Books
Tina Knowles, mother of Beyoncé and Solange, is set to share her life story in a memoir titled Matriarch, scheduled for release on April 22, 2025. Known for her influence as a fashion designer and mother to strong, empowered daughters, Knowles reflects on the wisdom passed through generations and the lessons she’s learned at every […]
Rochester Animal Services will host a fee-waived, Halloween-themed Bark or Treat adoption event from 12 noon to 3:30 p.m., or until all featured dogs have been adopted, Sunday, Oct. 27 at Brown Square Park, 251 Verona St. Bark or Treat is a fun-filled experience that features delicious treats, great vendors, and an opportunity to help […]
Percival Everett, Rachel Kushner, and Miranda July are among the fiction nominees for the 2024 National Book Awards. Everett’s novel James, a retelling of Mark Twain’s The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, has received critical acclaim. Kushner’s Creation Lake, an innovative thriller, and July’s All Fours, which explores middle age, are also contenders. The National Book […]
As students head back to school, it’s the perfect time to explore literature that educates, inspires, and empowers. For Black college students, these 10 essential books offer insight into the Black experience, history, and personal growth: 1. “The Souls of Black Folk” by W.E.B. Du Bois A foundational text on race, exploring the challenges of […]
Juliana Pache, inspired by a lack of representation in traditional crossword puzzles, created blackcrossword.com in January 2023 to offer puzzles that highlight Black history and culture. Pache, who had never made a crossword before, decided to fill the gap she noticed in the crossword community by creating daily mini-puzzles featuring clues and answers related to […]
Oklahoma State Superintendent Ryan Walters announced a mandate requiring Bibles in classrooms during the May 2024 State Board of Education meeting. He stated that every teacher and classroom in the state would have a Bible and teach from it. However, further guidance clarified that the mandate applies to social studies and English language arts for […]
In 2020, Clare Brown created the TikTok character Carèn to humorously flip racial dynamics, quickly gaining nearly half a million followers. Carèn treats “European Americans” with the same passive racism Black people often face, offering sharp commentary on race relations. Brown’s new audiobook, New Nigeria County, expands Carèn’s world into a fictional Black utopia. In […]
In her candid memoir “Bits and Pieces: My Mother, My Brother, and Me,” released on May 7, 2024, Whoopi Goldberg opens up about her struggle with cocaine addiction. The book details a pivotal moment during her drug-laden days in the 1980s, a time she initially enjoyed until it spiraled into a life-threatening habit. Goldberg, an […]
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library has launched a new chapter in East Rochester, aiming to sign up 100 children by the end of March 2024. This initiative, the second of its kind in Monroe County, offers a unique service by mailing age-appropriate books monthly to children from birth until they are five years old. Michael Bloch, […]
Natasha Alford, a former WROC-TV (Channel 8) reporter in Rochester, has authored a memoir titled “American Negra,” drawing from her unique life experiences at the intersection of Black and Puerto Rican cultures. Growing up, Alford felt unrepresented in popular culture and literature, prompting her to encapsulate her journey in this work. The memoir has garnered […]