In his sweeping new history of Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church, Jacksonville native and Pulitzer Prize-winning writer Kevin Sack explores the deep roots of resistance and racial justice that defined the congregation in Charleston, South Carolina, before and after the tragic mass shooting. His acclaimed new book, Mother Emanuel: Two Centuries of Race, Resistance, and Forgiveness, released in early June, was described as “a masterpiece." The New York Times Book Review calls it “a dense, rich, captivating narrative, featuring vivid prose, prodigious research and a palpable emotional engagement that is disciplined by a meticulous attention to the facts,” adding that Sack’s “excavation is an essential addition to existing histories and ought to be recognized as a singular journalistic performance.”

Guest:

• Kevin Sack, veteran journalist and winner of three Pulitzer Prizes. Sack spent 30 years on the staff of The New York Times, where he was a senior writer, and worked previously for the Los Angeles Times and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. His work also has been featured in The New York Times Magazine.

Then, with only five years of formal training under his belt, piano virtuoso Mark Magyar is already making waves in the classical music world. From a Carnegie Hall performance to an upcoming competition in Vienna, the young pianist — also a self-taught pipe organist — is building an impressive résumé of recitals and accolades. We talk to the Douglas Anderson piano student about musical exploration, what drives his passion and the importance of classical music.