A brief take on how recent efforts to dismantle diversity, equity, and inclusion programs threaten the institutional support and long-term viability of African American literary studies. 

Script by Howard Rambsy II
Read by Kassandra Timm

A brief take on the extraordinary literary achievements of Black men writers from1995 to 2024, a period marked by serious, comical, and fascinating compositions. 
Script by Howard Rambsy II
Read by Kassandra Timm

A short take marking our 200th episode

Script by Howard Rambsy II 
Read by Kassandra Timm

A brief take on Dana Williams’s presentation at the National Museum of African American History and Culture, highlighting Toni Morrison’s transformative editorial legacy at Random House and her role in elevating groundbreaking Black voices.

Script by Angel C. Dye 
Read by Kassandra Timm

A brief take on the Novel Generator Machine, a digital resource inspired by barbershop conversations, offering personalized recommendations for over 1,000 novels by Black writers across various genres and categories.

Script by Howard Rambsy II 
22Read by Kassandra Timm

A brief take on the overlooked grievances of Black readers, highlighting cultural and structural challenges they face, from limited access to diverse genres and author events to inadequate representation in media and publishing campaigns.

Script by Howard Rambsy II  
Read by Kassandra Timm

A brief take on Ta-Nehisi Coates’s groundbreaking success as a comic book writer, with Black Panther and Captain America issues collectively selling over 500,000 copies, marking a historic achievement for an African American creator in the industry.

Script by Howard Rambsy II  
Read by Kassandra Timm

A brief take on Percival Everett’s James as a neo-slave narrative, situating it within the rich body of African American fiction addressing slavery while critiquing the isolation of Black writers from broader creative networks.

Script by Howard Rambsy II  
Read by Kassandra Timm

A brief take on how authors like Ishmael Reed, Charles Johnson, James McBride, and Paul Beatty use humor and playfulness in neo-slave narratives to offer fresh, creative perspectives on slavery.

Script by Howard Rambsy II 
Read by Kassandra Timm

A brief take on the Futures of Black Digital Humanities Conference, where scholars and students used the FLOAT Method to transform data into compelling stories, highlighting themes of identity, memory, and systemic change.

Script by Kenton Rambsy 
Read by Kassandra Timm