Books Are Pop Culture: Recent Episodes
Books Are Pop Culture
Books Are Pop Culture is a podcast & live show that provides insight into and cultural commentary on the latest and greatest in books, book news, and book culture—rightfully placing books at the center of the popular culture conversation.
Hosted by Akili Nzuri and Reggie Bailey.
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BAPC x Tiffany Clarke Harrison
Is it better to approach literature with a feelings minded approach or a craft minded approach? If you were to ask Tiffany Clarke Harrison, author of the novel Blue Hour, she might say feelings are what you should always lead with. So this awesome conversation, another classic conversation, is one that includes feelings, honesty, authenticity and vulnerability that is bound to stick with any listener.
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Recorded on 5.2.23
BAPC x Lakiesha Carr
An Autobiography of Skin by Lakiesha Carr is what we like to call fine art. It was classical and fresh. Full of pain & pleasure. Struggle & Progress. Love & Fear. A work that is bound to stand the test of time as long as the right readers continue to read and champion the work. This conversation, like the book itself, is a work of Fine Art that encompasses all of the topics referenced above & then some.
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Recorded on 4.4.23
BAPC × Diane Marie Brown
If there are generational curses then there must be generational blessings right? According to Diane Marie Brown that is the truth and we dive into that and much more while discussing her debut novel, Black Candle Women.
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Recorded on 10.26.23
BAPC × Deborah D.E.E.P. MoutonThis episode is titled Mic Drop because only the first Black Poet Laureate of Houston & International Sensation could drop bars like she did nonstop for an entire episode. Listen here and make sure to check out Deborah's awesome memoir, Black Chameleon.
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Recorded on 7.7.23
BAPC × Sowmya KrishnamurthyHip-Hop's impact on the fashion industry has never been anthologized in the world of literature the way Sowmya Krishnamurthy did it with Fashion Killa. She made found time to tell us how she did it.
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Recorded on 10.18.23
BAPC × Jonathan EigMartin Luther King Jr. was a very complicated hero & we spoke with Jonathan Eig about his MLK Jr. biography, King: A Life, and got to the root of several of complications, his lasting legacy, and then some.
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Recorded on 8.10.23
BAPC × Edwin RaymondEdwin Raymond's An Inconvenient Cop teaches listeners, viewers, and readers that it is all about the numbers when it comes to the police force, and the police force wishes that he never informed us.
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Recorded on 11.30.23
BAPC × Michael HarriotDiscussing the New York Times bestelling Black AF History with Michael Harriot himself is the only true way to commemorate Black History Month as a literary podcast.
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Recorded on 10.11.23
BAPC x James McBrideThe Heaven & Earth Grocery Store is James McBride's latest award winner (it won the Kirkus Prize in the Fall of 2023). We had the opportunity to discuss the novel along with talk about how many talented American writers there are, how much consideration McBride gives to all of the acclaim he has received over his career, the importance of reading books and playing musical instruments, and more.Keep up with James McBride
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Recorded on 9.7.23
BAPC × Jesmyn WardLet Us Descend is Jesmyn Ward's latest masterpiece. We had the opportunity to discuss the novel along with some notable bits about her successful career, and the business of books. A classic & honest episode.
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Recorded on 11.20.23
BAPC x James Hannaham
Didn't Nobody Give a Shit About Carlotta is a novel that opens the door to interesting conversations on the carceral system being the real cancel culture, marginalized individuals being more concerned with being human than being marginalized, Friendship, Change, New York City as an identity, James Joyce, Little, Brown, and Company being "a little more brown" and much more. James Hannaham was a blast to talk to. Full of wisdom, humor, a Jennifer Egan anecdote, and great vibes.
Recorded on 5.13.23
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BAPC x David Santos Donaldson
David Santos Donaldson's debut novel Greenland is a literary gift that keeps on giving. Through Kip Starling's journey towards publishing and the wilderness we are able to discuss the pursuit of art-making, the idea of a sacrificial pen, happiness being overrated, and several other interesting topics. Another episode not to be missed.
Recorded on 3.26.23
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BAPC x Claire Jiménez
One of the joys of recording is coming out with a new homie. One of the joys of being BAPC is that we seemingly come out with more new homies more times than not after a recording. Claire Jiménez, our newest homie, did some awesome work within What Happened to Ruthy Ramirez. In this conversation we talk about not believing the hype, writing the work that is truly interesting to you, what's really real, what does real representation of Puerto Rican women look like, the impact of colonialism when it comes to the languages we speak and have access to, & much more!
Recorded on 6.22.23
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BAPC × Rakia Clark
What's beautiful about book land is its expansive nature. An aspiring literary citizen doesn't just have to work toward becoming an author. They can work toward becoming a publisher, a publicist, a marketer, a salesperson, even an editor. In this episode we had the pleasure of speaking with The Great One herself, Rakia Clark, Executive Editor at Mariner Books (HarperCollins) about her route to becoming an executive editor, the type of books she likes to acquire, what it means to stay true to her tastes, what's hot in the world of book publishing, and more.
Recorded on 6.14.23
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BAPC × Joseph Earl Thomas
Sink is a memoir that you couldn't forget if you tried. You'll remember it for the content, you'll remember it for the narrative style, for its untapped level of honesty, and for the twists and turns included within the journey of Joseph Earl Thomas' formative years.
Recorded on 6.1.23
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BAPC × Theresa Runstedtler
The benefit of having a show about books that you control is that you get to talk about all the books that appeal to your specific interests as long as the there is mutual interest between you and the author. Thankfully there was mutual interest between BAPC and Theresa Runstedtler because we got to talk basketball again through her recently Black Ball, served to you all right on time since today is Game One of the 2023 NBA Finals.
Recorded on 4.13.23
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BAPC x Tembe Denton-Hurst
Tembe Denton-Hurst is the author of Homebodies. She is also the homie and quite awesome.
Recorded on 5.10.23
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BAPC x Stephen Buoro
Stephen Buoro spent time with us discussing his marvelous novel, The Five Sorrowful Mysteries of Andy Africa, and I think it's safe to say that we are all droogs now.
Recorded on 4.22.23
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BAPC x Brianna Holt
When you are a real reader you learn that relatability isn't limited to an identity. Sure, a work can be aimed at a target audience, but that doesn't mean that you wont' see yourself reflected and/or identify with the work at hand—not that those things should matter in the first place. Alas, Brianna Holt wrote In Our Shoes with Black women in mind, but anyone can pick this book up and find themselves reflected within the work she did. It was a true pleasure to spend time with her.
Recorded on 5.1.23
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BAPC x Asale Angel-Ajani
One of the most immense pleasures of doing a bookish show is being joined by a guest who is unpredictable in the best ways. Asale Angel-Ajani is one of those guests. On and off camera she was real, awesome, thoughtful, honest. Asale's debut novel, A Country You Can Leave, is all of those things as well.
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BAPC x Kashana Cauley
Sometimes, when podding, you have a good feeling about an episode. It's not an explainable feeling, per se, but it is one where you know that your preparation has made it so you'll come out on the other side of the episode with a new friend. Kashana Cauley, author of The Survivalists, is 100% a friend of the show!
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BAPC x Keenan Norris
Sometimes you think you'll link up with someone for a specific purpose and things, for one reason or another, fell through.aligning, but next thing you know, you look up and you and the individual have
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BAPC x Toni Ann Johnson
Toni Ann Johnson may have written fiction, but she makes it clear in this episode that she is telling the truth. No, really, Light Skin Gone to Waste is autobiographical fiction. It's honest, complex & real—a collection that sparked an excellent conversation.
This Side & That by Toni Ann Johnson
Ruby Bridges film, which Toni Ann Johnson wrote, is banned in a Florida School District
A Split Tree Still Grows (Poem)
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BAPC x Ryan Lee Wong
When Publisher's Weekly gave a starred review to Which Side Are You On, Ryan Lee Wong's debut novel, they said "This daring and generous work is sure to spark difficult but necessary conversations." I wouldn't say the conversation held here with was difficult, but you'll soon learn that it was necessary.
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BAPC x Julia May Jonas
Who said scandals aren't fun or entertaining? Clearly the person saying that isn't a reader of Julia May Jonas' debut novel, Vladimir, a scandalous, twisty, turny, intelligent, funny, charming, etc., etc. novel that Time Magazine thought highly enough to place in it's Top 10 fiction books of 2022. Her time spent with us was as fun as her novel was.
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BAPC x Xochitl Gonzalez
Xochitl Gonzalez joins BAPC to walk with us into uncharted territory as we speak with her about Olga Dies Dreaming. The first author whom we've had join us in celebration of their paperback release.
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BAPC x Jamila Minnicks
New Jessup ain't been the same since BAPC came to town. Jamila Minnicks welcomed Akili and Reggie with open arms and a time was had discussing her debut novel, Moonrise Over New Jessup.
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BAPC × Dr. Daniel Black
"Racism ain't no beast, Black agency is." Dr. Daniel Black's latest book, Black on Black, is also a beast. He is back on BAPC for the second time and he is just as transformative as when you last saw him.
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BAPC x Tricia Hersey
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BAPC x Alejandro Varela
National Book Award for Fiction Finalist Alejandro Varela's The Town of Babylon is a novel that shows you that Babylon is much more than you probably think it is. Fortunately, Alejandro is brilliant enough to ask the questions required to challenge Babylon, and he also has many answers.
BAPC x Cree Myles
Cree Myles is not only one of the first book influencers with a Wikipedia page, and the editor and curator of All Ways Black, but she is a brilliant innovator. Her mind is so sharp and free that there is no way to interact with her and not come away a little better. This episode is a classic in the canon of Books Are Pop Culture.
Share This Cypher on Social Media to help build a library
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BAPC × Eboni K. Williams
Eboni K. Williams, whom you may refer to as Auntie E after Reading her latest book, Bet on Black, stopped through BAPC Land to spread some hard earned wisdom about liberating our people.
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BAPC × Laura WarrellLaura Warrell was kind enough to make time to visit BAPC to discuss Sweet, Soft, Plenty Rhythm & it was the best of times. You might even consider it jazzy.Read Laura's recent piece in LitHub about Publishing While Black (Published After this recording).Join The Fellowship—BAPC's Patreon CommunitySubscribe to BAPC on YouTubeSubscribe to The Days—BAPC's NewsletterFollow BAPC on InstagramShop BAPC's Bookshop
BAPC × Remica Bingham-Fisher
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BAPC × The Other Black Girl
Reggie & Akili Read, Saw, & Conquered (Or did they get conquered?) The Other Black Girl by Zakiya Dalila Harris. Tap in, take a listen, & choose a side (👀👀👀)
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BAPC x Shanita Hubbard.
This episode is special. Shanita Hubbard's time spent in BAPC Land discussing her first book, Ride or Die, is what podcasting is all about.
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BAPC x Swati Sudarsan.
Swati Sudarsan is a force. A writer, an assistant editor at Moot Point Magazine a distance runner, a cat tender, a humorist, a poet, etc. She is a writer whose name is just beginning to buzz and she made time for us to talk about what its like to be the up and coming writer who, before a book is published that we can hold, is getting published in literary magazines and constantly workshopping. The journey on the way to getting a book published, in other words.
Clarity by Swati Sudarsan
Subscribe to Luster Not Polish
The Important Questions to Ask Yourself Before Writing.
Amazing Resources for the Lit Mag World: Chill Subs, Don't Write Alone
4 Lit Mags to Read: Moot Point, Kenyon Review, The Drift, Catapult
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BAPC x Toya Wolfe.
Toya Wolfe shows you where her girls are at with The Last Summer on State Street. This book is a love letter to a city that loves her back, and any person who encounters her &/or her work will learn how to dream.
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BAPC × DJ Johnson
DJ Johnson is the founder of owner of Baldwin & Co. in New Orleans and he is leading the charge in creating a true literary society within his community and throughout the world. There were so many gems dropped throughout this episode, whether it's business, bookish, financial or motivational. There is even very special announcement at the end of the episode so make sure you stick around.
Visit Baldwin & Co.
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BAPC × Krishan Trotman.
The Beyoncé of Books, Krishan Trotman—publisher of & editor at Legacy Lit—finally made her way over to BAPC Land and she continues in the BAPC tradition of bringing you behind the curtain, letting you know how publishing really works.
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Reggie & Akili are joined by Amber O. & Sean P. to talk about their exciting initiative taking place throughout 2023: The Du Bois Literary Society.
Get Your Copy of Black Reconstruction from Resist Booksellers
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Reggie and Akili, in their last episode for 2022, reflect back on a full year dedicated to podcasting and look ahead to what's next—They also do their best to figure out who the white Toni Morrison is.
Ismail Muhammad's "Can Black Literature Escape the Representation Trap?"
Hobart Pulp's Interview with Alex Perez
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BAPC x Hanif Abdurraqib
The first time Hanif Abdurraqib joined Reggie and Akili they did it big, to the point that it was the biggest episode in the history of Books Are Pop Culture. So the three fellas got together, this time to converse about the 5 year anniversary release of They Can't Kill Us Until They Kill Us, and did it bigger.
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Reggie and Akili have been reporting on the HarperCollins strike for a few weeks now, but on today's episode they have a special guest, Doris Allen, who is on the frontlines.
Support & follow Doris Allen.
Support & follow the HarperCollins Union.
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BAPC x Elaine Hsieh Chou
Elaine Hsieh Chou's novel Disorientation is what she calls an accidental satire, because she wrote the book in earnest. A large part of the book is inspired by events that truly happen and people who exist; proving that satire is a genre that supersedes your intentions. She is also thoughtful, intelligent, energetic, and wrote a novel that brings out the best possible conversations.
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BAPC x Are Prison's Obsolete?
It may be December but Reggie and Akili are finally discussing the Read With BAPC Pick for the month of November: Are Prisons Obsolete? by Angela Y. Davis. This may have been the best & most honest book discussion they have had yet.
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BAPC x Prince Shakur
Prince Shakur wrote an awesome memoir, When They Tell You to be Good, & he is wise beyond his years. He has also been active to the point that he could never conflate the difference between theory & practice. Thankfully he dropped by BAPC to share some of his hard-earned wisdom.
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Another Monday edition of Books Are Pop Culture is here and Reggie and Akili are discussing some interesting book news. They touch on Penguin Random House and Simon & Schuster, once again, since they REALLY aren't becoming a thing now. They also touch on what Twitter is becoming and why Literary Twitter will be just fine whether they stay or end up having to leave—among other things!
Reggie's Open Water Write-Up
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Reggie and Akili are back with another quick hit!
This week the recent decision where the Department of Justice decided against allowing Penguin Random House to merge with Simon & Schuster is examined (3:35) , as well as the current strike going on with the HarperCollins Union (20:45). From there the fellas discuss the recent National Book Awards (43:09) before getting into Pleasure Reading (52:39).
Imani Perry Speech
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BAPC x Gabriel Krauze
Gabriel Krauze's debut novel, the autobiographical Who They Was, was longlisted for the Booker Prize and Dylan Thomas Prize upon its initial release in the UK. It dropped in the US in 2021 and while he was spending some time North America, still doing work around his novel in 2022, he spent a little time with BAPC.
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BAPC x Parable of the Sower
Earthseed finally has its day on Books Are Pop Culture, and how lucky are we to have Chanecka Williams, the Events Coordinator of Kindred Stories, join us to discuss one of Octavia Butler's best known and bestselling works: Parable of the Sower
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BAPC × Chris Herring
Did you know that the New York Knicks are the most valuable franchise in the NBA? That fact, by default, makes Chris Herring's Blood in the Garden, one of the most valuable basketball books ever written, and we are thankful to have spent some time with him discussing the New York Knicks of the 1990s.
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Reggie and Akili introduce you to The Days: A Newsletter From BAPC (7:38). They also discuss Black Literature's Representation Trap and the way Black Authors are covered in the New York Times (17:38).
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BAPC × Kendra Allen
Kendra Allen is the realest and so is her memoir, Fruit Punch. Fittingly she pulled no punches when it came to conversing with us and we all benefit so much from that.
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BAPC × Margaret Wilkerson Sexton
Award Winning, Consistent, Prolific, and one of our best writers; Margaret Wilkerson Sexton joins BAPC to discuss her third novel, On The Rooftop.
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BAPC x Mohsin Hamid
Reggie and Akili are joined by a certified legend, Mohsin Hamid. He discusses his latest from his uniquely gifted catalog, The Last White Man.
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Reggie & Akili talk about Where Book Data Can Be Located (or not) (5:05), The Trauma Plot (54:12), National Book Award Finalists (114:24) & more.
Where is the Book Data?
https://www.publicbooks.org/where-is-all-the-book-data/ https://www.publicbooks.org/audiobooks-consumption-data/ https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/12/11/opinion/culture/diversity-publishing-industry.html https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/comping-white/ https://lithub.com/10-literary-classics-that-didnt-sell/
https://www.cnn.com/2022/09/30/opinions/trump-books-haberman-confidence-man-carter/index.html
The Trauma Plot:
https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2022/01/03/the-case-against-the-trauma-plot
https://blgtylr.substack.com/p/emotional-support-trauma-plot
https://www.mcsweeneys.net/articles/the-trauma-plot-quarterly-is-now-open-for-submissions
https://faculty.gordonstate.edu/lsanders-senu/Everybody%27s%20Protest%20Novel%20by%20James%20Baldwin.pdf
National Book Award Finalists
https://www.npr.org/2022/10/04/1126577424/national-book-award-finalists-2022
https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/trade-shows-events/article/90496-the-national-book-awards-are-back-in-town.html
Annie Ernaux Wins The Nobel Prize in Literature
https://www.washingtonpost.com/books/2022/10/07/annie-ernaux-appreciation/
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/10/06/books/annie-ernaux-nobel-prize-literature.html
https://www.theguardian.com/books/2022/oct/06/annie-ernaux-the-2022-nobel-literature-laureates-greatest-works
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BAPC x Sidik Fofana
Sidik Fofana wrote a canonical story collection, Stories From The Tenants Downstairs, and we are lucky enough to have spent some quality time with him.
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BAPC x The Known World
Reggie & Akili breakdown Edward P. Jones's canonical novel, The Known World.
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BAPC at 50!
For the 50th Episode Reggie and Akili go Live to kick it with the people in real time. They talk about 2021 being a great year for publishing (8:42), Spotify having 300,000 Audiobooks and what that means for books themselves (24:28), and they spend a good amount of time talking about Banned Books since last week was Banned Books Week (36:35).
National Book Awards Longlist
Booker Prize Shortlist
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BAPC x Jonathan Escoffery
2022 National Book Award Finalist Jonathan Escoffery made time for BAPC and we are very pleased, and know you will be too. We discuss his debut short story collection, If I Survive You.
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BAPC × Leila Mottley
Leila Mottley exceeds the hype—thankfully she found some time to spend with BAPC to discuss her magnificent debut novel, Nightcrawling.
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BAPC × Frederick Joseph
Fred is two time New York Times Bestseller and he is set to don that title many more times as he is putting in the work. He talks about his second bestseller, Patriarchy Blues, and much more in this highly anticipated episode of Books Are Pop Culture.
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The Two man weave is here again. Reggie and Akili talk about the Publishing Industry [Not] being broken (3:26) and Gen Z BookTok running the numbers up for Colleen Hoover, and Romance by extension (36:28).
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Reggie and Akili invited another legend in the lore of Books Are Pop Culture—Theodore Gill—back to the show. This time to discuss We Cast a Shadow by Maurice Carlos Ruffin: The August #ReadWithBAPC Pick.
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The 2 Man Weave is back.
Reggie and Akili talk How To Get Published, Promoting Your Own Books, Celebrating the Color Purple, The Brooklyn Library Book Prize, and they introduce Two new weekly segments: Upcoming Books and Pleasure Reading.
Upcoming Books:
Soul Culture
Didn't Nobody Give A Shit Happened to Carlotta
Reading For Pleasure:
Invisible Man
The Lonely Londoners
Monster in the Middle
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BAPC × Blitz Bazawule
Blitz Bazawule does IT ALL (novelist, filmmaker, producer, recording artist, & more), Thankfully he found a pocket of time for BAPC. We're grateful. We talk to this all-star about The Scent of Burnt Flowers, The Color Purple, African American & West African Relations, Getting into the mud when researching & much more.
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Reggie and Akili had a first in the world of Books Are Pop Culture (in podcast land) a special guest co-host! Chinelo Ikem who is an amazing figure in the world book influencing. Also someone who is always tapped into the culture around books so who better to discuss the Penguin Random House vs. The Department of Justice Trial, and whether or not the attack on Salman Rushdie is a real example of what "cancel culture" looks like.
Follow Chinelo on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/interestedinblackbooks
PRH vs. The DoJ:
https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/publisher-news/article/90032-doj-v-prh-all-our-coverage.html
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/08/19/books/prh-penguin-random-house-trial.html
Salman Rushdie:
https://www.cnbc.com/2022/08/16/salman-rushdies-books-top-amazons-bestseller-lists-after-stabbing.htm
https://newrepublic.com/article/167434/salman-rushdie-attack-cancel-culture-bari-weiss
https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2022/08/salman-rushdie-fatwa-attack/671139
Viet Thanh Nguyen Article:
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/01/29/opinion/culture/book-banning-viet-thanh-nguyen.html?action=click&module=RelatedLinks&pgtype=Article
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Episode Recorded on the morning of 8/13/22
Reggie and Akili have a list of topics that range from sad to funny and all things between in this episode.
They talk about the recent assault of Salman Rushdie.
https://www.kirkusreviews.com/news-and-features/articles/salman-rushdie-assaulted-at-new-york-lecture/
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-62528689
The ongoing Antitrust trial of Penguin Random House.
https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/books/a40861332/penguin-random-house-simon-schuster-trial/
https://www.vulture.com/2022/08/penguin-random-house-simon-schuster-antitrust-trial-recap.html
https://twitter.com/JohnHMaher/status/1553919317883985921
Braden Wallake Shedding Tears over Layoffs and Going Viral.
https://www.cnbc.com/2022/08/11/ceo-posts-crying-selfie-on-linkedin-after-laying-off-employees-and-it-goes-viral-.html
https://www.linkedin.com/posts/bradenwallake_this-will-be-the-most-vulnerable-thing-ill-activity-6962886723617910784-_L4w/?utm_source=linkedin_share&utm_medium=member_desktop_web
George W. Bush's Master Class.
https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/masterclass-launches-president-george-w-bushs--------class-on-tough-calls-and-life-lessons-301604855.html
Green Bubbles in Group Chats
https://www.cnbc.com/2022/08/10/google-pushes-apple-to-adopt-rcs-text-messaging.html#:~:text=Investing%20Club-,Google%20pushes%20Apple%20to%20adopt%20a%20new%20kind,messaging%2C%20criticizes%20'green%20bubbles'&text=Google%2C%20the%20developer%20of%20the,generation%20standard%20for%20text%20messaging.
They participate in the 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 Challenge.
https://www.instagram.com/p/ChA2r0ov6-o/?igshid=MDJmNzVkMjY=
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BAPC x Mecca Jamilah Sullivan
Reggie and Akili spend time with Mecca Jamilah Sullivan to discuss her awesome debut novel, Big Girl.
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BAPC x Moses McKenzie
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BAPC x Candice Marie Benbow.
This episode is special.
Reggie and Akili talk to Candice Marie Benbow about all of the things, including Red Lip Theology.
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BAPC x Drinking Coffee Elsewhere
Reggie and Akili breakdown the #ReadWithBAPC Pick for the month of July - Drinking Coffee Elsewhere by ZZ Packer.
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Reggie & Akili get together to discuss the Booker Prize Longlist, Obama's Summer Reading List, Joyce Carol Oates and "underprivileged" young white male writers, (Social) Media Influencer Certificates, Instagram attempting to be TikTok (& not looking back), $400k worth of Jewelry at the church, Jimmy Butler's Locs, and much more.
Booker Prize Longlist. https://thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-library/prize-years/2022
Barack Obama Summer Reading List. https://bookriot.com/barack-obamas-2022-summer-reading-list/
Spike Lee Adapting "Blood in the Garden." https://nba.nbcsports.com/2022/07/26/spike-lee-working-on-film-about-1990s-knicks-based-on-blood-in-the-garden/
Joyce Carol Oates & "Underprivileged" young white male writers. https://www.kirkusreviews.com/news-and-features/articles/oates-tweets-about-young-white-male-writers/
Owens Community College Media Influencer Certificate. https://www.insider.com/college-courses-becoming-social-media-influencer-2022-7
Illuminati Post to Bring Back Instagram & Instagram CEO Adam Mosseri's Message About Instagram & Video. https://people.com/human-interest/instagram-comments-after-kim-kardashian-kylie-jenner-tell-app-stop-trying-to-be-tiktok/
Britney Griner Prisoner Swap https://www.cnn.com/2022/07/27/europe/brittney-griner-testifies-russia-hearing/index.html https://apnews.com/article/britney-griner-us-russia-deal-b2147efcc6567eeb6ceb82f8a374bd94
Napping Leading to High Blood Pressure & Strokes. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/health/2022/07/25/napping-linked-high-blood-pressure-stroke/10146278002/
Obama Summer Playlist https://twitter.com/BarackObama
Mega Millions Turning into the Mega Billi. https://www.cnbc.com/2022/07/27/the-mega-millions-jackpot-is-now-1point02-billion-heres-the-tax-bill.html
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BAPC x D. Watkins
Reggie and Akili have their time of their lives with D. Watkins. They discuss his latest book, Black Boy Smile.
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Reggie & Akili give 5 Star Predictions to 5 books a piece that they plan to finish before the year is out.
They talk about recent insights saying that Gen Z'ers are using TikTok & Instagram as a search tool more than Google, Elon Musk & Twitter going to trial, Marriage Equality being protected, Giving the police 8 feet of space in Arizona, and more.
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BAPC × Jabari Asim
Reggie & Akili speak to a beacon of versatility; Jabari Asim, about his wonderful novel, Yonder.
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BAPC x A.J. Verdelle.
Akili & Reggie have the absolute privilege, and not the Xerox kind, of speaking to the brilliant A.J. Verdelle.
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BAPC x Hernan Diaz.
Akili & Reggie spend time with Pulitzer Prize Finalist Hernan Diaz to discuss Trust.
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Reggie and Akili are kicking it solo; Blessed and Highly Flavored! They discuss the 4th of July—with Frederick Douglass serving as inspiration—Whether or not they are Proud Americans, Social Media stats, a Chilean man who teaches us the value and getting low, Kevin Durant's Trade Request, & They determine whether or not Akili is the Blackest Bookstagrammer.
The Blackest US States - The Blackest US States - https://worldpopulationreview.com/state-rankings/black-population-by-state
Frederick Douglass "The Meaning of July 4th for the Negro" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n69j6UnUz64
Social Media Usage - https://datareportal.com/social-media-users
The Chilean Man who got LOW - https://fortune.com/2022/06/28/chilean-man-paid-330-times-salary-resigns-disappears/
Kevin Durant Requests Trade from Brooklyn Nets - https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/34174171/kevin-durant-requests-trade-brookyn-nets-sources-say
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BAPC x All That She Carried.
Akili & Reggie discuss June's Book of the month, All That She Carried by Tiya Miles.
Provisional Timeline of Ashley's Sack: https://www.cwu.edu/sites/default/files/documents/auslander-timelineinfographic.pdf
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BAPC x Van Lathan Jr.
Akili & Reggie kick it with Van Lathan Jr. to discuss Fat, Crazy, and Tired: Tales From the Trenches of Transformation.
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BAPC x Cleyvis Natera
Akili & Reggie get the opportunity to kick it with Cleyvis Natera to discuss Neruda on the Park.
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BAPC x Imani Perry
Akili & Reggie get the opportunity to kick it with Dr. Imani Perry to discuss South to America.
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BAPC × Justin Tinsley.
Akili & Reggie kick it with Justin Tinsley to discuss his biography of the Notorious B.I.G., It Was All a Dream.
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BAPC x Natasha Brown.
This has been a long time coming. Akili and Reggie finally get to discuss Assembly with Natasha Brown.
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BAPC x Kai Harris
Akili and Reggie are joined by Kai Harris to discuss her dope debut novel, What The Fireflies Knew.
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BAPC x Chantal V. Johnson to discuss her awesome debut novel, Post-traumatic.
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BAPC × The Trees
Akili & Reggie break down April's #ReadWithBAPC Pick - The Trees by Percival Everett
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BAPC × Brian Broome
Akili & Reggie talk to Kirkus Prize Award Winning Brian Broome about his awesome memoir, Punch Me Up to the Gods.
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BAPC × Traci Thomas
Akili & Reggie talk to friend of the show and legend in the world of podcasting, Traci Thomas founder and creator of The Stacks Podcast.
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BAPC × Wayward Lives, Beautiful Experiments.
Akili & Reggie break down March's #ReadWithBAPC Pick.
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BAPC × Daniel Black.
Akili & Reggie talk to Daniel Black about his latest & stunning novel, Don't Cry For Me.
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BAPC × Recitatif by Toni Morrison.
Akili & Reggie lean into the aspect of Recitatif which they aren't supposed to + they recap some bookish news.
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BAPC x Destiny O. Birdsong
Akili and Reggie talk to Destiny O. Birdsong about Nobody's Magic, the triptych novel, the myriad ways that love manifests itself and much more.
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BAPC x Clint Smith
Akili and Reggie talk to Clint Smith about the messiness of history, its refusal to become digestible, the capacity Black love in the face of all things and much more.
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BAPC x Hanif Abdurraqib for the Finale of first annual Books Are Pop Culture Weekend.
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BAPC x Damon Young for the first day of the first annual Books Are Pop Culture Weekend.
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BAPC x Hell of a Book: A Movie.
Akili & Reggie break down Jason Mott's National Book Award & Sir Walter Raleigh Award Winning Hell of a Book.
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Akili & Reggie talk Wooda Week, NPR appearances, Black Future Month and cap off the episode with a conversation on Shoutin' in the Fire: An American Epistle, with the author himself, Danté Stewart.
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Akili and Reggie are pushin P, so that they don't ban books & neither should you.
Banned books, publishing houses, book prizes, sprayed-on hairlines, and much more are covered in Episode 9 of your current &/or new favorite podcast.
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BAPC x The Love Songs of W. E. B. Du Bois: A Movie.
Honorée Jeffers, the distinguished author of The Love Songs of W. E. B. Du Bois, joins Akili & Reggie to discuss and breakdown the most critically acclaimed novel of 2021.
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Episode 7 of the Books Are Pop Culture podcast is live and in your living room!
On this iteration, the fellas discuss The notorious status of "Game Time Decision" and the impact that has during a Fantasy Basketball Season, True Story (Netflix), A huge interview Akili has forthcoming, and the All Ways Black Awards.
At around 29:00 they get into their discussion of Miss Muriel and Other Stories by Ann Petry. Not only do they provide the though-provoking questions and analysis, but they also introduce a new and highly entertaining wrinkle to the BAPC Treatment: Awards.
See who wins Best Coach, Most Improved, Best Defensive Player, Best Offensive Player, and MVP from Miss Muriel and Other Stories by Ann Petry.
Like, Follow, Review, Share, Subscribe, etc. to Books Are Pop Culture wherever you are listening.
Books Are Pop Culture - @booksarepopculture on Instagram.
Akili Nzuri - @ablackmanreading on Instagram.
Reggie Bailey - @reggiereads on Instagram.
Forthcoming #ReadWithBAPC Picks
The Love Songs of W. E. B. Du Bois by Honorée Fanonne Jeffers - January 30th, 2021.
Hell of a Book by Jason Mott - February 21st, 2022.
Shop at https://bookshop.org/shop/booksarepopculture to purchase the #ReadWithBAPC Picks or any other book you can think of.
Pieces That Hit
Miss Muriel and Other Stories by Ann Petry
https://bookshop.org/books/miss-muriel-and-other-stories/9780810135567?aid=56382&listref=read-with-bapc-picks
Episode 6 of the Books Are Pop Culture podcast is live and in your living room!
On this iteration, the fellas discuss marsupials in the Dollar Forest, recent book purchases, the National Book Awards, reading vs. finishing books, the Aspen Words Literary Prize, the Joyce Carol Oates Prize, and the end of year book lists that are being released by some of the larger publications in the book world.
The fellas also take time to discuss a 2021 debut with plenty of buzz and admiration: Assembly by Natasha Brown.
Like, Follow, Review, Share, Subscribe, etc. to Books Are Pop Culture wherever you are listening.
Books Are Pop Culture - @booksarepopculture on Instagram.
Akili Nzuri - @ablackmanreading on Instagram.
Reggie Bailey - @reggiereads on Instagram.
Forthcoming #ReadWithBAPC Picks
The Love Songs of W. E. B. Du Bois by Honorée Fanonne Jeffers - January 30th, 2021.
Hell of a Book by Jason Mott - February 21st, 2022.
Shop at https://bookshop.org/shop/booksarepopculture to purchase the #ReadWithBAPC Picks or any other book you can think of.
Pieces That Hit
Assembly by Natasha Brown
https://bookshop.org/books/assembly/9780316268264?aid=56382&listref=pieces-that-hit
The Book Are Pop Culture Podcast is back with episode 5! On this iteration of BAPC the fellas discuss Casey Gerald, who, in an interview with Creative Independent, shows us how to vibrate on a higher frequency; States (Virginia in particular) and their continued attempts to ban Toni Morrison's Beloved from being taught in schools; Akili talks about the rapper he would have been and why we shouldn't rule out the possibility of him becoming a 38 year old rapper down the line; Reggie Discusses his latest barbershop chronicle, which includes an act of villainy that is unheard of & probably uncalled for, and Reggie receives good news from Akili, because for the meager price of $80 (only accepted in 4 installments of $19.99) he can get the haircut he has always wanted from Akili and his new clippers.
Like, Follow, Share, Subscribe, leave a review, etc. to/for Books Are Pop Culture wherever you are listening. Books Are Pop Culture - @booksarepopculture on Instagram. Akili Nzuri - @ablackmanreading on Instagram. Reggie Bailey - @reggiereads on Instagram.
Forthcoming #ReadWithBAPC Picks—which we will be discussing on Instagram Live Miss Muriel and Other Stories by Ann Petry - November 21st, 2021 - 4pm EST/3pm Mississippi. The Love Songs of W. E. B. Du Bois by Honorée Fanonne Jeffers - January 30th, 2021 - 4pm EST/3pm Mississippi.
Shop at https://bookshop.org/shop/booksarepopculture to purchase the #ReadWithBAPC Picks or any other book you can think of.
Pieces That Hit Creative Independent Interview with Casey Gerald https://thecreativeindependent.com/people/writer-casey-gerald-on-being-available-for-the-work-you-were-meant-to-do/ Banning Toni Morrison’s books doesn’t protect kids. It Just Sanitizes Racism. https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/2021/10/28/beloved-toni-morrison-virginia/
Episode 4 of the Book Are Pop Culture Podcast. The fellas discuss Kyrie Irving, Squid Game, Horror Movies, the articles below and more!
Like, Follow, Share, Subscribe, leave a review, etc. to/for Books Are Pop Culture wherever you are listening.
Books Are Pop Culture - @booksarepopculture on Instagram.
Akili Nzuri - @ablackmanreading on Instagram.
Reggie Bailey - @reggiereads on Instagram.
Shop at https://bookshop.org/shop/booksarepopculture to purchase the forthcoming #ReadWithBAPC Picks which we will be discussing on Instagram Live during the following dates:
Oreo by Fran Ross on October 24th, 2021
Miss Muriel and Other Stories by Ann Petry on November 21st, 2021
The Love Songs of W. E. B. Du Bois by Honorée Fanonne Jeffers on January 30th, 2021
Links to Articles:
- David Bradley Interviewed by Allen Mendenhall—From 2013 about the ebook release of his 1981 novel, The Chaneysville Incident, which is re-releasing November 2nd, 2021, via Harper Perennial, with a new preface from the author.
https://southernlitreview.com/authors/allen-mendenhall-interviews-david-bradley.htm
- Ann Petry - Harlem (1949).
https://loa-shared.s3.amazonaws.com/static/pdf/Petry-Harlem.pdf
- Noname Opens the Radical Hood Library in the Jefferson Park neighborhood of Los Angeles.
https://lithub.com/rapper-noname-just-opened-an-la-library-dedicated-to-the-black-experience/
- Uzo Aduba to Host Netflix Book Club Series - “But Have You Read the Book?”
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/uzo-aduba-netflix-book-club-starbucks-1235030456/
- Tananarive Due’s debut novel, The Between—recently rereleased by Harper—chosen by Belletrist as their book club pick for October.
https://ew.com/books/emma-roberts-belletrist-book-club-tananarive-due-the-between/
- Chibundu Onuzu’s Sankofa chosen as the Reese Book Club pick for October
https://www.kirkusreviews.com/news-and-features/articles/sankofa-is-reeses-book-club-pick-for-october/
- Sterling K. Brown to Star in Washington Black TV Series Adaptation Which Will Air on Hulu.
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/sterling-k-brown-washington-black-series-hulu-1235024892/
- Abdulrazak Gurnah, a Tanzanian Novelist, wins the Nobel Prize in Literature.
https://lithub.com/tanzanian-novelist-abdulrazak-gurnah-has-won-the-nobel-prize-in-literature/
https://www.newyorker.com/books/page-turner/the-impact-of-abdulrazak-gurnahs-nobel-prize
Books Are Pop Culture is back with Episode 3 of BAPC Sides: the episodes that provide the high-quality B Side Tracks to the never-ending album known as Books Are Pop Culture.
In today's episode the fellas discuss Deesha Philyaw's awesome short story Dr. Sandman as well as Imani Perry's recent piece about Gayl Jones written for the New York Times.
They also get into some quick hits about how Sally Rooney is breaking review records, and discuss some of their favorite books that are nominated for some of the biggest Literary Prizes.
Like, Follow, Share, Subscribe, leave a review, etc. to Books Are Pop Culture wherever you are listening.
Books Are Pop Culture - @booksarepopculture on Instagram.
Akili Nzuri - @ablackmanreading on Instagram.
Reggie Bailey - @reggiereads on Instagram.
Shop at https://bookshop.org/shop/booksarepopculture to purchase the forthcoming #ReadWithBAPC Picks which we will be discussing on Instagram Live during the following dates:
Oreo by Fran Ross on October 24th, 2021
Miss Muriel and Other Stories by Ann Petry on November 21st, 2021
The Love Songs of W. E. B. Du Bois by Honorée Fanonne Jeffers on January 30th, 2021
Links to Articles:
Dr. Sandman by Deesha Philyaw
https://www.oxfordamerican.org/magazine/issue-114-fall-2021/dr-sandman
Gayl Jones by Imani Perry
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/17/magazine/gayl-jones-novel-palmares.html
Sally Rooney’s new novel, Beautiful World, Where Are You, is apparently the most reviewed book of all time, according to bookmarks.reviews
https://lithub.com/sally-rooneys-new-novel-is-now-the-most-reviewed-book-of-all-time/#:~:text=We've%20run%20the%20numbers,reviewed%20book%20of%20all%20time*.
Man Booker Shortlist Announced
https://thebookerprizes.com/the-final-six-novels
National Book Award Longlists Announced
https://www.nationalbook.org/
National Book Award 5 Under 35 Honorees Announced
https://www.nationalbook.org/awards-prizes/5-under-35-2021/
Books Are Pop Culture is back with episode 2 of BAPC Sides: the episodes that provide the high-quality B Side Tracks to the never-ending album known as Books Are Pop Culture.
In today's episode the fellas provide commentary on David Dennis's Jr.'s excellent piece on how Michael K. Williams taught him about being a man. They wax philosophically on why more young Black males aren't turning to literary fiction writing, and they finally discuss Octavia Butler's seminal 1980 essay, Lost Races of Science Fiction.
Like, Follow, Share, Subscribe, leave a review, etc. to Books Are Pop Culture wherever you are listening.
Books Are Pop Culture - @booksarepopculture on Instagram.
Akili Nzuri - @ablackmanreading on Instagram.
Reggie Bailey - @reggiereads on Instagram.
Links to Articles:
- "What Michael K. Williams Taught Me About Being a Man."
https://theundefeated.com/features/what-michael-k-williams-taught-me-about-being-a-man/
- "From Richard Wright to Jay-Z: The Decline of Young Black Male Writers"
https://aalbc.com/authors/article.php?id=2124
- “The Lost Races of Science Fiction by Octavia Butler.
https://garage.vice.com/en_us/article/d3ekbm/octavia-butler
* Like, Comment, Share, Subscribe! *
BAPC x The Street: The first episode of your favorite podcast—unedited.
Akili and Reggie break down Ann Petry's 1946 masterpiece, The Street.
Join The Fellowship—BAPC's Patreon Community: https://www.patreon.com/booksarepopculture
Follow BAPC on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/booksarepopculture
Shop BAPC's Bookshop: https://www.bookshop.org/shop/booksarepopculture
We've been working towards getting our much-anticipated show Books Are Pop Culture on the airwaves, so here's a trailer to let you know JUST how close we are to our finished product. Love to all listeners... now and forever.