The Root Presents: It's Lit!

This week we're speaking with the brilliant Salamishah Tillet to talk about her latest book, In Search of The Color Purple: The Story of an American Masterpiece, which is a deep dive into the history of Alice Walker’s famous novel, as well as an examination of the cultural response to the book, and the movie and musical that followed. Listen to hear Salamishah talk about how the project came to her, the process of researching the beloved book's backstory, and what it was like to interview Alice Walker herself.

In addition to being an author, Salamishah is also a professor at Rutgers University, a contributing critic-at-large for the New York Times, and is the co-founder of A Long Walk Home, which is an organization focused on empowering young artists and activists to end violence against all girls and women.

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This week we have the multi-talented Alice Randall on It's Lit! Alice is the bestselling author of The Wind Done Gone, Ada's Rules, and Rebel Yell. In addition to being a writer, Alice is also a food activist, cookbook author, and award-winning songwriter. Tune in to hear Alice talk about her latest book, Black Bottom Saints, and the many personal inspirations that drove her to write this historical novel about Detroit's Black Bottom neighborhood.

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This week we're talking with esteemed journalist and author Charles M. Blow. Charles is a longtime New York Times Op-Ed columnist and is author of the award-winning memoir, Fire Shut Up In My Bones. Charles' new book, The Devil You Know: A Black Power Manifesto, is a thrilling call to action for Black communities to consider an alternate future of true equality. Listen to Charles talk with Danielle and Maiysha about how a return to the south by Black people could fuel real and lasting positive change.

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This week we're talking to two venerable scholars, Dr. Keisha Blain and Dr. Ibram X. Kendi, about their new collaboration, Four Hundred Souls: A Community History of African America, 1619-2019. Listen to hear Drs. Blain and Kendi discuss how this historical project came together, why they chose to put this book together in its unique format, and what they hope readers take away from the book.

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This week we're speaking with the brilliant writer Clover Hope, co-writer of Beyoncé's Black is King, and author of the new book, The Motherlode: 100+ Women Who Made Hip-Hop. Listen to hear Clover discuss what it was like to collaborate with other writers and creatives on Black is King, the incredible research that went into The Motherlode, and why criticism is in actuality an honor.

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This week we chat with the incredibly talented Brit Bennett. Brit is the author of two bestselling novels, 2016's The Mothers and 2020's The Vanishing Half. Listen to hear Brit talk about the inspiration behind The Vanishing Half, what she hopes readers understand about her message around colorism and her newest venture into writing for TV.

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This week we're joined by the talented and hilarious Michelle Buteau. Listen to hear the comedian, actress, and author talk about what inspired her new book, Survival of the Thickest, how she defies society's basic opinions, and why now is a better time than any to go after what you've been dreaming of pursuing.

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This week we sit down with award-winning journalist, author, and podcaster Kenrya Rankin to talk about her latest book, Anti-Racism: Powerful Voices, Inspiring Ideas. Listen to hear Kenrya talk with Danielle and Maiysha about how her latest book came to be, what it really means to be anti-racist, and the importance of Black self-love.

Kenrya is the author of five books, including How We Fight White Supremacy: A Field Guide to Black Resistance, and her journalistic work has appeared in outlets like Fast Company, Ebony, and Glamour. She also co-hosts The Turn on Podcast with sex educator Erica Easter.

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This week we sit down with the incredibly gifted writer Yaa Gyasi to talk about the craft of writing. Yaa's first book, Homegoing, was a New York Times Notable Book, one of Oprah’s Best Books of the Year, and won a PEN/Hemingway award. Listen to hear Yaa talk with Danielle and Maiysha about her latest book, Transcendent Kingdom, and the incredible journey she undertook during the process of researching and writing it.

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This week we're chatting with the very talented writing duo, Maika and Maritza Moulite. Listen as the Moulites speak with Danielle and Maiysha about their co-writing process, the inspiration for their first young adult novel, Dear Haiti, Love Alaine, and the research that went into their latest book, One of the Good Ones.

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