All Videos

About the book: Say it with her now: "I love my people!" In rhythmic prowess, Kim Singleton recounts the beauty and legacy of Black people who are "too many to name, from the corners of obscurity, to the highest of fame." I Love My People is a poetic tribute to African American history-makers and culture-shakers, complete with nostalgic photography and vibrant, playful illustration. In the vein of Gill Scott-Heron's poetry of the 1970s, author Kim Singleton invites us into call-and-response and brings a refreshing cadence to the page that captures every decade of Black joy in all its resilient, diverse, and excellent splendor. "We were told that our bodies weren't built for this art. Rhythmic movement we mastered flowing straight from the heart." Singleton shines a light on virtually every facet of Black community life, and unapologetically declares her people good--from the street corner to the White House and everything in between. "In 1827, Freedom's Journal was born. Black content, Black operated, Black staff, Black owned." By the end, you'll be chanting Singleton's anthem, too: "I LOVE MY PEOPLE!" About the author: Kimberly Singleton is a filmmaker, writer, and poet. She earned a BS from Howard University and an MBA from NYU, forging a twenty-year career in media. Singleton's love for the arts led her to study at Frederick Douglass Creative Arts Center, Gotham Writers Workshop, and African Voices Writers Workshop. Singleton is the executive producer and host of the online program Consider It Blacklit, winner of the Public Media Award of Excellence in 2018 and 2019. She is an active member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority and a former international president of the Howard University Alumni Association. Singleton lives in New York City.

Tuesdays with Dr. Traci is a livestreamed community conversation with the "sage of Sankofa", Dr. Traci. We invite you to learn about our featured guests in various fields by asking questions. We definitely want to hear from you. About Dr. Traci Wyatt: Traci D. Wyatt is a scholar, preacher, author, and educator. She has earned her Ph.D. in African Studies, Master of Arts in Religious Studies, and Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy. All her academic achievements were completed at Howard University in Washington, DC. About Dr. Ayo Sekai: Dr. Ayo Sekai is an academic book publisher, political scientist, and public speaker. She established Universal Write Publications (UWP) in 2004 to champion the work of Black and Brown scholars, using her platform to amplify their research. Before her current role, Dr. Sekai served as a public servant in various federal agencies and worked as an educator.

About the book: Laid to the Side is a landmark collection of hair stories exploring the meaning of hair and Black women's identity development within the context of schools. Through these poignant stories, readers are invited to understand and appreciate the profound significance of hair in educational settings, and to consider how these insights can inform the creation of more inclusive and empowering educational experiences. This book not only illuminates the critical role of educators and caregivers in recognizing and celebrating the importance of hair in the empowerment of Black girls--it also serves as a guide to designing educational opportunities that honor and are informed by the unique hair narratives of Black girls and women. "Laid to the Side" is an essential read for anyone committed to fostering an educational environment where every aspect of identity is a source of strength and empowerment. About the Contributors: Dr. Afiya Mbilishaka is an Ivy League and HBCU-educated clinical psychologist, natural hairstylist, educator, and research scientist. Dr. Afiya is the founder of “PsychoHairapy,” which uses hair as an entry point for mental health services in beauty salons and barbershops. She is also the principal investigator of the PsychoHairapy Research Lab, and she has published over twenty journal articles, ten book chapters, and two books. Dr. Afiya has testified nationally on behalf of the CROWN Act, an anti-discrimination law to protect Black hair, for which she has been identified as a subject matter expert by the Senate and House of Representatives. Dr. Danielle Apugo is a proud Louisiana native who professionally engages the world as a multi-talented educator and writer. Dr. Apugo co-wrote and executive produced the short film “Policing Joy” (2022), a research-based documentary about Black women and girls’ encounters with hair bias in schools. Danielle’s scholarly contributions explore critical themes throughout black women’s K-12 to College educational experience. Laid to the Side is her second book centering the educational journeys of Black women. Dr. Iyelli Ichile is a Professor of African, African American and African Diaspora History and Director of the African American Studies Institute at Prince George’s Community College. She has a PhD in African Diaspora History from Howard University, and a Master’s in African American Studies from Columbia University. Her most important education, however, took place in her mother’s home. Her work examines the ways in which culture, art, aesthetics, relationship-building and spirituality inform Black liberation. She supports political and cultural work in our community in as many ways as she can, and she is the mother of a more amazing daughter than she prayed for.

Join us for a heartwarming celebration of Black motherhood with author Leah Hairston, MSSW as she introduces her uplifting coloring book, "Color Me, Mama: Birth & Postpartum Affirmations for New Moms." Bursting with beautifully diverse designs and doula-crafted empowering affirmations, this coloring book is a tribute to the strength, resilience, and beauty of Black motherhood. Leah Hairston, with her wealth of experience as a doula and her passion for supporting women, invites you to explore the pages of "Color Me, Mama." Each illustration and affirmation is carefully curated to provide moments of peace, reflection, and empowerment for new mamas as they navigate their birth and postpartum experiences. This event is not just about coloring; it's about honoring the journey of Black motherhood and recognizing the power that each mother holds within her. Join us as Leah Hairston shares the inspiration behind "Color Me, Mama" discusses the importance of representation in motherhood resources, and leads us in a discussion about the joys and challenges of the motherhood journey. Whether you're an expecting mother, a new mama, or simply looking for a meaningful gift for a loved one, "Color Me, Mama" is a must-have addition to your collection. Come celebrate the beauty of Black motherhood, connect with other mothers in the community, and embrace the power of motherhood with Leah Hairston and "Color Me, Mama." About the book: Celebrate the journey of Black motherhood with our affirming coloring book! Featuring beautifully diverse designs and doula-crafted empowering affirmations, it's the perfect gift for new mamas to support their birth and postpartum experiences. Curate moments of peace and reflection with our coloring book, all while basking in the power you hold as a mother. About the author: Leah Hairston is on a mission to educate and empower women with female reproductive systems. After 7 years and nearly 100 doula families, she’s more dedicated than ever. When she learned of the systematic reproductive injustices against Black women, she dedicated her life to facilitating spaces for healing, equal access, & justice. As a skilled intuition-based doula and perinatal social worker, she reminds women of their inherent power, especially when navigating challenges within reproductive wellness experiences. Her wisdom and lived experiences are evident in her style as an instructor and mentor. A bold advocate and patient educator, Leah believes that relationship is one of the key factors in facilitating smooth, healing experiences. She takes the time to curate personalized, informed experiences for her clients no matter the services they receive. A graduate of Roland Park Country School, Howard University, and Columbia University, Leah is a perpetual student. She completed training with Ancient Song Doula Services, Lactation Education Resources, Steamy Chick, Brilliant Birth Academy, and Grandma’s Hands Herbal School. She is an instructor and mentor with the National Black Doula Association. When not on call, you’ll find Leah trying a new recipe while listening to an audiobook, walking her pup T’Challa, or savoring moments with loved ones. She loves all things at the intersections of healing, reproductive wholeness & social justice. Leah’s work was recently recognized by Pharrell Williams. She and her team are Black Ambition Prize semi-finalists on a mission to end maternal mortality. Learn more here.

About the book: The vibrant stories in I'll Give You a Reason explore race, identity, connection, and belonging in the Ironbound, an immigrant neighborhood in Newark, New Jersey. A young widow goes on her first date since her husband's death and finds herself hunting a bear in the woods with a near stranger. An unhappy wife compares her mother's love spells and rituals to her own efforts to repair her strained marriage. A self-conscious college student discovers a porn star who shares her name and becomes obsessed with her doppelgänger's freedom and comfort with her own body. Annell López's indelible characters tread the waters of political unrest, sexuality, religion, body image, Blackness, colorism, and gentrification--searching for their identities and a sliver of joy and intimacy. Through each story, a nuanced portrait of the "American Dream" emerges, uplifting the voices of those on its margins. About the author: Annell López is a Dominican immigrant. She is the winner of the Louise Meriwether First Book Prize and the author of the short story collection I’LL GIVE YOU A REASON from the Feminist Press. A Peter Taylor Fellow at the Kenyon Review Writers Workshops, her work has also received support from Tin House and has appeared in Guernica, American Short Fiction, Michigan Quarterly Review, Brooklyn Rail, Refinery29 and elsewhere. López received her MFA from the University of New Orleans. She is working on a novel.

Everything you wanted to know about writing and publishing your book! Calling all authors! We are excited to welcome author Kwame Alexander as he spends an hour answering questions about the publishing industry and how to write and publish your book! Kwame will be signing books after this discussion!

About the book: A refreshing, insightful, sacrilegious take on African American history, Crazy as Hell explores the site of America's greatest contradictions. The notables of this book are the runaways and the rebels, the badass and funky, the activists and the inmates--from Harriet Tubman, Nina Simone, and Muhammad Ali to B'rer Rabbit, Single Mamas, and Wakandans--but are they crazy as hell, or do they simply defy the expectations designated for being Black in America? With humor and insight, scholars and writers V. Efua Prince and Hoke S. Glover III (Bro. Yao) offer brief breakdowns of one hundred influential, archetypal, and infamous figures, building a new framework that emphasizes their humanity. Including an introduction by MacArthur Fellow Reginald Dwayne Betts and peppered with little-known historical facts and PSAs that get real about the Black experience, Crazy as Hell captures the tenacious, irreverent spirit that accompanies a long struggle for freedom. About the author: Hoke S. Glover III (Bro. Yao) is a poet, nonfiction writer, and the chair of the department of language, literature, and cultural studies at Bowie State University. About the host: Greg Carr is an Associate Professor of Afro-American Studies at Howard University. He is also an Adjunct Professor at the Howard School of Law. He is First Vice President of the Association for the Study of Classical African Civilizations and Editor of The Compass: The Journal of ASCAC. A former board member of the National Council for Black Studies, Dr. Carr has twice been named national “HBCU Male Faculty Member of the Year” by HBCU Digest and has been voted "Professor of the Year" several times by Howard students. He led the team that designed the curriculum framework for the School District of Philadelphia’s mandatory high school African American History course and, during his time as the District's Program Specialist on Race and Culture, co-founded Philadelphia Freedom Schools. His writing has appeared in books, academic and popular journals and he serves as a contributor to and/or commentator in a wide range of media. He is a weekly panelist on the daily digital news show “Roland Martin Unfiltered” and co-hosts Karen Hunter’s weekly Saturday YouTube series, “In Class With Carr.” His commentaries on the 50th anniversary of the Black Panther Party and the opening of the Smithsonian Museum of African American History and Culture appeared in the August and September 2016 issues of Ebony Magazine.Dr. Carr’s chapter, “Re-Literacy and African Power in the Trump Era,” appears in Not Our President, Third World Press’ book-length commentary on the Trump presidency. He tweets at @AfricanaCarr and blogs at drgregcarr.com

About the book: A woman journeys into a submerged world of gods and myth to save her home in this powerful historical fantasy that shines a light on the drowned Black towns of the American South. "Our home began, as all things do, with a wish." Jane Edwards hasn't spoken since she was eleven years old, when armed riders expelled her family from their hometown along with every other Black resident. Now, twelve years later, she's found a haven in the all-Black town of Awenasa. But the construction of a dam promises to wash her home under the waters of the new lake. Jane will do anything to save the community that sheltered her. So, when a man with uncanny abilities arrives in town asking strange questions, she wonders if he might be the key. But as the stranger hints at gods and ancestral magic, Jane is captivated by a bigger mystery. She knows this man. Only the last time she saw him, he was dead. His body laid to rest in a rushing river. Who is the stranger and what is he really doing in Awenasa? To find those answers, Jane will journey into a sunken world, a land of capricious gods and unsung myths, of salvation and dreams made real. But the flood waters are rising. To gain the miracle she desires, Jane will have to find her voice again and finally face the trauma of the past. About the author: For more from Leslye Penelope, check out The Monsters We Defy. Leslye Penelope, who also writes as L. Penelope, has been writing since she could hold a pen and loves getting lost in the worlds in her head. She is an award-winning author of fantasy and paranormal romance. Her debut novel Song of Blood & Stone was chosen as one of TIME Magazine’s 100 Best Fantasy Books of All Time. The novel also won the inaugural award for Best Self-Published Fiction from the Black Caucus of the American Library Association. Her 2022 novel The Monsters We Defy won the 2023 Audie Award for Best Fantasy Audiobook. She was born in the Bronx, not long after the birth of hip hop, but left before she could acquire an accent. Equally left and right-brained, she studied film production at Howard University and minored in computer science. This led to a master’s degree in multimedia and a career in website development. She’s also an award-winning independent filmmaker, co-founded a literary magazine, and sometimes dreams in HTML. Leslye is an alumna of VONA/Voices and Hurston/Wright Writers Workshop. She has spoken and taught at conferences and festivals around the country including the Baltimore Book Festival, Romance Writers of America, Writers Digest Annual & Novel Writing Conferences, and the Historical Novel Society. Her podcast, My Imaginary Friends, is a journal of her publishing life, perfect for readers and writers alike. Leslye lives in Maryland with her feline dependents.

Join us for a deep dive into Matthew Morrison's latest release, Blacksound: Making Race and Popular Music in the United States!

KAOS Theory: The Afrokosmic Ark of Ben Caldwell tells the story of filmmaker, educator and community activist Ben Caldwell and KAOS Network, the media-arts center he founded in Los Angeles's Leimert Park neighborhood. Through vivid illustrations, archival media, and engaging storytelling, KAOS Theory shows how Ben crafted a life centered around the power of fellowship, community, and the use of art and media as a social force. The text takes a journey through history and time, beginning with Ben's ancestors in the American southwest, up through Ben's childhood in New Mexico, his experiences in Vietnam, his work as a filmmaker and pioneer of the L.A. Rebellion Film Movement, and as founder of KAOS Network. But KAOS Theory is more than just the story of one man's life. It is a work of art, remembrance, and tribute. Encompassing music, film, art, and performance, KAOS Theory honors the vibrant and influential communities that continue to shape the cultural landscape of Los Angeles, the African Diaspora, and beyond.

Ayize Sabater is a dynamic entrepreneur, educational researcher, author and thirty year educational visionary. He earned his doctorate at Morgan State University in 2018. Dr. Ayize has co-founded several organizations, including a Montessori Public Charter school in D.C. He received a 2021 Montessori Core Principle and a 2012 Orientation (formerly know as Assistant) certificate and is an honors graduate of Morehouse and Wesley. Ayize co-founded the Black Montessori Educational Fund and was appointed the 1st Black Executive Director of AMI/USA in November 2020.

We are so honored to host a community book event for Marimba Ani's Let the Circle Be Unbroken A New and Expanded Edition With an Introduction, Preface and Praise Song for the Ancestors!

About the book: Joshua Myers's Holy Ghost Key celebrates the essential role of African music in the continuity and sustenance of African Diasporic life and culture. Myers weaves his broad knowledge of African and African American music practices, genres and instruments with his memory of gospel lyrics and symbols evoking African spirituality, showing us the ways in which this music has been both the light on our path and the grounding of our historic journey. Though many of the poems pay tribute to the genius of contemporary musicians who have won popular acclaim, the entire collection reminds of a persistent African ancestral legacy. About the author: Joshua M. Myers is an Associate Professor of Africana Studies in the Department of Afro-American Studies at Howard University. He is the author of Holy Ghost Key, the winner of the 2023 Naomi Long Madgett Poetry Prize (Broadside Lotus Press, due February 2024), Of Black Study (Pluto, 2023), Cedric Robinson: The Time of the Black Radical Tradition (Polity, 2021), and We Are Worth Fighting For: A History of the Howard University Student Protest of 1989 (NYU Press, 2019), as well as the editor of A Gathering Together: Literary Journal. His research interests include Africana intellectual histories and traditions, Africana philosophy, musics, and foodways as well as critical university studies, and disciplinarity. His work has been published in TOPIA: Canadian Journal of Cultural Studies, Zanj: The Journal of Critical Global South Studies, Critical Ethnic Studies Journal, Washington History, The Journal of Academic Freedom, The Journal of African American Studies,The Journal of Pan African Studies, The African Journal of Rhetoric, The Human Rights and Globalization Law Review, Downbeat, The New Inquiry , Pambazuka, Obsidian, and Burning House Press, among other literary spaces. He serves on the board of the Association for the Study of Classical African Civilizations and the SNCC Legacy Project and is the senior content producer at the Africa World Now Project. He was the co-coordinator of the SNCC Legacy Project’s Black Power Chronicles Oral History Project and organizes with Washington DC’s Positive Black Folks in Action. In addition he serves on the editorial boards of The Compass: Journal of the Association for the Study of Classical African Civilizations, Siyabonana: The Journal of Africana Studies, and The Journal of Black Studies. A central thread that guides all of this work is an approach to knowledge that takes seriously that peoples of African descent possess a deep sense of reality, a thought tradition that more than merely interprets what is around us, but can transform and renew these spaces we inhabit—a world we would like to fundamentally change. About the host: Poet and writer Alfred Bennett (A.B.) Spellman was born in Elizabeth City, North Carolina. He earned a BS in political science from Howard University, where he also attended law school. He published his first book of poems, The Beautiful Days, in 1964 while working as a jazz music reviewer. His second book, Things I Must Have Known (2008), received an honorable mention from the Gustavus Myers Outstanding Book Award and was nominated for the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work in Poetry. Spellman has written essays and poetry for Rhythm Magazine and taught at Morehouse College, Emory University, Rutgers, and Harvard University. In 1975, he became director of the Arts in Education Study Project for the National Endowment of the Arts, where he held a series of positions, culminating in his role as deputy chairman for the Office of Guidelines, Panel and Council Operations. Spellman retired from the NEA in 2005; his service to the organization is honored by the A.B. Spellman Award for Jazz Advocacy. In addition to writing, Spellman has served on a number of arts panels, including the Advisory Group on the National Museum of African American History and Culture of the Smithsonian Institution.

In the opening poem of Kenard Johnson’s eye-opening book “Below DC’s Black Poverty Line,” one speaker admonishes another, “Just don’t stop on I-95.” As a reader who has traveled I-95 from Baltimore to Washington probably 1000 times in my long life—I mean Gosh, I have friends in Georgetown, Foggy Bottom, Bethesda, Anacostia—I now can see a new and deeply poignant DC. Kenard Johnson’s book has shown me close-ups of places I never saw—maybe never bothered to see.

About the book series: Neo and Nubia is a children’s picture book series for young readers (ages 5 to 10) and their families. Cleverly written and beautifully illustrated with a trio of brilliant young explorers. Set in present-day, where a wise man, Nnamdi, is one of the last living keepers of the world's oldest scrolls on which all knowledge is recorded. Unfortunately, his health is declining. So he sends his eight-year-old grandkids, Neo and Nubia, and their schoolmate, Emeka, on a secret quest to save human history from being lost. They go back in time to witness and document our most significant scientific discoveries and developments. From the great migration out of Africa and the first seafaring vessels to the invention of written language, the construction of the pyramids, and more. Together, the kids experience, learn, and grow through these incredible journeys. It’s a world of science and community where the triumphs of our past and the truth of our future connect. This series has been created by a global team of researchers, writers, and illustrators from many waves of the African Diaspora. About the authors: Chinwe Onyeagoro and Oby Onyeagoro are the creators of the Neo & Nubia series. Just like their main characters, they are siblings with roots in Nigeria who grew up in the United States and traveled the world learning about the contributions of the African Diaspora throughout history. Now, with six of their own kids, they are excited to share those same stories with the next generation. Chinwe lives in the Washington D.C. area and runs a technology company. She is a Harvard University graduate with a degree in Economics. Oby lives in London and works in finance. He studied Electrical Engineering and has a dual masters from Harvard Business School and Harvard School of Education.

About the book: An unapologetically bold, stimulating, and inspired collection of photographs and profiles celebrating the style of African Americans age 50+ Long inspired by mature adults daring to express their creativity and individuality through their style choices, New York Times bestselling novelist Connie Briscoe shines a light on these often overlooked and underappreciated sharply attired individuals. Accompanied by the marvelously talented Milton Washington’s dazzling photographs, Briscoe’s vision comes alive in these pages. From intrepid to chic, and sophisticated to free-spirited—Stepping Out captures the very essences of a vibrant cross section of Black elders, showcasing their stories, their styles, and how their love of fashion was born and bred. This book contextualizes the cultural, spiritual, and historical influences on decades of Black style and testifies to this dynamic legacy for generations to come. SEE LESS About the author: Connie Briscoe is the author of the New York Times bestseller Big Girls Don’t Cry, as well as A Long Way from Home, Sisters & Lovers (a Blackboard bestseller), P.G. County, Money Can’t Buy Love, You Only Get Better, and Jewels (with photographer Michael Cunningham). She lives in Ellicott City, Maryland.

A discussion and cal to action.

Hidden History, Ras Gugsa Welle is a book written by Author Behulum Alebel on an Ethiopian Heroic figure.

Dr. Traci is known as the "Sage of Sankofa" offering wisdom and heartfelt advice. Tuesdays with Dr. Traci is a virtual community conversation with topisc that range from spirituality, activism, relationships and more. This week, Dr. Traci is joined by Dr. Mario Beatty, Associate Professor of Afro-American Studies at Howard University.