Literary Criticism

A magnificent, foundational reckoning with how Black Americans have used the written word to define and redefine themselves, in resistance to the lies of racism and often in heated disagreement with each other, over the course of the country's history...

This book is a first in combining essays from women about their African fathers and vice versa and will not only provide a significant set of insights into the relationship between fathers and daughters but also explore gaps in the perception of African...

These are the books you should read. This is the canon. Joan Anim-Addo, Deirdre Osborne and Kadija Sesay have curated a decolonized reading list that celebrates the wide and diverse experiences of people from around the world, of all backgrounds and all...

Contributions by Cynthia Baron, Elizabeth Binggeli, Kimberly Nichele Brown, Terri Simone Francis, Priscilla Layne, Eric Pierson, Charlene Regester, Ellen C. Scott, Tanya L. Shields, and Judith E. Smith Intersecting Aesthetics: Literary Adaptations and...

A classic and "elegant" (The New York Times) collection of essays from the renowned author of Invisible Man, that captures the breadth and complexity of his insights into racial identity, jazz and folklore, and citizenship across six decades. Compiled,...

An anthology that explores all facets of the Black Arts Movement. Edited by Dr. Kim McMillon and Kofi Antwi. Foreword by Ishmael Reed. Introduction by Dr. Margo Natalie Crawford. This anthology, nearly 60 years in the making, features over 100 poets and...

The definitive biography of a pivotal figure in American literary history A major poet, Paul Laurence Dunbar (1872-1906) was one of the first African American writers to garner international recognition in the wake of emancipation. In this definitive...

"We're starting to see...diverse voices on the shelf, a wider variety of experiences on the page, and many different reasons for getting outside. -- Jaime Herndon, Book Riot Encompassing identity, inspiration, ancestry, and stewardship, the essays and...

Beauty is a fat black woman walking the fields pressing a breezed hibiscus to her cheek while the sun lights up her feet Nichols gives us images that stare us straight in the eye, images of joy, challenge, accusation. Her 'fat black woman' is...

'Sharp and still relevant' - Zadie Smith'A mosaic of wise, urgent and moving pieces' - Kit de Waal'A book to be savored and re-read' - Derek Owusu________ Recognized as one of the great poets of modern times, and as a deeply respected and influential...

Growing out of the music scene, afrofuturism has emerged as an important aesthetic through films such as Black Panther and Get Out. While the significance of these sonic and visual avenues for afrofuturism cannot be underestimated, literature remains...

In the 1960s, Charles Wright's (1932-2008) star was on the rise. After dropping out of high school and serving in the Korean War, the young Black writer landed in New York, where he was mentored by Norman Mailer, signed a book deal with a leading...

Octavia E. Butler is widely recognized today as one of the most important figures in contemporary science fiction. Bringing together leading and emerging scholars and covering Butler's complete works from the bestselling novel Kindred, to her short...

In the 1960s, Charles Wright's (1932-2008) star was on the rise. After dropping out of high school and serving in the Korean War, the young Black writer landed in New York, where he was mentored by Norman Mailer, signed a book deal with a leading...