For the smart and free-thinking, Black Market Reads is a podcast featuring conversations with today's most exciting Black literary voices. We are a podcast for any one who loves to read, write, and engage. Black Market Reads is a project of The Givens Foundation for African American Literature.
"The letters became words, the words became thoughts, and those thoughts became my voice. I may not remember the name I was given when I was born, but I found my voice, one that no one could take away." - Phillis Wheatley To mark the 100th Anniversary of Carter G. Woodson's Black History Month (previously known …
Continue reading "Episode 109 – 100 Years of Black Freedom with performance by Phillis Wheatley"
"You can't wait for the well-intentioned people to make up their minds that your life has value or to figure out how to save you."- Justin Ellis Minnesota Nice? In this conversation about The Cruelty of Nice Folks (HarperCollins Publishers 2026), Justin observes "part of the way White Supremacy works is convincing you that your …
“Our democracy flourishes when we see and value one another—and we only do that when we share our stories and take time to listen.”Kevin Lindsey, CEO MHC The Givens Foundation views literature as a pathway to liberation. In this episode Lissa and her guest, Kevin Lindsay, kick off a new season of Black Market Reads, …
“Having something in a rural space shifts the context of what permanence and importance American history is—for any and all, in every and all spaces.”Esther Callahan Michael Richards: Are You Down? is a compelling monograph that examines the life and work of Jamaican American artist Michael Richards through essays, images, and personal reflections. Edited by …
“ I think over time you learn to see magnificence in unlikely places”Michael Kleber-Diggs Worldly Things (Milkweed Editions, 2021) is a poetry collection by Michael Kleber-Diggs exploring the juxtaposition of everyday life and systemic issues in America, particularly the Black experience. Diggs reflects on writing as an act of care—rooted in intimacy, empathy, and presence. LISTEN https://sites.libsyn.com/73283/episode-105-michael-kleber-diggs-worldly-things In …
Continue reading "Episode 105 – Michael Kleber-Diggs, Worldly Things"
“To divorce the history of slavery from these narratives is a disservice to us, to our history, to our understanding of the world.”-Vanessa Riley Inspired by the true story of Jacquotte Delahaye—a 17th-century free woman of color who rose to become one of the most feared pirates in the Caribbean—FIRE SWORD AND SEA (HarperCollins 2026) follows …
“History, whether you know it or you don’t know it, will impact your life and shift your decisions and shape the world you live in.” - Antonio Michael Downing Antonio Michael Downing is an author, speaker, and musical artist. His memoir Saga Boy was called “singularly dazzling” by Kiese Laymon and “the triumph of Blackness everywhere” by …
Continue reading "Antonio Michael Downing – Saga Boy and Black Cherokee"
“It’s important for young Black people to see those who came before them — people who did extraordinary things and were not limited by what the world expected of them.” -Ethelene Whitmire The Remarkable Life of Reed Peggram by Ethelene Whitmire tells the true story of Reed Peggram, a brilliant Black, queer Harvard scholar who went …
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“Those who have no record of what their forebears have accomplished lose the inspiration which comes from the teaching of biography and history.” - Carter G. Woodson Part social thriller, part modern love story, Who Knows You By Heart (Harper Collins) is a sly, witty, and endlessly discussable tale of Big Tech, new money, relationships, race, and …
Black Market Reads, the podcast produced by the Givens Foundation for African American Literature, proudly announces the release of its 100th episode, marking a decade of conversations with Black authors and artists whose work shapes the cultural landscape of Minnesota and beyond. Hosted by Lissa Jones, the 100th episode is an expansive, deeply moving celebration …
Continue reading "Episode 100: A Landmark Celebration of Black Stories, Voices, and Legacy"