As Halloween approaches, we are exploring America's history of racism through horror books and films. Mark H. Harris, one of the co-authors of The Black Guy Dies First: Black Horror Cinema from Fodder to Oscar, talks about different eras of Black horror cinema and the origins of the famous racist horror trope referenced in his book's title. Author and academic historian P. Djèlí Clark discusses his story “Hide & Seek,” which was recently included in the collection Out There Screaming, co-edited by Jordan Peele. He also explains how the idea of portraying the Ku Klux Klan as literal monsters in his book Ring Shout was based on his research into interviews with formerly enslaved people. And Professor Kali Simmons exposes stereotypes about Indigenous people that date back hundreds of years and appear in some of the most popular horror works. She also gives examples of positive representation and offers her thoughts on Killers of the Flower Moon.

GUESTS:

• Mark H. Harris: entertainment journalist, co-author of The Black Guy Dies First: Black Horror Cinema from Fodder to Oscar

• P. Djèlí Clark: award-winning fantasy and horror author based in Connecticut. His works include Ring Shout and next year’s The Dead Cat Tail Assassins. His short story “Hide & Seek,” was recently included in the collection Out There Screaming, co-edited by Jordan Peele and John Joseph Adams

• Kali Simmons: Assistant Professor of Indigenous Nations Studies at Portland State University

Special thanks to our interns Lateshia Peters and Joey Morgan.

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