In order to "stay woke" as they say, it is important to read the books that tell stories about your history and your experiences.

Author, Dr. Frank E. Dobson, winner of the Zora Neale Hurston/Bessie Head Fiction Writer’s Award, releases his compelling and groundbreaking book, “Rendered Invisible.” Race is all around us, man, choking us. The black and white worlds of Johnny Smith and Bill Reilly have been turned upside down by a serial killer determined to incite a […]

New York Times and #1 Essence best selling author Mary B. Morrison expertly blends steamy fiction with reality. In 2001, readers were captivated by Morrison’s Soul Mates Dissipate series which explored the topic that puzzles most of us: how to find— and keep — your soul mate. Publishers Weekly noted Morrison’s sensual novels “pack in […]

Jermaine Jackson offers a keenly observed memoir tracing his younger brother’s life starting from their shared childhood and extending through the Jackson 5 years, Michael’s phenomenal solo career, his loves, his suffering, and his tragic end.  Now in paperback, YOU ARE NOT ALONE MICHAEL: Through A Brother’s Eyes (Touchstone Paperback; August 2012; $16.00) is a […]

Publisher Simon & Schuster releases the book, “Sparkle” (Atria Books; August 2012; $15) just in time for the theatrical release. THEY HAD A DREAM. SHE HAD IT ALL. Detroit, 1968. The Motown sound is sweeping the nation. Girl groups are hotter than ever. Over their mother’s objections, three beautiful sisters—Delores, Sister and Sparkle—are taking the […]

Rap and Religion: Understanding the Gangsta’s God (Praeger; June 2012; $37) tackles a sensitive and controversial topic: the juxtaposition—and seeming hypocrisy—of references to God within rap music. Hip hop culture and rap music in particular have been condemned for inciting violence, promoting misogyny, and perpetuating racial stereotypes. However, Dr. Ebony A. Utley argues that religion […]

Sparkle is the pseudonym for Essence Magazine bestselling author Shelia M. Goss. Shelia is a 2012 Emma Award Finalist and has over thirteen books in print.  Sade’s Secret – Sweet Sixteen Diaries (Wahida Clark Presents YA; May 2012; $12.95) is the first book under her pen name Sparkle. Fifteen-year-old Sade Washington has been harboring a secret […]

Charlotte Pierce-Baker’s son was 25-years old the night his bipolar disorder truly began to manifest itself to his family. At the time, Mark was pursuing a postgraduate degree in film, living in California with his fiancĂ©e and, from the perspective of his attentive and supportive parents living across the country, he was leading a relatively […]

With love, sex and romance consistent hot topics debut author Sadeqa Johnson stuffs all three into a carry-on bag and takes readers on a trip into a long distance relationship that will leave minds open and hearts aching for a chance to experience such high-living.  LOVE IN A CARRY-ON BAG (12th Street Press; March 2012; $14.95), tells […]

Singer Ledisi has penned a new book, Better Than Alright: Finding Peace, Love & Power (Essence – June 2012; $16.95). Her new book is an innovative collaboration with Essence magazine. It is a collection of Ledisi’s personal photos, quotes, lyrics and richly detailed stories. Beginning with her performance at Essence’s first Black Women in Hollywood […]

The Classroom and The Cell: Conversations With Black America (Third World Press; December 2011; $14.95) is a collection of conversations between celebrity intellectual Marc Lamont Hill and famed political prisoner Mumia Abu-Jamal. It’s a shining example of African American men speaking for themselves about the many forces impacting their lives. Covering topics such as race, […]

Two African American women offer the first ever handbook on navigating the exciting, tricky, and potentially dangerous terrain of interracial relationships with personal anecdotes, historical context, pop cultural references, and expert tips on how to make the bumpy ride a bit smoother. When it comes to black women, the statistics have been grim when it […]