A brief take on James Baldwin’s “Sonny’s Blues,” a frequently anthologized story exploring brotherhood, identity, and the power of the blues.

Script by Kenton Rambsy 
Read by Kassandra Timm

A brief take on how Africa’s independence movements and leaders like Lumumba inspired the creation of Black Panther and Wakanda.

Script by Howard Rambsy II
Read by Kassandra Timm

A brief take on Andrew Theising’s collection of East St. Louis postcards, now a vital visual archive of the city’s history.

Script by Howard Rambsy II
Read by Kassandra Timm

A brief take on Matt Baker, the first Black superhero comic artist, whose work on Phantom Lady and Voodah shaped the industry.

Script by Stephyn Phillips 
Read by Kassandra Timm

A brief take on how Invisible Man, Beloved, and The Color Purple top Wikipedia’s views for African American novels, showcasing their lasting impact.

Script by Howard Rambsy II
Read by Kassandra Timm

A brief take on how Between the World and Me sparked layered reactions, with Coates critiquing the fixation on white readers’ responses to his Black-centered narrative.

Script by Howard Rambsy II
Read by Kassandra Timm

A brief take on Jackie Ormes, the trailblazing first Black female cartoonist, whose comic strips Torchy Brown and Patty-Jo 'n' Ginger addressed social issues and left an enduring legacy in American comics.

Script by Stephyn Phillips 
Read by Kassandra Timm

A brief take on Zora Neale Hurston’s Sweat, first published in the 1926 magazine Fire!!, which showcased realities of Black life and paved the way for enduring discussions in African American literature.

Script by Kenton Rambsy 
Read by Kassandra Timm

A brief take on Michelle Burford, the writer behind memoirs by Cicely Tyson, Alicia Keys, Simone Biles, and others, whose collaborative storytelling gives voice to the life experiences of prominent Black women, among others. 

Script by Howard Rambsy II
Read by Kassandra Timm

A brief take on Huey Freeman, the sharp-tongued, afro-wearing 10-year-old from The Boondocks, whose biting critiques of society made him a highly visible (fictive) Black militant.

Script by Howard Rambsy II
Read by Kassandra Timm