Amazon | June 25, 2020
Astronauts by Jim Ottaviani and Maris Wicks was name an Amazon best nonfiction children's book of 2020 so far!
Follow the link above to see the full list.
O Magazine | June 24, 2020
“We are in a moment—hunkered down, face masks on, social distancing even from family and friends—when it’s tempting to settle into our cocoons, to get more insular.
Before the pandemic, it wasn’t unusual for me to visit two or three continents in the span of a month. Wherever I went, I’d take in the history, the culture, the people, the cuisine, opening my eyes wide to sights and customs I hadn’t experienced before, always struck by how closely connected we are. For the foreseeable future I won’t be making those trips that for decades fueled my imagination and enriched my soul. But that won’t stop me from spending this summer venturing to places I’ve never been and revisiting others I’ve yearned to see again. My plan is to embark on these journeys while curled up in my coziest chair at home, beneath my favorite tree, book in hand. My guides will be glorious women writers from around the world—the women we celebrate here.”
My Mother’s House by Francesca Momplaisir was included in this lovely round-up. Follow the link above to read more!
People | June 24, 2020
“For Good Trouble star Zuri Adele, the way life is imitating art on her Freeform series is a bit ‘triggering.’
‘It's certainly not an escape,’ Adele, 30, tells PEOPLE of the show, which follows her character Malika Williams as she becomes enthralled in a case involving a young Black man named Jamal Thompson, who was shot multiple times by police and bled for nearly 20 minutes without receiving medical treatment. Malika goes on to lead protests in Jamal's honor.
The show undoubtedly mirrors what's happening in the world today as many Americans continue to protest systemic racism and police brutality following the death of George Floyd, among others.
Despite the heaviness of the series — which is named after Rep. John Lewis' quote about fighting injustice and is a spinoff of The Fosters — Adele feels motivated by her character, who was ‘inspired’ by Black Lives Matter co-founder Patrisse Cullors (who now is a writer on the show).”
Follow the link above to read more.
Elle | June 24, 2020
“For those counting the days until To All the Boys 3 is released on Netflix, a sneak peek from the new movie is on the way—and in a way that will benefit the Black Lives Matter movement. Co-stars Lana Condor and Noah Centineo announced via Instagram Live on Tuesday that they'll be hosting a June 30 charity livestream table read on YouTube that will include a scene from the upcoming movie.
The pair, who play high school sweethearts Lara Jean and Peter Kavinsky in the hit Netflix franchise, will read scenes from the original 2018 film and 2019's sequel, To All the Boys: P.S. I Still Love You. Plus, they'll read a scene from the unreleased third and final movie, To All the Boys: Always and Forever, Lara Jean. Centineo and Condor said they had yet to pick which scene from the forthcoming film they'll be sharing. Proceeds from the event will support several organizations fighting racial injustice, including Black Lives Matter, Know Your Rights Camp, Color of Change, and more.”
Follow the link to learn more!
Library Journal | June 23, 2020
Library Journal put together a list of books published in 2020 and written by Black authors. My Mother’s House by Francesca Momplaisir and Book of the Little Axe by Lauren Francis-Sharma were included! Follow the link above to read more.
WNYC | June 23, 2020
“Vice President of the National Independent Venue Association Justin Kantor and Pitchfork Senior Staff Writer Marc Hogan discuss the future of live music during and after the pandemic.
Stuart Duncan discusses his new group album with Yo-Yo Ma, Chris Thile, and Edgar Meyer, Not Our First Goat Rodeo.
Director Josephine Decker discusses her new film, ‘Shirley,’ which stars Elisabeth Moss as writer Shirley Jackson.
Jill Watts, Professor of History at California State University San Marcos, discusses her new book, The Black Cabinet: The Untold Story of African Americans and Politics During the Age of Roosevelt.”
Follow the link above to listen to Jill Watts talk about her new book!
Variety | June 23, 2020
“After co-organizing a demonstration in Los Angeles at which he was hit with a police baton and shot seven times with rubber bullets, Kendrick Sampson (‘Insecure,’ ‘Miss Juneteenth’) has penned a letter to the entertainment industry at large, asking Hollywood to divest from the police and invest in the Black community. The letter, shared exclusively with Variety, was developed alongside Tessa Thompson (‘Avengers: Endgame,’ ‘Westworld’) and Black Lives Matter co-founders Patrisse Cullors and Melina Abdullah. It is signed by over 300 Black artists and executives, among them Thompson’s Marvel co-stars Chadwick Boseman, Anthony Mackie, Michael B. Jordan and Danai Gurira, as well as Billy Porter, Cynthia Erivo, Idris Elba, Issa Rae, Octavia Spencer, Viola Davis and many more. It follows a statement from Black Artists for Freedom, which likewise was signed by a list of prominent Black artists and called for cultural institutions to ‘break ties with the police.’”
Click the link above to read the powerful letter.
Rolling Stone | June 23, 2020
“Patrisse Cullors can’t quite remember if she was six or seven when her home was raided by police.
‘We were children. My mom was young. I just remember them having no care in how they treated us,’ says Cullors, who grew up with a single mom in Van Nuys, California, a suburb of Los Angeles in the San Fernando Valley. Police were looking for one of her uncles. ‘I remember them not looking us in the eye. It felt like it didn’t matter if we were collateral damage to their raid. I grew up just watching so much violence at the hands of law enforcement, and a deep rogue nature that felt like it was going to be like that forever.’
Cullors, 37, has worked for the better part of a decade to build a movement focused on ending police violence and mass incarceration, most notably as a co-founder and a national leader of Black Lives Matter. (That work was chronicled in Rolling Stone’s July cover story). But she’s also turned to art as a complimentary form of resistance-building. ‘Art is how we get to the places that we want to get to,’ she says. ‘Art creates vision and hope and it grounds us. We cannot forget that the work that we do as artists has to be deeply aligned with the movements that are calling for artists to be some of the visionaries in this process.’“
Follow the link to read more about Patrisse’s art.
Los Angeles Times | June 21, 2020
“Then they marched.
The unprecedented size and scope of recent rallies speaks to how Black Lives Matter has transformed from a small but passionate movement into a cultural and political phenomenon. And in few places has that movement generated more passion than in Los Angeles, home to two of BLM’s guiding forces, Abdullah and Patrisse Cullors.”
Follow the link above to read more!
Variety | June 21, 2020
“Nickelodeon is bringing back ‘Nick News’ for an hour-long special about children, race, and unity.
The special will be hosted by Alicia Keys and is meant to amplify the voices and experiences of Black kids across the country in the wake of the large-scale protests that have rocked the United States in recent weeks. It will air June 29 at 7 p.m. ET/PT.
Keys will lead a series of conversations with special guests, including: the co-founders of Black Lives Matter, Patrisse Cullors, Alicia Garza and Opal Tometi; teen activist Marley Dias, founder of the #1000BlackGirlsBook campaign; 12-year-old singer and viral sensation, Keedron Bryant; Ibram X. Kendi, author of ‘Antiracist Baby;’ Jade Fuller, Nya Collins, Zee Thomas, Kennedy Green, Emma Rose Smith and Mikayla Smith, the Nashville, Tenn., teens who founded Teens4Equality; social media star Tabitha Brown and her family; and family therapist, Dr. George James.”
Follow the link above to learn more about the “Nick News” revival!
Powell’s | June 18, 2020
“By now you’ve heard pretty much everyone in the book and media industries commenting on the surge of consumer interest in books by Black authors on issues like antiracism and activism, and the subsequent difficulty in obtaining copies. While you should absolutely read essential nonfiction by Ibram X. Kendi, Ijeoma Oluo, Gary Younge, and more this summer, consider branching out into fiction, poetry, and humor by Black authors while you wait, as these forms do a brilliant job of centering marginalized voices and illuminating the varied, complicated links between American history and the present day, all while educating and engaging the reader on an emotional level.
The following 10 books came out earlier this year and, for the most part, were eclipsed by the coronavirus. Now that our attention is back in the stacks, put one on your summer reading list. You won’t be disappointed.”
Book of the Little Axe by Lauren Francis-Sharma was included on this list! Follow the link above to read more.
CBS News | June 17, 2020
“‘I’m really proud of the work we’ve been able to do in the last seven years,’ Patrisse Cullors, co-founder and chairwoman of the Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation, said in a statement. ‘What is clear is that Black Lives Matter shares a name with a much larger movement and there are literally hundreds of organizations that do impactful racial and gender justice work who make up the fabric of this broader movement.’
The foundation has already identified several non-BLM global network movement organizations that it would like to support, said Cullors, who declined to name the groups. The foundation says it will ‘prioritize mutual aid organizations, direct service and organizations focused on creating sustainable improvements in the material conditions for all black people.’ It also looks to support black lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender-led groups.”
Follow the link above to read more about the amazing work being done.
The Guardian | June 16, 2020
“The Georgia Bureau of Investigation’s agent Will Trent, and medical examiner Sara Linton, are called in when a man is murdered in the state penitentiary. During their inquiry, a prisoner, Daryl Nesbitt, tells them that a recent attack on a young woman looks exactly the same as the one he was jailed for eight years earlier, which means a serial killer could have been operating ever since. Will is wary of looking into the case – the chief of police responsible for arresting Nesbitt was Sara’s late husband, Jeffrey Tolliver, who was murdered five years earlier. ‘Obviously, the worst part would be realising that a serial killer had been operating for years without their knowledge. The second worst part was more personal. A wrongful conviction was the kind of scandal that had onions inside of onions.’ The Silent Wife is the 10th book in Karin Slaughter’s Will Trent series, but such is her skill that it’s perfectly possible to join the story here, though be warned, if you do, you’ll want to go back to the beginning and discover just how Will and Sara (from her Grant County series) ended up together. As sharp and absorbing as ever.”
The Silent Wife by Karin Slaughter was included in this fantastic thriller round-up! Follow the link above to read more.
The Blade | June 16, 2020
“Moms usually get taken out to brunch on Mother’s Day.
On Father’s Day, though, the tradition is that Dad does all his own cooking.
We’d say that’s not fair — why don’t dads get to rest on their big day?
But since the stereotypical gift for the occasion is grilling equipment ... well, in that case, let them have some fun playing with their new toys.
While Dad mans the grill to make the entrée, though, the rest of the family can take care of the side dishes.
And we’ve got some perfect options for Pops.
For starters, we’re serving up two seriously delicious dishes: Pap’s Mac ‘n’ Cheese, a creamy three-cheese wonder, and Tender-Crisp Green Beans that have been glammed up with, oh, just a mere half-pound of bacon.
But lest you worry about the dreaded dad bod, we’ve also got vibrant, spicy Broiled Sweet Corn with Tarragon-Cayenne Butter and A Genius Caesar Salad to offer some lightness and freshness.
So, speaking of food, did you hear the one about the restaurant on the moon?
Great food, no atmosphere.
(Groan.)”
Follow the link above to get Alexander Smalls’ recipe for Broiled Sweet Corn with Tarragon-Cayenne Butter, which was included in his cookbook, Meals, Music, and Muses.
Bethesda Magazine | June 13, 2020
“The idea for Lauren Francis-Sharma’s second novel came to her while she was listening to a radio interview with Willie Nelson as she waited in the carpool line at Norwood School in Bethesda. She thought of her parents, who grew up in Trinidad loving country music, and an idea hit her for a character in what would become Book of the Little Axe (Atlantic Monthly Press, May 2020). It’s a family saga set against the backdrop of colonialism, violence and slavery in the 1800s in Trinidad and the United States. The quest to belong and the meaning of home remain relevant today, says Francis-Sharma of Kensington, an attorney who became a full-time author after the success of her debut novel ’Til the Well Runs Dry (Henry Holt and Co., 2014). ‘We’re still interconnected globally, and we have been forever,’ she says.”
Follow the link above to see the full article!
The New York Times | June 11, 2020
“The political calendar is a bit like the liturgical calendar: People pay more attention when a big event is on the horizon (Election Day, Christmas), but the most meaningful experiences often occur on their own schedule, in reaction to private or unplanned happenstance. A death, a disaster — that’s when you see protests, or conversions, start to take hold.
David Frum’s new book is both protest and conversion. Frum is the former neoconservative who came out early against Donald Trump’s 2016 run for the presidency, and in ‘Trumpocalypse’ he tries to figure out where Republicans and conservatism in general went wrong. It’s one of the more overtly political books we recommend this week, but politics unites a lot of these titles, from history (‘The Black Cabinet’) to analysis (‘Away From Chaos’) to Masha Gessen’s cleareyed guide for surviving autocracy (‘Surviving Autocracy’). There’s a novel about terrorism in India, and a filmmaker’s prison memoir, and a journalist’s account of homelessness and hope by way of the Girl Scouts. We also recommend David Kamp’s look back at the golden age of children’s television in the 1970s, André Leon Talley’s memoir of life in the upper echelons of high fashion, and works of fiction by Ivy Pochoda, Naoise Dolan and Richard Ford.”
The Black Cabinet by Jill Watts was included in this fabulous round-up! Follow the link above to see the full list.
The Girly Book Club | June 10, 2020
“I absolutely love a thriller with an unexpected end, and the last chapter of this book had plot twist on top of plot twist – literally until the last sentence. That’s exactly why I loved it.
The authors did an amazing job developing the characters. They’re remarkable, but irritating, and I was so angry with them all the time. But of course, everything has a reason and we learn about the character’s past throughout the story.
Joanna and Leo are going through a rough patch. Leo has been depressed lately and Joanna is doing everything she can to lift his spirits. She recommends a meditation class at a rehabilitation center. That’s where he meets Piper – a beautiful, fun, and friendly woman. They immediately feel attracted to each other and from then on, Joanna’s life turns into a living hell.
Piper is a mysterious and determined woman and in no time, she takes Leo away from Joanna. But Piper wasn’t expecting that Leo’s son Stelli was going to get in the way. He doesn’t accept that Piper took his mom’s place and he does everything he can to get back at her.
Meanwhile, Joanna is doing her best to find out about Piper’s past. After all, it’s very strange that she can’t find anything about Piper online, even though she’s such a successful business woman. It turns out Piper changed her name. She’s been married twice and both her husbands died in mysterious ways.
It all seems very obvious. Crazy ex-wife obsessed with the new Mrs. that took her place; husband that doesn’t believe when his ex-wife tells him she’s crazy. But you’re in for more than just the obvious!
I was hooked and on the edge of my seat the whole time, and when everything was finally explained in the last chapters, I was so shocked! I knew something crazy was about to happen, but I did not expect the ending at all! I highly recommend it!”
The Wife Stalker by Liv Constantine received a glowing review from The Girly Book Club!
People | June 10, 2020
"‘There is no noise as powerful as the sound of the marching feet of a determined people,’ Martin Luther King Jr. said at the height of the Civil Rights Movement. No words better capture the moment we're in right now, as millions take to the streets to protest against police brutality and racial injustice.
Protests have erupted in cities throughout the United States following the May 25 killing of George Floyd, 46-year-old black man who died after a Minneapolis police officer kneeled on his neck for almost nine minutes after a deli employee accused Floyd of using a counterfeit $20 bill. The officer, Derek Chauvin, is facing murder and manslaughter charges, while the three other officers who were on the scene are under investigation. All have been fired.
In the midst of this painful — and necessary — reckoning with racism in the United States, many have sought resources to learn more about the issues at hand. We march, but we must also listen — and music helps us learn, reflect and heal when conversation fails.
Keep reading for music, podcasts, audiobooks and more resources that deconstruct systemic racism and paint a vivid portrait of what it’s like to be unheard, and unseen as a black American.”
Radical Hope by Carolina De Robertis, which People described as “powerful and full of hope,” is included in this article. Follow the link above to read more.