Cultural Literature

When did you feel the pull of poetry? For Ashley M. Jones, the moment she knew she would be a poet was at seven years old--reciting "Harriet Tubman" by Eloise Greenfield. That moment, that poem, showed her there was a place for her in the world of...

From New York Times bestselling author Ian Halperin, the definitive exploration of the final years of Michael Jackson's life. In late December 2008, Ian Halperin told the world that Michael Jackson had only six months to live. His investigations into...

From a former Gonzaga basketball player and current University of Washington Dean and Vice Provost comes a memoir steeped in the universal truths and human pursuits of love, grace, forgiveness, and continued growth.Ed Taylor takes readers on a journey...

A major biography of Duke Ellington from the acclaimed author of Pops: A Life of Louis Armstrong Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington was the greatest jazz composer of the twentieth century--and an impenetrably enigmatic personality whom no one, not...

Karen Barbera and Randall Keith Horton were strangers who met on a train. A cordial conversation led to an eight-year collaboration to tell new and enlightening stories about Duke Ellington and to bring his forgotten masterpieces back to life. The...

Key Concepts in the Discipline of Africology is a definitive reference work that establishes the intellectual vocabulary, conceptual architecture, and scholarly orientation of Africology as a disciplined field of study. This volume provides an extensive,...

Prairie View A&M University is more than Texas's oldest public historically Black university--it is a crucible of political struggle and social transformation. Since its founding in 1876 on the grounds of a former slave plantation, Prairie View has stood...

Explore the hidden history of Portsmouth and uncover the city's enduring spiritOne of New Hampshire's oldest towns, Portsmouth has always been known for its historical sites. These encompass a rich heritage that has often been well documented. And yet,...

A triumphant, cross-generational exploration of Black joy and resilience. Remember frolicking outside during the long, jubilant days of summer? This vibrant collection invites readers to breathe deeply and return to that "carefree" season. From riding...

Very Short Introductions: Brilliant, Sharp, Inspiring This Very Short Introduction brings together a wide range of narratives of slavery across a broad historical period to understand how Black people--enslaved and not-enslaved--have experienced and...

Baltimore's Black Arts Then & Now brings to life the Chicory Revitalization Project, a public humanities initiative that revives Baltimore's historic Chicory magazine. From 1966 to 1983, Chicory served as a powerful voice for working-class Black...