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

A brief take on George Herriman, the Black Creole creator of Krazy Kat, whose influential comic strip tackled humor, racial tensions, and left an enduring mark on American comics history.

Script by Stephyn Phillips 
Read by Kassandra Timm

A brief take on the extraordinary literary achievements of Black women writers from 1969 to 1994, a period marked by groundbreaking works and unprecedented critical and popular acclaim.

Script by Howard Rambsy II
Read by Kassandra Timm

A brief take on how generations of Black creators—novelists, poets, filmmakers, and musicians—have drawn inspiration from the subject of slavery, producing works that highlight its horrors, reimagine its history, and elevate African American artistic expression.

Script by Howard Rambsy II
Read by Kassandra Timm

A brief take on how college professors navigate the abundance of African American literary works, using survey courses, special topics, and evolving syllabi to introduce students to this rich and expansive field.

Script by Howard Rambsy II
Read by Kassandra Timm