New Books in African American Studies

New Books Network

Turn the World Upside Down

Nicolás Guillén

Sylvia Wynter

Zora Neale Hurston

Eric Walrond

Harlem Renaissance

Caribbean Culture

Black Folk Culture

US Imperialism

African Diaspora Studies

Civil Rights Movement

Hip Hop

James Montgomery

Juvenile Justice

Urban Violence

Abolitionism

Drug War

Racism

Archiving

Community Archives

This podcast is a channel on the New Books Network. The New Books Network is an academic audio library dedicated to public education. In each episode you will hear scholars discuss their recently published research with another expert in their field. Discover our 150+ channels and browse our 28,000+ episodes on our website: newbooksnetwork.com Subscribe to our free weekly Substack newsletter to ge... more

209 ratings

Publishes	Daily	Episodes	1881	Founded	15 years ago
Number of Listeners		Categories	Society & CultureHistory

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Latest Episodes

Heather Ann Thompson, "Fear and Fury: The Reagan Eighties, the Bernie Goetz Shootings, and the Rebirth of White Rage" (Pantheon, 2026)

In this masterful, groundbreaking work Fear and Fury: The Reagan Eighties, the Bernie Goetz Shootings, and the Rebirth of White Rage (Pantheon, 2026), Pulitzer Prize-winning author Heather Ann Thompson shines surprising new light on an infamous 1984... more

12 Feb 2026 • 56 min

Nicholas Boggs, "Baldwin: A Love Story" (FSG, 2025)

Baldwin: A Love Story (FSG, 2025) the first major biography of James Baldwin in three decades, reveals how profoundly the writer’s personal relationships shaped his life and work. Drawing on newly uncovered archival material and original research and... more

10 Feb 2026 • 38 min

Gloria Browne-Marshall, "A Protest History of the United States" (Beacon Press, 2026) Revisited

In December 2025, writer, civil rights attorney, playwright, speaker, and Professor of Constitutional Law at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, Gloria J. Browne-Marshall spoke with New Books Network host, Sullivan Summer, about her book, A Protest... more

8 Feb 2026 • 1 hr

Ian Smith, "Black Shakespeare: Reading and Misreading Race" (Cambridge UP, 2022)

In Black Shakespeare: Reading and Misreading Race (Cambridge University Press, 2022), Ian Smith urges readers of Othello, The Merchant of Venice, and Hamlet to develop “racial literacy.” Through both wide social influences and specific professional p... more

7 Feb 2026 • 1 hr 10 min

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Recent Guests

Ian Smith

Professor of English at the University of Southern California, author of Black Shakespeare

University of Southern California

Episode: Ian Smith, "Black Shakespeare: Reading and Misreading Race" (Cambridge UP, 2022)

Danielle Boaz

Associate Professor of Africana Studies, Author

University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Episode: Danielle N. Boaz, "Voodoo: The History of a Racial Slur" (Oxford UP, 2023)

Anupama Rao

Professor of History at Columbia University and convener of Columbia's Ambedkar Initiative.

Columbia University

Episode: The Caste Question with Suraj Yengde and Anupama Rao

Suraj Yengde

India's first Dalit PhD holder from an African University.

Harvard University, University of Pennsylvania

Episode: The Caste Question with Suraj Yengde and Anupama Rao

Blair LM Kelley

Historian and author, focusing on Black labor and rights

University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill

Episode: Blair Kelley, "Black Folk: The Roots of the Black Working Class" (LIveright, 2023)

Emile Suotonye DeWeaver

Author of Ghost in the Criminal Justice Machine, Reform, White Supremacy, and an Abolitionist Future.

Episode: Ghost in the Criminal Justice Machine

Mark Anthony Neal

Scholar and Author of New Black Man

Duke University

Episode: Mark Anthony Neal, "New Black Man" (Routledge, 2015)

Alaina Morgan

Assistant Professor of History at the University of Southern California

University of Southern California

Episode: Alaina M. Morgan, "Atlantic Crescent: Building Geographies of Black and Muslim Liberation in the African Diaspora" (UNC Press, 2025)

Dr. Kimberley Johnson

Political scientist focused on race and urban politics

Cornell University Press

Episode: Kimberley Johnson, "Dark Concrete: Black Power Urbanism and the American Metropolis" (Cornell UP, 2025)

Host

Sullivan Summer

Host of New Books in African American Studies, with a focus on fostering discussions about African American literature and culture.

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 209 ratings

They always feature my fav scholars and thinkers
Anytime I’m looking to learn more about a new author that I️ come across, chances are, they’ve already been interviewed by you all!
Apple Podcasts
5
@bodegaautumn
United States9 months ago
Varied and interesting
So many excellent authors discuss their books on this podcast that I wouldn’t have found out about otherwise. Thank you for this great channel of information!
Apple Podcasts
5
Sol na Laje
United Kingdom2 years ago
Host needs moderation work
First, honor and excitement for this podcast — Listened to the “Silencing the Past” Trouillot episode which brought together some stellar scholars to a round table to discuss the impact of the text in our recent years, in and following 2020. Interspersed between scholars’ remarks about the text or social events, McNeil might chime in, “that’s really interesting” or “wow, that’s incredible” or but added so very little in the way of building, or drawing connections between ideas, I found myself sk... more
Apple Podcasts
4
technique over topics
United States3 years ago
Really
Are there African Americans who write books on African American history? Really!?!? Do better or end this.
Apple Podcasts
1
Clone B.
United States3 years ago
15 January 2023
Very informative, thank you.
Apple Podcasts
4
😉💙🙃
United States3 years ago

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Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners appreciate the focus on diverse perspectives within African American studies.

High-quality content that connects historical narratives with contemporary issues.

Engaging discussions with leading scholars and authors on critical African American topics.

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Ian Smith, "Black Shakespeare: Reading and Misreading Race" (Cambridge UP, 2022)

Q: How do you hope this book will work upon a reader? And what uses do you see a reader putting this book to?

Ian outlines that he wants readers to develop a sense of racial literacy and engage critically with the texts, using his work to unpack biases and reconsider their understanding of Shakespeare's plays.

Blair Kelley, "Black Folk: The Roots of the Black Working Class" (LIveright, 2023)

Q: What are your thoughts on reparations and their relevance today?

Blair argues for a recognition of the individual impact of labor over generations and emphasizes the need to address historical injustices, linking Black workers' past struggles to contemporary efforts for reparations.

Blair Kelley, "Black Folk: The Roots of the Black Working Class" (LIveright, 2023)

Q: Can you talk a little bit about laundry at this time, why it is so associated with black women, and why it is that they sought it out as something that would empower them?

Laundry work, linked to Black women since slavery, allowed them to reclaim autonomy and prioritize their own households, despite facing pressure from white employers to perform faster and under harsher conditions.

Blair Kelley, "Black Folk: The Roots of the Black Working Class" (LIveright, 2023)

Q: How did you look for photos? Did you have strategies? Were you looking for places? Were you looking for occupations? What kind of work did you have to do to find these photographs?

Blair and her students gathered a rich archive of photos from various sources, focusing on significant places and professions that aligned with the narratives in her book.

Blair Kelley, "Black Folk: The Roots of the Black Working Class" (LIveright, 2023)

Q: How did you come to be interested in the Black Working Class and write this particular book?

Blair was initially approached by her editor, who asked about the Black Working Class, which led her to reflect on her family's history and experiences, sparking her interest in writing the book.

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Frequently Asked Questions About New Books in African American Studies

What is New Books in African American Studies about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This podcast features in-depth discussions with scholars and experts focusing on various aspects of African American studies. Each episode typically revolves around a recently published book, exploring themes such as public relations, feminist activism, race and health disparities, and historical narratives of protest. The format encourages a critical examination of contemporary issues within the context of African American history and culture, making it a significant platform for educational engagement. The podcast's unique approach lies in its ability to connect historical scholarship with current societal challenges, emphasizing thoughtful discourse on the representation, activism, and contributions of Black individuals and communities.

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New Books in African American Studies launched 15 years ago and published 1881 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on New Books in African American Studies?

Recent guests on New Books in African American Studies include:

1. Ian Smith
2. Danielle Boaz
3. Anupama Rao
4. Suraj Yengde
5. Blair LM Kelley
6. Emile Suotonye DeWeaver
7. Mark Anthony Neal
8. Alaina Morgan

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