Dig: Pie Down Here w/ Robin D. G. Kelley

In 'How Europe Underdeveloped Africa,' Walter Rodney argues that the underdevelopment of Africa was a direct result of European colonial exploitation and imperialism. He contends that the wealth created by African labor and resources was seized by European capitalist countries, while restrictions were imposed on Africa's ability to utilize its economic potential. The book details how the slave trade, colonial policies, and the division of Africa by European powers hindered African development and contributed to the growth of European capitalism. Rodney emphasizes that underdevelopment is not an intrinsic property of Africa but a historical product of capitalist expansion and imperialism.

Written in 1863 by Nikolai Chernyshevsky, 'What Is to Be Done? ' is a novel that had a significant influence on Russian revolutionary thought. The story follows Viéra Pavlovna, a young woman who seeks economic independence and starts a cooperative workshop for seamstresses. The novel promotes the creation of small socialist cooperatives, advocates for women's rights, and critiques the patriarchal and authoritarian structures of Russian society. It was written in response to Ivan Turgenev's 'Fathers and Sons' and played a central role in polarizing the Russian intelligentsia between radical and liberal reformers. The novel's impact was so profound that it contributed to the conflicts leading up to the Russian Revolution.

No Cop City, No Cop World: Lessons from the Movement, is a collection of essays from co-editors and contributors involved in the movement against Cop City in Atlanta. The book features essays on the history of capital, the ways in which the wealthy react when challenged, and community reactions to the growing police state. It analyzes the elite's response to public uprising and the disconnect between city leadership and the community. It offers insight into the Black radical tradition and what that might mean for future responses to our growing police state. The book is written by community organizers and activists, including Mariah Parker, Micah Herskind, and Kamau Franklin.

Robin Kelly's "Hammer and the Ho" provides a detailed account of the Communist Party's activities in Alabama during the Great Depression. The book highlights the party's significant influence among African Americans, particularly in the Black Belt region. Kelly examines the reasons for the party's popularity, including its advocacy for equal rights and its efforts to improve the lives of sharecroppers and farmers. The work explores the party's organizational structure, its strategies for mobilization, and its impact on the broader civil rights movement. Kelly's research sheds light on a crucial, often overlooked, chapter in the history of American communism and its intersection with the struggle for racial justice.