MLK, The Organizer & Radical Thinker

In this book, Eddie S. Glaude Jr. argues that the hard work of becoming a better person should be a critical feature of Black politics. Through interpretations of Martin Luther King, Jr., Malcolm X, and Ella Baker, Glaude shows how ordinary people have the capacity to be the heroes that American democracy desperately requires. The book, based on the Du Bois Lectures delivered at Harvard University, critiques the reliance on elected leaders and unchanging political structures, emphasizing the need for individual and collective action to build a better society[1][3][4].

In 'Thick: And Other Essays', Tressie McMillan Cottom delves into various aspects of black womanhood, including body image, beauty politics, and the personal and political experiences of black women. The book consists of eight essays that blend personal anecdotes with theoretical and statistical analyses, addressing topics such as the capitalist logic of beauty, the vulnerability of black girls and women, and the concept of whiteness. Cottom's work is characterized by its wit, intelligence, and provocative insights, making it a significant contribution to the discourse on black womanhood and social justice.

The Nickel Boys is a powerful and disturbing novel that delves into the horrors of Nickel Academy, a segregated juvenile reform school in Jim Crow-era Florida. The story follows Elwood Curtis, a bright and idealistic young man who is falsely accused of stealing a car and sent to Nickel Academy. There, he and his friend Turner navigate the brutal and corrupt environment, marked by physical, emotional, and sexual abuse. The novel explores themes of systemic injustice, human perseverance, and the lasting impact of trauma. It alternates between the 1960s and the present, as the dark history of Nickel Academy is uncovered and its survivors come forward to share their experiences.