African American Studies
Ma Rainey's Traveling Blues
Ma Rainey’s Traveling Blues is the fullest and most nuanced portrait to date of Gertrude “Ma” Rainey (1886-1939), once promoted as the “Mother of the Blues.” Although Rainey’s place in American music history is firmly ...
Conversations with Denys Cowan
Conversations with Denys Cowan highlights the remarkable career of an artist who has left an indelible mark on comics, animation, and music. From his start at age fourteen as an assistant to Rich Buckler, ...
Once Upon a Time in South Central LA
After the groundbreaking success of his debut film Boyz N the Hood in 1991, filmmaker John Singleton (1968–2019) gained worldwide acclaim, earned the respect of major film industry figures, and became t ...
Black Girls Om Too
Contributions by Irene Auma, Joi Cardwell, Shanina Carmichael, Lacretia “Cre” Dye, Love Ashleie Elaine, Jo-Jo Totayhma Jackson, Saisha Lacon Baskerville, Sariane Leigh, Tamia A. McEwen, Donna Noble, Jewell Sin ...
A Songbook of Slavery and Emancipation
Throughout the history of slavery in the Americas, music carried messages of survival, rebellion, and solidarity. Enslaved people composed songs that were far more than laments—they were calls for liberty a ...
Avenue Breakdown
Avenue Breakdown uncovers the rich yet often overlooked legacy of Black music in Shreveport, Louisiana—a city better known for country tunes and the Louisiana Hayride. This compelling history shines a s ...
Conversations with Michael S. Harper
Conversations with Michael S. Harper brings together thirteen interviews with one of the most innovative and influential voices in contemporary American poetry. A distinguished professor at Brown University ...
Whistle Stop
Whistle Stop traces the remarkable life of trumpeter and composer Kenny Dorham (1924–1972), whose journey from rural Texas to the forefront of modern jazz mirrors the broader story of Black resilience a ...
Hip-Hop and Comics
Contributions by Lea Beka, Collin M. Bright, Justin D Burton, Amy Chu, John P. Craig, Michael B. Norton Dando, Jayanti Datta, Brea M. Heidelberg, Kathryn Hobson, Sheena C. Howard, Johnny Jones, Riggs ...
Race Literature
Scholarship on nineteenth- and early twentieth-century religious periodicals, particularly Black publications, remains sparse and often focuses on the theological contributions of male writers. Race Literature: ...