In this lively roundtable discussion, host Jacquees Thomas sits down with some of her favorite book influencers to unpack the fictional novel Sky Full of Elephants. Joining the conversation are Jordan Hernandez, founder of Completely Booked; Chase Griffin and Shaquille Anderson, co-founders of Booked and Busy Book Club; and Anne, creator of LaGringaBaiana.

Together, they dive into each guest’s personal journey and the inspirations behind their literary platforms while exploring the complex themes woven into Cebo Campbell’s Sky Full of Elephants. The discussion highlights the layered perspectives of characters like Sydney and Charlie, the emotional weight of forgiveness and identity, and the possibility of adapting the novel into a series.

The panel also reflects on the unspoken influence of setting; how Alabama’s charged history and the ocean’s symbolic presence act as characters of their own, shaping the narrative’s depth and impact.

This episode offers an intimate look at the power of literature to inspire community and culture—and how that same community can uplift an artist’s perspective, even in the absence of mainstream media support.

Connect:

Jacquees "Peace" Thomas @_ThatsPeace 

Jordan Hernandez @_CompletelyBooked 

Chase Griffin & Shaquille Anderson @BookedandBusyBookClub_

Anne @LaGringaBaiana

Read: SKY FULL OF ELEPHANTS 

Learn More: CeboCampbell.com

Special Thanks to @CeboCampbell 

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In this episode of BLK LIT, host Jacquees Thomas delves into the life and work of Cebo Campbell, author, creative director, and award-winning poet. Best known for his debut novel, Sky Full of Elephants, Campbell’s work has captured the attention of book clubs and literary influencers across the country.

The episode explores Campbell’s creative journey, including the personal experiences that shaped his voice, the inspiration behind his storytelling, and the challenges he faced while promoting his work. With powerful insights from Campbell himself and reflections from book influencers, this conversation examines themes of identity, culture, and the intentional removal of the white gaze in storytelling.

As the dialogue unfolds, listeners gain a deeper understanding of Campbell’s process, his richly drawn characters, and the emotional weight his work carries, on the page and beyond.

Connect: @_ThatsPeace @CeboCampbell 

Read: SKY FULL OF ELEPHANTS 

Learn More: CeboCampbell.com

Special Thanks To:

Jordan Hernandez @_CompletelyBooked 

Chase Griffin & Shaquille Anderson @BookedandBusyBookClub_

Anne @LaGringaBaiana

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Who is Cebo Campbell? What inspired him to write the novel Sky Full of Elephants? In this conversation, we explore his upbringing and the world that shaped his brilliant mind and unique perspective.

Cebo reflects on his journey and the profound significance of identity, family, and cultural heritage in informing his work. He speaks to the audacity of Black existence, the search for solace, and the responsibility of holding Black culture sacred through storytelling.

Drawing from personal experience and the lasting influence of literary giants like Toni Morrison, Colson Whitehead, and Octavia Butler, Cebo underscores the importance of collective identity and expansive imagination. He reminds us that the future of Black literature depends on bold artistic expression and a commitment to honoring our shared cultural legacy.

While sports once defined his early years, writing quickly became his sanctuary—and now, it’s our privilege to receive his words. Sky Full of Elephants is Campbell’s debut novel. It opens with a cataclysmic event: all of the white people in America walk into the nearest body of water. The premise grabs you immediately—and so does Cebo, in this first episode, as we journey deeper into his work and the vision that drives it.

Connect: @_ThatsPeace @CeboCampbell 

Read: SKY FULL OF ELEPHANTS 

Learn More: CeboCampbell.com

 

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In this episode, New York Times bestselling author George M. Johnson joins Jacquees Thomas for a powerful conversation about identity, imagination, and the role of literature in shaping culture. George reflects on their upbringing in New Jersey, the strength of family support, and how writing became both a refuge and a form of rebellion.

Together, they explore the challenges of being a queer writer, the importance of storytelling across generations, and the urgent need to foster empathy—especially in a time of rising book bans and societal censorship. From generational shifts to the evolving understanding of gender and identity, this conversation dives deep into how literature can challenge norms, affirm truths, and spark collective healing.

At its core, this episode is about the radical act of writing with authenticity—and the freedom that comes from owning your story.

Connect @_thatsPeace @iamgmjohnson

Read: All Boys Aren't Blue and Flamboyants

Listen: Fighting Words 

Learn More: About George M Johnson

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In this episode, Jacquees and Producer Jason Torres join the conversation to unpack the power of Black history with Michael Harriot, the absurdity of whitewashed narratives, and why understanding the past is the real flex. They break down the term “Drapetomania”—the so-called “mental illness” that doctors once claimed made enslaved people want to escape—and how this twisted concept still echoes in today’s political landscape, where erasing uncomfortable truths is big business.

Harriot, known for his sharp wit and cutting commentary, pulls back the curtain on his latest book, “Black as Fuck History”—a deep dive into the parts of our past that mainstream textbooks like to skip. He shares surprising discoveries from his research, the power of storytelling, and why centering Black voices isn’t just about history—it’s about our collective future.

If you’re ready to flip the script on what you thought you knew, this episode is for you. Get ready for laughs, hard truths, and the kind of perspective shift you didn’t know you needed.

Connect @_thatsPeace @MichaelHarriot

Read: Black AF History 

Listen: Drapetomaniax: Unshackled History

Learn More: MichaelHarriot.com

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The Black Effect Presents... BLK LIT!

The discussion centers on the friendship between Phyllis Wheatley and Obour Tanner, highlighting their intellectual exchange and the significance of their letters during the Revolutionary War. The episode delves into themes of legacy, faith, and the power of Black joy, illustrating how these women navigated their identities and built a lasting impact through their words.

CREDITS

Brigitte Fielder - Associate Professor at the University of Wisconsin Madison in the College of Letters and Science

David Waldstreicher - Professor of History, Black, Race, and Ethnic Studies, Biography and Memoir, American Studies at CUNY

Cassander Smith - Professor of English at the University of Alabama / Associate Dean for Academic Affairs for the Honors College also at Alabama

Tara Bynum -  Associate Professor of English and African American Studies at the University of Iowa.

Halimah Shabazz - Special Guest 

Don Holmes - Assistant Professor of English at the University of Pittsburgh

READ 

The Odyssey of Phillis Wheatley: A Poet’s Journeys Through American Slavery and Independence By David Waldstreicher

Reading Pleasures - Everyday Black Living in Early America, By Tara A. Bynum

Race and Respectability in an Early Black Atlantic, By Cassander L. Smith

CHAPTERS

00:00 The Broader Landscape of Black Literature
02:53 Friendship and Resilience in Letters
05:50 Phyllis Wheatley: A Voice of Power
09:14 Legacy and the Importance of Correspondence
11:55 Faith and Reclamation of Power
14:50 The Impact of Black Joy and Friendship

TEAM BLK LIT

Jason Torres: @JNTNY

Jabari Davis @JabariADavis

Jacquees Thomas @_ThatsPeace 

Join the Writers Collective BLKWritersRoom.com

Sign up for News and Great Gifts for Book Lovers AbakeBooks.com

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Katie Mitchell discusses her newly released book 'Pros to the People,' a powerful tribute to the legacy of Black bookstores in America, exploring their rich history and cultural significance. She shares the personal journey that led her to write the book and reflects on the deep cultural impact these spaces have had as hubs for knowledge, resistance, and community. Katie doesn’t shy away from the hard truths—like the history of FBI surveillance—but also brings light to the beauty of visual storytelling and the enduring spirit of Black literature. It’s a moving dialogue about preservation, purpose, and what the future holds for Black bookstores in a changing world.

Read Prose To The People 

Connect @_thatsPEACE @goodbooksatl

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In this heartfelt and thought-provoking conversation, our panel dives deep into the legacy of Phillis Wheatley—not just as a poet but as a cultural ancestor whose words still echo today. Together, they explore how her work continues to shape Black literature while confronting the historical erasure of Black women writers and the complex ways their stories have been told—or left untold.

Listeners are invited into a powerful dialogue about the tension between visibility and silence, shame and pride, and memory and forgetting. Through personal reflections and academic insights, the speakers share how their own relationships with Wheatley have evolved and what it means to teach her work in classrooms shaped by censorship, skepticism, and cultural loss.

But this isn’t just a story of struggle. It’s also about joy—reimagining historical narratives centered on Black creativity, agency, and pleasure. The conversation honors Wheatley’s poetic brilliance while calling for a future where Black literature is not only preserved but lived, felt, and passed on with purpose.

Whether you're an educator, a reader, or someone discovering Wheatley for the first time, this episode offers a rich and resonant reminder: Storytelling is resistance, remembrance, and restoration.

CREDITS

Cassander Smith - Professor of English at the University of Alabama / Associate Dean for Academic Affairs for the Honors College also at Alabama

Tara Bynum -  Associate Professor of English and African American Studies at the University of Iowa.

Don Holmes - Assistant Professor of English at the University of Pittsburgh

READ 

Reading Pleasures - Everyday Black Living in Early America, By Tara A. Bynum

Race and Respectability in an Early Black Atlantic, By Cassander L. Smith

TEAM BLK LIT

Jacquees Thomas - HOST & PRODUCER: @_ThatsPeace 

Jabari Davis - PRODUCER: @JabariADavis

Jason Torres - PRODUCER: @JNTNY

Join the Writers Collective BLKWritersRoom.com

Sign up for News and Great Gifts for Book Lovers AbakeBooks.com

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today we delve into the profound impact of Octavia Butler's work on Black literature and the unique perspectives it offers.

The conversation explores various interpretations of Butler's narratives, critiques of her approach, and the historical context of Afrofuturism. It highlights the educational value of her work and its prophetic nature, emphasizing the themes of community, change, and resilience as embodied by the character Lauren Olamina in her Parable series.

The episode concludes with the dissect of a conversation between Olamina and her stepmother., "I'd rather have the stars,” I say. “The stars are free.” She shrugs. “I'd rather have the city lights back myself, the sooner the better, but the stars are free." 

Interviews - In order of introduction:

Joshunda Sanders 

Dr. Reynaldo Anderson -  Black Speculative Arts Movement

Sheila Liming 

Bruce Duncan - Terasem Movement Foundation 

 

Series Links:

Read: Parable of the Sower, Kindred

Connect: Jacquees Thomas @_ThatsPeace

BLKWritersRoom.com

Learn More: OctaviaButler.com

 

A Black Effect Original Series

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This conversation delves into the life and legacy of Phillis Wheatley, the first published African American poet. It explores her impact on Black literature, the complexities of her poetry, and the misconceptions surrounding Black literacy and slavery. The discussion highlights Wheatley's humanity, creativity, and the joy found in her relationships and writings, emphasizing that Black expression has always existed despite societal constraints. The episode concludes with a reflection on Wheatley's exceptionalism and the importance of joy in her life and work.

CREDITS

Tara Bynum -  Associate Professor of English and African American Studies at the University of Iowa.

Cassander Smith - Professor of English at the University of Alabama / Associate Dean for Academic Affairs for the Honors College also at Alabama

Don Holmes - Assistant Professor of English at the University of Pittsburgh

Cornelius Eady - Poet, Playwright, Songwriter, Co-Founder of Cave Canem, and the endowed chair at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville 

Brigitte Fielder - Associate Professor at the University of Wisconsin Madison in the College of Letters and Science

READ 

Reading Pleasures - Everyday Black Living in Early America, By Tara A. Bynum

Race and Respectability in an Early Black Atlantic, By Cassander L. Smith

CHAPTERS

00:00 Introduction to Phillis Wheatley
06:00 The Complexity of Wheatley's Poetry
10:55 Wheatley's Humanity and Early Life
17:35 Misconceptions About Black Literacy
23:46 Black Joy and Wheatley's Writings
35:59 Wheatley's Exceptionalism and Tenacity

TEAM BLK LIT

Jason Torres: @JNTNY

Jabari Davis @JabariADavis

Jacquees Thomas @_ThatsPeace 

Join the Writers Collective BLKWritersRoom.com

Sign up for News and Great Gifts for Book Lovers AbakeBooks.com

 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.