Walter Kimbrough

Explore America's complex relationship with slavery through a tour of monuments and landmarks, both honest about the past and those that are not. Follow Clint Smith on an unforgettable journey through places like Monticello and Whitney Plantation, where enslaved people worked and lived. Learn about Angola Prison in Louisiana and Blandford Cemetery, the final resting place of tens of thousands of Confederate soldiers. How the Word Is Passed offers a new understanding of the hopeful role that memory and history can play in understanding our country.

Explore the shocking use of rap lyrics as criminal evidence to convict and incarcerate young men of color in Rap on Trial. Discover how prosecutors use the crime-laden lyrics of amateur rappers as confessions to crimes, threats of violence, or revelations of criminal motive with alarming success. Through this gripping exploration, discover what's at stake for aspiring artists in a system that treats their creative expression as a confession of guilt. Rap on Trial is a timely expose at the crossroads of contemporary hip-hop and mass incarceration.

This insightful book by award-winning journalist Frank Bruni is a must-read for college-bound students and their parents. In Where You Go Is Not Who You'll Be, Bruni exposes the flaws in the college admissions process and provides a new perspective on the anxiety-inducing competition. Through statistics, surveys, and success stories, Bruni shows that Ivy League schools don't hold a monopoly on success. Instead, he advocates for students to focus on their efforts in and out of the classroom, rather than the name on their diploma. This indispensable manifesto is a powerful reminder of the real promise of higher education.

A gripping memoir, Blackout offers an explosive look into the corruption of the music industry. Follow author Paul Porter on a wild ride through his numerous media jobs, where he worked with some of the industry's biggest names and witnessed its most scandalous moments. Porter also offers a first-hand account of how corporations erased Black identity from Black radio and mainstream music, and why he chose to fight back. Get ready for a raw and revealing journey through one man's life in the industry.

The Time Is Now is an inspiring guide for those who feel disillusioned with the power-hungry institutions and systems of the world. Written by Joan Chittister, a passionate voice for women's rights, this book offers a compelling vision for readers to combat complacency and create a world of justice, freedom, peace, and empowerment. With scriptural insights and stirring narratives, this practical and powerful activism for our times is a call to action for all.

This book delves into the life and legacy of the late rapper, Tupac Shakur. Written by "hip-hop intellectual" Michael Eric Dyson, it explores Tupac's posthumous success in music, poetry, and film that has cemented his status as an American cultural icon. Through a fresh and intriguing perspective, Dyson offers readers a deeper understanding of the legendary artist.