Remarkably, Zadie Smith was only in her early twenties when she wrote and published her debut White Teeth, a vigorous and spirited novel that critics and readers alike celebrate. It is considered to be a monumental work in the genre of literary fiction, featuring the art of bold, innovative storytelling. With her sharply created characters, […]
“Then summer came. A summer limp with the weight of blossomed things. Heavy sunflowers weeping over fences; iris curling and browning at the edges far away from their purple hearts; ears of corn letting their auburn hair wind down to their stalks.” Sula is officially the first Toni Morrison novel that I’ve read, and almost […]
**This thinkpiece contains spoilers from Brit Bennett’s “The Vanishing Half.” In Brit Bennett’s compelling best-seller The Vanishing Half, two fair-skinned African American twins choose drastically different paths for themselves: One secretly decides to pass as white, while the other embodies her Black identity. Released in June of 2020, the novel has received widespread acclaim while […]
Jesmyn Ward’s 2017 Award-winning novel Sing, Unburied, Sing has been on my radar for a few years now, and one of my resolutions was to tackle my extensive reading list. So although I’m a bit behind the times, here’s a story that is indeed evergreen. I found Sing, Unburied, Sing to be beautifully written with a gripping and raw […]
Officially released this month, Land of the Black Squirrels is Mwalim’s debut novel and the first book within his Bronx Boheme series. Outside of writing, Mwalim is also an Award winning, interdisciplinary musician, and currently teaches English and Black Studies at UMass Dartmouth. The plot reads: “Master storyteller, Mwalim weaves a vibrant and epic Hip-Hop […]
I’ll always find it fascinating how what is meant for you can simply fall onto your lap. At the time, when I was asked to review Keturah Kendrick’s newly released memoir, No Thanks: Black, Female, and Living in the Martyr Free Zone, I was in the midst of being overwhelmed by various responsibilities, and had […]
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. […]
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 […]