Books
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 […]
A roundup of recent good news from the Black entertainment and sports community: 1. Queen Latifah is set to host the 55th NAACP Image Awards for the second consecutive time, with special honors going to Amanda Gorman and June Ambrose. 2. LeBron James is expanding his portfolio with three new documentaries on the History Channel, […]
In Georgia, a bill to sever all connections with the American Library Association (ALA) is advancing through the state legislature. This move comes amid concerns from some conservatives over the ALA’s perceived politicization, particularly regarding its influence on public and school library collections. The bill, sponsored by Republican state Sen. Larry Walker, was motivated by […]