A brief take on the often-overlooked identity of collegiate Black men as readers, highlighting their engagement with African American literature and their vital place in reading culture.

Written by Howard Rambsy II

Read by Kassandra Timm

A brief take on Toni Morrison’s extraordinary presence in over 560 dissertations since 2000, revealing her enduring influence on generations of scholars and African American literary studies.

Written by Howard Rambsy II

Read by Kassandra Timm

A brief take on James Baldwin’s critique of “social protest fiction,” exploring how audiences continue to embrace and adapt works like Uncle Tom’s Cabin and Native Son.

Script by Nicole Dixon

Read by Kassandra Timm

A brief take on the quiet but vital editorial labor of Aileen Keenan, whose two decades of behind-the-scenes work at African American Review have shaped the study, circulation, and preservation of African American literary scholarship.

Script by Howard Rambsy II

Read by Kassandra Timm 

A brief take on the creation and evolution of the Toni Morrison Society, highlighting Carolyn Denard’s visionary leadership and the organization’s three-decade impact on sustaining, honoring, and expanding Morrison’s global legacy.

Script by Howard Rambsy II

Read by Kassandra Timm 

A brief take on the Literary Navigator, a digital platform offering personalized recommendations across Black literature—connecting novels, poems, essays, and comics for curious readers.

Script by Howard Rambsy II

Read by Kassandra Timm

A brief take on how Zora Neale Hurston’s short stories use infidelity and community gossip to transform private conflicts into public spectacles, blending humor and tension to depict Southern Black life.

Script by Kenton Rambsy

Read by Kassandra Timm

 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