Cultural Literature

Black Americans have arguably arrived at the height of their cultural prominence. In politics, entertainment, academics, and nearly every sphere of influence, "black issues" dominate the discussion. Yet many black Americans are suffering worse than ever...

A NEW YORK TIMES NOTABLE BOOK - A radiant collection of letters from the renowned author of Invisible Man that traces the life and mind of a giant of American literature, with insights into the riddle of identity, the writer's craft, and the story of a...

The Punitive Turn explores the historical, political, economic, and sociocultural roots of mass incarceration, as well as its collateral costs and consequences. Giving significant attention to the exacting toll that incarceration takes on inmates, their...

An incisive and unflinching study from the national bestselling author of Say it Loud! that tackles a stigma of America's racial discourse: selling out. "Brisk and enjoyable, no small feat given the density of its ideas."--Los Angeles Times Randall...

Apart from a handful of exotic--and almost completely unreliable--tales surrounding his life, Richard Potter is almost unknown today. Two hundred years ago, however, he was the most popular entertainer in America--the first showman, in fact, to win truly...

"Prepare to be enthralled by 'Optimism, ' the remarkable memoir that unfolds the extraordinary life of Batt Johnson, a true pioneer in American broadcasting history. His journey, punctuated by groundbreaking achievements and daring exploits, serves as a...

A ground-breaking, personal exploration of America's obsession with continuing human bondage from the editor of the New York Times-bestselling Barracoon.Freedom and equality are the watchwords of American democracy. But like justice, freedom and equality...

Cary Clack has captured the hearts and minds of Texans since the mid-1990s, gaining a national reputation as an incisive and sensitive journalist and developing a significant following as a columnist. Originally from San Antonio, he worked with the...

In collaboration with the Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History and Culture, this stylish, illustrated set of twelve note cards celebrates the life and work of Mae Reeves, one of Philadelphia's first Black female business owners. Mae...

Loren Miller was one of the nation's most prominent civil rights attorneys from the 1940s through the early 1960s and successfully fought discrimination in housing and education. Alongside Thurgood Marshall, Miller argued two landmark civil rights cases...

The concept of Afropessimism does not refer to Black people, but rather to the likelihood of white society overcoming its own negrophobia, and to a radical distrust in white narratives of inclusivity. What if the ideas and reforms we regard as...

A beautiful artist's book documenting a mother and son's intimate exchange across time and mediumsThis tenderly wrought artist's book is a collaboration between American conceptual artist Rashid Johnson (born 1977) and his mother, historian Cheryl...