Did you know that by the fourth grade, over 80% of America’s black male students are not proficient in reading? Many factors contribute to this alarming figure, such as limited access to engaging and age-friendly reading material, an absence of black men in black boys’ early reading experiences, and the shortcomings of our nation’s school […]
Georgia’s Stacey Abrams’ recent historic win as the first black woman to be a major party’s nominee for governor restored hope for countless Americans. Now, she’s on the run to make history once again by becoming the nation’s first black female governor. Nearly two decades before Abrams’ groundbreaking win, the trailblazing politician entered the world […]
How do you juggle your passion with your full-time career? For children’s book author and illustrator Monique Duncan, the two worlds are deeply connected. We spoke with Duncan, a rousing teacher and founder of Sweet Pea Books, to learn more about how she merges her love for teaching young children with her passion for bringing […]
Actor Omar Epps, widely known for starring in classics such as “Juice,” “Love and Basketball,” and the critically acclaimed series “House,” has released his first memoir. Titled From Fatherless to Fatherhood, the autobiography documents Epps’s humble journey while intimately exploring how various obstacles he faced ultimately led to his success as both an actor and […]
I first met Tayari Jones through her novel The Untelling. I was applying to graduate school for my MFA in Creative Writing and after reading her novels, I knew I wanted to work with her. You can imagine my delight when upon submitting my application to Rutgers, I received a phone call from her personally […]
Being a late 80’s baby, I have encountered In Living Color as a very young child, but more so as an adult. Some of my favorite characters (along with everyone else’s) include Wanda, Fire Marshall Bill, and Homey D. Clown. While I found them and the situations they were placed in funny, I was too […]
Omarosa Manigault Newman has a relationship with Donald Trump that has spanned at least fifteen years. These include four television shows, a presidential campaign, and a year by his side in the most tumultuous, flagitious White House in history. But that relationship has come to a forceful and complete end, and Omarosa is determinately ready […]
In her latest book, Seinfeldia, Jennifer Keishen Armstrong explores the world of the hit sitcom and its pervasiveness in our current culture. By including profiles of the actors, writers, directors, network executives and everyone else who had anything to do with the show, Armstrong illustrates how the show transformed creators and audiences alike. […]
This fall, experience the audiobook for Nelson Mandela’s Favorite African Folktales on vinyl through Wax Audio Group. Read by Don Cheadle, Whoopie Goldberg, Samuel L Jackson, and more, the popular 2010 audiobook consists of folktales from over 10 African countries that were curated by Nelson Mandela. The landmark stories include The Wolf Queen, The […]
Anita Bunkley’s latest novel The Twisted Crown tells the story of Eva Phillips, a black woman who sets out on a dangerous journey from the North to the South at the height of the Abolitionist movement. Set in 1867 shortly after slavery and the Civil War have ended, The Twisted Crown takes readers from the […]