Collection: Shop Black

Robert Benjamin Lewis first published his famous history of Native American and African Americans in 1836, arguing against the then-prevalent views of white supremacy.

Lewis seeks to demonstrate the intellectual and cultural achievements of both African peoples and the Native Americans. His history ranges back to ancient times, describing the cities and empires that existed in Africa and elsewhere, and the most celebrated dark-skinned kings and leaders of old. Various non-white civilizations are described, with the Arabians and North Africans spoken about at length, their achievements and place in history elaborated upon. Stories of great military tacticians and brave warriors are also recounted.

Turning his attention to the modern era, Lewis describes a series of black and mixed race men who demonstrated great skill or prowess. Several rose to influential positions in government and the church, with mention also given to those in slavery who taught themselves to read and write. In all, Light and Truth is a comprehensive history written with passion and purpose: to dispel ignorance and false beliefs that non-white peoples are inferior.

This reprint of Light and Truth is derived from the expanded Second Edition of 1851.

A decade behind bars spurs fifty powerful years of political and legal battles for freedom and human rights.

"Whoever wants to assuage their doubts that radical change is possible--from the level of the individual to that of law, culture, and society--should make time to read Dorsey Nunn's extraordinary memoir." --Angela Y. Davis, political activist and author of Are Prisons Obsolete?, Abolition Democracy, and Freedom Is a Constant Struggle

"Dorsey Nunn is one of the grand love warriors and freedom fighters of his generation! Don't miss his powerful and poignant story of tragedy and triumph!" --Cornel West

"So much of what I've come to know and understand over the years about the second-class status imposed upon people labeled 'criminals' or 'felons' I've learned from Dorsey and the people who comprise All of Us or None, an organization he cofounded. Although I have fancy degrees and Dorsey does not, there's never been a time in our friendship in which he hasn't been schooling me--not so much in theory, but in practice." --From the foreword by Michelle Alexander

When Dorsey Nunn shuffled, shackled like a slave, into the California State carceral system at age nineteen, he could barely read. While caged he received an education he never could have anticipated. His first lesson: Prison had a color scheme, and it didn't match the larger society. On the inside, guards stoked racial warfare among prisoners while on the outside the machinery of the criminal legal system increasingly targeted poor Black and Brown communities with offenses, real or contrived. Nunn emerged from San Quentin after ten years behind bars, radicalized by his experience and emboldened by the militant wisdom of the men he met there. He poured his heart and mind into liberating all those he left behind, building a nationwide movement to restore justice to millions of system-impacted Americans.

In this poignant, wry, and powerful memoir, Nunn links the politics of Black Power to the movements for Black lives and dignified reentry today. His story underscores the power of coalition building, persistence in the face of backlash, and the importance of centering the voices of experience in the fight for freedom--and proves, once and for all, that jailbirds can fly.

In order to know where you're going, you must know where you've been.

In her debut book, podcaster, priestess, and all-around badass witch Juju Bae teaches you how to connect with your ancestors, as well as how to create a spiritual practice that respectfully incorporates their wisdom while remaining uniquely yours. It's also the story of the necessity and vitality of Black spirituality, from the Yoruba pantheon of Ifa to the freedom-fighting origins of Black American Hoodoo. You will learn:

• History: An overview of Africana Spirituality in the United States and beyond, including information on ATRs (African Traditional Religions) like Ifa and ADRs (African Diasporan/Derived Religions) such as Hoodoo.
• Altar-building: How to create and incorporate a place to venerate and commune with your ancestors, including a guide to offerings and prayers.
• Ritual: Practices you can use to cleanse yourself and your space and attract prosperity and protection, while safely opening the channels of communication with your ancestral spirits.
• Dos and Don'ts: Tips from a spiritual practitioner on how to speak to spirits, craft the right questions for personal divination, and recognize and interpret Spirit's advice and wisdom.

By reading this book, you are taking steps to uncover your spiritual self and gain the tools to access the wisdom of your past, to better navigate your present and future.

The New York Times bestselling author of Writing My Wrongs invites men everywhere on a journey of honesty and healing through this book of moving letters to his sons--one whom he is raising and the other whose childhood took place during Senghor's nineteen-year incarceration.

"A visceral and visual journey for the ages . . . the perfect road map for us to remove the barriers and obstacles against our true feelings."--Kenya Barris, creator of black-ish

ONE OF THE MOST ANTICIPATED BOOKS OF 2022--Essence

Shaka Senghor has lived the life of two fathers. With his first son, Jay, born shortly after Senghor was incarcerated for second-degree murder, he experienced the regret of his own mistakes and the disconnection caused by a society that sees Black lives as disposable. With his second, Sekou, born after Senghor's release, he has experienced healing, transformation, intimacy, and the possibilities of a world where men and boys can openly show one another affection, support, and love.

In this collection of beautifully written letters to Jay and Sekou, Senghor traces his journey as a Black man in America and unpacks the toxic and misguided messages about masculinity, mental health, love, and success that boys learn from an early age. He issues a passionate call to all fathers and sons--fathers who don't know how to show their sons love, sons who are navigating a fatherless world, boys who have been forced to grow up before their time--to cultivate positive relationships with other men, seek healing, tend to mental health, grow from pain, and rewrite the story that has been told about them.

Letters to the Sons of Society is a soulful examination of the bond between father and sons, and a touchstone for anyone seeking a kinder, more just world.

Zane spoils her fans in this scintillating New York Times bestseller about about two women, four men, two love triangles and the drama that unfolds.

"Hot Box" is a baseball drill that can be played with three or more players and two to four bases. The players take turns being fielders and runners, ultimately trying to tag the rest of the players out. In The Hot Box, best friends Milena and Lydia are playing the game with Jacour, Yosef, Glenn, and Phil. The only problem: the men do not realize that they are merely players in their game.​

Milena lives a sheltered and dismal existence, and she hasn't allowed a man to touch her body in eight years--until now. Lydia dreams of getting away from small-town America, but until she can make that happen, she is prepared to do whatever it takes to continue to have her bills paid on time. Good sex always does the trick.

Two women. Four men. Two love triangles. Reading has never been this hot because, once again, Zane is taking you outside the box.

"A searing and emotionally gripping account of a young black girl growing up to become a strong black woman during the most difficult time of racial segregation."--Professor Charles Ogletree, Harvard Law School

"Provides important context for an important moment in America's history."--Associated Press

When fourteen-year-old Carlotta Walls walked up the stairs of Little Rock Central High School on September 25, 1957, she and eight other black students only wanted to make it to class. But the journey of the "Little Rock Nine," as they came to be known, would lead the nation on an even longer and much more turbulent path, one that would challenge prevailing attitudes, break down barriers, and forever change the landscape of America.

For Carlotta and the eight other children, simply getting through the door of this admired academic institution involved angry mobs, racist elected officials, and intervention by President Dwight D. Eisenhower, who was forced to send in the 101st Airborne to escort the Nine into the building. But entry was simply the first of many trials. Breaking her silence at last and sharing her story for the first time, Carlotta Walls has written an engrossing memoir that is a testament not only to the power of a single person to make a difference but also to the sacrifices made by families and communities that found themselves a part of history.

A poignant and rousing debut book of poetry from the former Youth Poet Laureate of Oakland, CA--the acclaimed, best-selling author of the novel Nightcrawling

Leila Mottley follows her trailblazing first novel with a perfectly pitched first collection of poems that demonstrate her spark and scope. woke up no light reckons with themes of reparations, restitution, and desire. Moving in sections from "girlhood" to "neighborhood" to "falsehood" to, finally, "womanhood," these poems are the breathing life of a Black girl as she grows into adulthood, simultaneously youthful and profound. Each poem is a searing vignette, capturing the dissonance of Black girlhood through visceral language. The collection is sharp and raw, wise and rhythmic, a combination that lights up each page. From unearthing histories to searching for ways to dream of a future in a world constantly on the brink of disaster, Mottley sets forth personal and political revelation with piercing detail.

woke up no light confirms Leila Mottley's arrival and demonstrates the enduring power of her voice--brave and distinctive and thoroughly her own.

J.D. tiene ocho años y convierte un trágico corte de pelo casero en un próspero negocio de barbería en esta nueva y divertida serie de libros ilustrados.

J.D. tiene un gran problema: es la noche antes del comienzo del tercer grado y su mamá acaba de hacerle su primer y peor corte de pelo casero. Cuando los insultos constantes de todos los estudiantes de la Escuela Primaria Douglass se vuelven insoportables, J.D. toma el asunto en sus propias manos y descubre que, a diferencia de su mamá, él es un genio con la máquina recortadora. Su trabajo lo convierte en la comidilla de la ciudad y le trae suficiente negocio como para abrir una barbería desde su cuarto. Pero cuando Henry Jr., el dueño de la única barbería local oficial, se da cuenta de que está perdiendo clientes por culpa de J.D., trata de cerrar las puertas del novato para siempre. J.D. decide que solo hay una manera de comprobar quién es el mejor barbero en todo Meridian, Mississippi: Que la gente decida en una GRAN BATALLA DE BARBEROS!

Why is less than 1% of rural land in the U.S. owned by Black people? An acclaimed writer and activist explores the impact of land theft and violent displacement on racial wealth gaps, arguing that justice stems from the literal roots of the earth.

To understand the contemporary racial wealth gap, we must first unpack the historic attacks on Indigenous and Black land ownership. From the moment that colonizers set foot on Virginian soil, a centuries-long war was waged, resulting in an existential dilemma: Who owns what on stolen land? Who owns what with stolen labor? To answer these questions, we must confront one of this nation's first sins: stealing, hoarding, and commodifying the land.

Research suggests that between 1910 and 1997, Black Americans lost about 90% of their farmland. Land theft widened the racial wealth gap, privatized natural resources, and created a permanent barrier to access that should be a birthright for Black and Indigenous communities. Rooted traces the experiences of Brea Baker's family history of devastating land loss in Kentucky and North Carolina, identifying such violence as the root of persistent inequality in this country. Ultimately, her grandparents' commitment to Black land ownership resulted in the Bakers Acres--a haven for the family where they are sustained by the land, surrounded by love, and wholly free.

A testament to the Black farmers who dreamed of feeding, housing, and tending to their communities, Rooted bears witness to their commitment to freedom and reciprocal care for the land. By returning equity to a dispossessed people, we can heal both the land and our nation's soul.

The National Book Award-winning novel--and contemporary classic--that launched the brilliant career of Gloria Naylor, now with a foreword by Tayari Jones

"[A] shrewd and lyrical portrayal of many of the realities of black life . . . Naylor bravely risks sentimentality and melodrama to write her compassion and outrage large, and she pulls it off triumphantly." --The New York Times Book Review

"Brims with inventiveness--and relevance." --NPR's Fresh Air

In her heralded first novel, Gloria Naylor weaves together the stories of seven women living in Brewster Place, a bleak-inner city sanctuary, creating a powerful, moving portrait of the strengths, struggles, and hopes of black women in America. Vulnerable and resilient, openhanded and openhearted, these women forge their lives in a place that in turn threatens and protects--a common prison and a shared home. Naylor renders both loving and painful human experiences with simple eloquence and uncommon intuition in this touching and unforgettable read.

Drawn from her experiences of growing up as a young woman in the 'world's largest prison'--Gaza--Nayrouz Qarmout's stories stitch together a stirring patchwork of perspectives exploring what it means to be a Palestinian today. Whether following the daily struggles of orphaned children fighting to survive in the rubble of recent bombardments, or mapping the complex tensions between political forces vying to control Palestinian lives, these stories offer a rare insight into one of the most talked about but least understood cities in the Middle East. Taken together, they afford us a local perspective on a global story, always rooted firmly in that most cherished of things, the home.

An unapologetic guide for readers who are Black, masc, and bi--unlearning biphobia, coming out, combatting erasure, and embodying your whole self

Through cutting social analysis, personal stories, and need-to-know advice, Dear Bi Men reclaims bi+ visibility in a culture of erasure--and unapologetically centers Blackness in a practical and deeply researched guide to navigating life, work, and relationships as a Black bi+ man.

Popular representation of bi and pansexual men is growing, but we're not there yet: It's mostly white. It collapses bisexual identity into tired, hypersexualized tropes. And it fails to interrogate the deeply entrenched stereotypes that insist: You're confused. You just don't know you're gay. You're greedy. You must be great in bed.

Author, peer counselor, and creator of #bisexualmenspeak J.R. Yussuf pushes back against these stigmas and misconceptions, exploring how white supremacy reinforces biphobia and dictates what society thinks it means to "be a man." He contextualizes discourse around queerness and bisexuality within a larger framework that honors readers' intersecting identities. And he offers deeply practical advice, sharing how to:

• Unlearn internalized biphobia and homophobia
• Navigate an increasingly hostile digital landscape
• Think about coming out: who to tell, why to tell them, and how to do it
• Fight back against erasure and stigma
• Navigate sex, dating, partnerships, marriage, friendship, and work
• Understand your bi+ sexuality through a political lens
• Process Black bi+ representation

Rich with personal narratives, insightful analysis, and practical advice, this book is a powerful resource for Black bi+ men to reclaim their identity, counter biphobia, and get empowered--and an offering to all readers looking to fight back against the erasure and dehumanization wrought by patriarchy.

American Founders reveals men and women of African descent as key protagonists in the story of American democracy. It chronicles how black people developed and defended New World settlements, undermined slavery, and championed freedom throughout the hemisphere from the sixteenth thorough the twentieth centuries. While conventional history tends to reduce the roles of African Americans to antebellum slavery and the civil rights movement, in reality African residents preceded the English by a century and arrived in the Americas in numbers that far exceeded European migrants up until 1820. Afro-Americans were omnipresent in the founding and advancement of the Americas, and recurrently outnumbered Europeans at many times and places, from colonial Peru to antebellum Virginia. African-descended people contributed to every facet of American history as explorers, conquistadores, settlers, soldiers, sailors, servants, slaves, rebels, leaders, lawyers, litigants, laborers, artisans, artists, activists, translators, teachers, doctors, nurses, inventors, investors, merchants, mathematicians, scientists, scholars, engineers, entrepreneurs, generals, cowboys, pirates, professors, politicians, priests, poets, and presidents. The multitude of events and mixed-race individuals included in the book underscores that black and white Americans share the same history, and in many cases, the same ancestry. American Founders is meant to celebrate this shared heritage and strengthen these bonds.

A comprehensive look at how slavery and resistance to it have shaped Yale University

Award-winning historian David W. Blight, with the Yale and Slavery Research Project, answers the call to investigate Yale University's historical involvement with slavery, the slave trade, and abolition. This narrative history demonstrates the importance of slavery in the making of this renowned American institution of higher learning.

Drawing on wide-ranging archival materials, Yale and Slavery extends from the century before the college's founding in 1701 to the dedication of its Civil War memorial in 1915, while engaging with the legacies and remembrance of this complex story. The book brings into focus the enslaved and free Black people who have been part of Yale's history from the beginning--but too often ignored in official accounts. These individuals and their descendants worked at Yale; petitioned and fought for freedom and dignity; built churches, schools, and antislavery organizations; and were among the first Black students to transform the university from the inside.

Always alive to the surprises and ironies of the past, Yale and Slavery presents a richer and more complete history of Yale, the third-oldest college in the country, showing how pillars of American higher education, even in New England, emerged over time intertwined with the national and international history of racial slavery.

After immigrating from Jamaica to the United States, Prince Shakur's family is rocked by the murder of Prince's biological father in 1995. Behind the murder is a sordid family truth, scripted in the lines of a diary by an outlawed uncle hell-bent on avenging the murder of Prince's father. As Shakur begins to unravel his family's secrets, he must navigate the strenuous terrain of coming to terms with one's inner self while confronting the steeped complexities of the Afro-diaspora.

When They Tell You to Be Good charts Shakur's political coming of age from closeted queer kid in a Jamaican family to radicalized adult traveler, writer, and anarchist in Obama and Trump's America. Shakur journeys from France to the Philippines, South Korea, and elsewhere to discover the depths of the Black experience, and engages in deep political questions while participating in movements like Black Lives Matter and Standing Rock. By the end, Shakur reckons with his identity, his family's immigration, and the intergenerational impacts of patriarchal and colonial violence.

Examining a tangled web of race, trauma, and memory, When They Tell You to Be Good shines a light on what we all must ask of ourselves--to be more than what America envisions for the oppressed--as Shakur compels readers to take a closer, deeper look at the political world of young, Black, queer, and radical millennials today.

A guide to advanced practices with the bestselling The Hoodoo Tarot

- Provides rituals for each of the Major Arcana cards and shares exercises for resolving problems and dysfunctional patterns the cards reveal

- Explores in depth the plants, herbs, and flowers of the Hoodoo tradition featured on the cards

- Offers eleven new card spreads, such as the New Moon spread, the Big House Healing Trauma spread, and the Difficult Ancestry spread

In this Hoodoo and divination workbook, Tayannah Lee McQuillar presents a deeper understanding of the concepts, themes, and symbology featured in her bestselling Hoodoo Tarot card deck alongside rituals, botanical knowledge, and advanced practices for working with the cards.

Exploring the philosophy behind Hoodoo as well as its historical and spiritual roots, the author looks at this tradition as a nature-based spiritual system, emphasizing the unique environmental features of the Deep South that have shaped what Hoodoo and rootwork are today. She explores in depth the plants, herbs, and flowers of the Hoodoo tradition featured on the cards, as well as the animals that play a totemic role in rootworking. She explains the three sacred circles of Hoodoo and the different groups whose spiritual traditions give this syncretic faith its complex heritage: early Black American Christianity, esoteric European traditions, and Indigenous American traditions. She also explores dreamwork and other divination systems practiced in Hoodoo, including bibliomancy, judicial astrology, cartomancy, and cleromancy (divination with pebbles or other objects).

Looking at the Elder cards (Major Arcana) of The Hoodoo Tarot, the author provides rituals to work with each of the cards and the plants, legendary figures, and spiritual concepts they represent. She offers eleven new card spreads, such as the New Moon spread, the Big House Healing Trauma spread, and the Difficult Ancestry spread. She looks closely at family card connections, explaining what particular cards reveal when they appear, and shares exercises for resolving problems and dysfunctional patterns. She also explores the important role of rootworkers in their communities in the past and looking forward into the future.

Presenting new ways to work with The Hoodoo Tarot, this book also provides a foundational introduction to the rootworking tradition, allowing divination practitioners and spiritual seekers alike to expand their journeys of growth and understanding.