a better time to be a Black woman in the United States.
POWER is an incisive disquisition on Black womanhood weaving theoretical frameworks of history and sociology with poignant interviews, ethnographic observation, and anecdotes gleaned from history, social media, pop culture, and the author’s lived experiences.
Using data, the author substantiates the triumph of Black women. Original analysis of eighty years of US census data, prepared by the University of Minnesota and analyzed by Dr. Constance F. Citro, documents the remarkable ascension of Black women since the early twentieth century. An exclusive national survey conducted in partnership with the Marist Poll in 2021 not only reveals that 70 percent of Black women say they have been successful in life, but also that most believe they have the power to succeed.
POWER does not shy away from the realities of structural oppression identified by the late Black feminist scholar bell hooks; rather it illuminates how Black women exercise agency to create meaningful lives. Success is not an anomaly, but a defining characteristic. Black women have amassed power—now, Elder posits, they need to acknowledge it and then wield the hell out of it.
From an award-winning historian of Black radical politics comes the definitive biography of Audley Moore—mother of modern Black Nationalism and trailblazer in the fight for reparations
“Queen Mother is a monumental achievement, a rendering worthy of the great Audley Moore herself.”—Jelani Cobb, Dean of the Columbia School of Journalism
In the world of Black radical politics, the name Audley Moore commands unquestioned respect. Across the nine decades of her life, Queen Mother Moore distinguished herself as a leading progenitor of Black Nationalism, the founder of the modern reparations movement, and, from her Philadelphia and Harlem homes, a mentor to some of America's most influential Black activists.
And yet, she is far less remembered than many of her peers and protégés—Marcus Garvey, Malcolm X, and Muhammad Ahmad, to name just a few—and the ephemera of her life are either lost or plundered. In Queen Mother, celebrated writer and historian Ashley D. Farmer restores Moore's faded portrait, delivering the first ever definitive account of her life and enduring legacy.
Deeply researched and richly detailed, Queen Mother is more than just the biography of an American icon. It's a narrative history of 20th-century Black radicalism, told through the lens of the woman whose grit and determination sustained the movement.
The inspirational life of Kamala Harris for kids!
From the newly-announced Young People's Poet Laureate comes a powerful and inspiring picture book that shares how each milestone and moment in Kamala Harris's life represents something that lies within young readers' reach, too―building community, asking for answers, learning from elders, standing up for what's right, pride, friendship, strength, and most of all―knowing that nothing is out of the reach of their future!
“Without Fear tells the stories of Black women who, like Deborah in the Bible, have engaged in social justice agitation, refusing to simply suffer by engaging in the redemptive work of challenging injustice while in the midst of it. Each of us can and must learn from these women if we are to reconstruct America and build a just world.” ―Reverend Dr. William J. Barber II, coauthor of White Poverty
Even before they were recognized as citizens of the United States, Black women understood that the fights for civil and human rights were inseparable. Over the course of two hundred years, they were at the forefront of national and international movements for social change, weaving connections between their own and others’ freedom struggles around the world.
Without Fear tells how, during American history, Black women made humans rights theirs: from worldwide travel and public advocacy in the global Black press to their work for the United Nations, they courageously and effectively moved human rights beyond an esoteric concept to an active, organizing principle. Acclaimed historian Keisha N. Blain tells the story of these women―from the well-known, like Ida B. Wells, Madam C. J. Walker, and Lena Horne, to those who are still less known, including Pearl Sherrod, Aretha McKinley, and Marguerite Cartwright. Blain captures human rights thinking and activism from the ground up with Black women at the center, working outside the traditional halls of power.
By shouldering intersecting forms of oppression―including racism, sexism, and classism―Black women have long been in a unique position to fight for freedom and dignity. Without Fear is an account of their aspirations, strategies, and struggles to pioneer a human rights approach to combating systems of injustice.
LIFE, HEALTH, WELLNESS ~
LIFE, HEALTH, WELLNESS ~
LIFE, HEALTH, WELLNESS ~
LIFE, HEALTH, WELLNESS ~ LIFE, HEALTH, WELLNESS ~ LIFE, HEALTH, WELLNESS ~
LITERACY + ART + MUSIC, the CULTURE
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BLACK HISTORY IN THE MAKING
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“TREE OF KNOWLEDGE”
Don Pollard
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