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Episode 105 – Michael Kleber-Diggs, Worldly Things

“ I think over time you learn to see magnificence in unlikely places”Michael Kleber-Diggs Worldly Things (Milkweed Editions, 2021) is a poetry collection by Michael Kleber-Diggs exploring the juxtaposition of everyday life and systemic issues in America, particularly the Black experience. Diggs reflects on writing as an act of care—rooted in intimacy, empathy, and presence. LISTEN https://sites.libsyn.com/73283/episode-105-michael-kleber-diggs-worldly-things In …

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Antonio Michael Downing – Saga Boy and Black Cherokee

“History, whether you know it or you don’t know it, will impact your life and shift your decisions and shape the world you live in.” - Antonio Michael Downing Antonio Michael Downing is an author, speaker, and musical artist. His memoir Saga Boy was called “singularly dazzling” by Kiese Laymon and “the triumph of Blackness everywhere” by …

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Ethelene Whitmire – The Remarkable Life of Reed Peggram

“It’s important for young Black people to see those who came before them — people who did extraordinary things and were not limited by what the world expected of them.” -Ethelene Whitmire The Remarkable Life of Reed Peggram by Ethelene Whitmire tells the true story of Reed Peggram, a brilliant Black, queer Harvard scholar who went …

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C.J. Farley – Who Knows You By Heart

“Those who have no record of what their forebears have accomplished lose the inspiration which comes from the teaching of biography and history.” - Carter G. Woodson Part social thriller, part modern love story, Who Knows You By Heart (Harper Collins) is a sly, witty, and endlessly discussable tale of Big Tech, new money, relationships, race, and …

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Episode 100: A Landmark Celebration of Black Stories, Voices, and Legacy

Black Market Reads, the podcast produced by the Givens Foundation for African American Literature, proudly announces the release of its 100th episode, marking a decade of conversations with Black authors and artists whose work shapes the cultural landscape of Minnesota and beyond. Hosted by Lissa Jones, the 100th episode is an expansive, deeply moving celebration …

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Valerie Burns’ Latest: A Cozy Mystery to Crave

Lissa Jones and Valerie Burns, smiling and holding up copies of Icing on the Murder.

 "Every time I looked at the dress, a cold hand squeezed my heart and a tear dropped from my eye. Eventually, the flood of tears was too great to stop". Madison Montgomery(Valerie Burns, author) Valerie (V.M.) Burns is an acclaimed mystery writer. the author of the Baker Street Mystery, Mystery Bookshop, Dog Club, RJ Franklin, and Bailey the Bloodhound Mysteries. …

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From Resistance to Resilience – Dr. Luke Wood

African American literature is more than stories, poems, and novels. It's a living testament of our ability to endure, to resist, and to thrive in environments that weren't designed for us. From the narratives of enslaved people to the bold voices of the Black Arts movement, our literature has been a mirror of pain, a map of how to navigate the challenges that we face. and a megaphone of our power."