Short Lives: Gary Younge’s Newest Essay Collection is a Plea to Readers
In his 2016 collection of essays, Another Day in the Death of America, award-winning journalist Gary Younge takes on the high death rates of young people in America. As a parent, he has become acutely aware of, and troubled by, the statistics surrounding the gun-related fates met by an average of seven American children per day. Here, he offers the reader a somber snapshot comprised of ten deaths that occurred over a single twenty-four hour period: November 23rd, 2013.
Meet the Author: Shana Keller
Local author Shana Keller visited CLP – Squirrel Hill to read her new book, Ticktock Banneker’s Clock.
On Fires, Then and Now (Reflections on The Fire This Time)
Widely regarded as an influential work of literature, James Baldwin’s The Fire Next Time gives voice to the personal nature of injustice while sounding an alarm about the intensity of race relations in the United States. Although it has been 54 years since its publication, Baldwin’s work has particular urgency and resonance in the aftermath of the murders of Trayvon Martin, Tamir Rice, Mike Brown, Sandra Bland. Given the current political climate in the United States, The Fire Next Time is especially relevant.
Science Fiction & Fantasy by Women of Color
I read a lot of Science Fiction and Fantasy. Seriously, A LOT. Growing up, I cut my teeth on Anne McCaffery’s Dragonriders of Pern series and Marion Zimmer Bradley’s The Mists of Avalon. Later, it was The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood. Sadly, many people still think Science Fiction and Fantasy novels are written mostly by white anglo-saxon men for white anglo-saxon men (think J. R. R. Tolkein or George R. R. Martin). However, there are a number of fantastic female authors of color rocking both genres today.
Exploring Wakanda
Captain American: Civil War was my formal introduction to T’Challa and his role as king of the African nation Wakanda, along with his role as the Black Panther. I certainly knew of the character but my knowledge of his backstory was slim. Chadwick Boseman’s portrayal was intriguing (as were the awesome ladies serving as his guards) and I wanted to know more. Luckily, Marvel was smart enough to figure that there would be plenty of curious readers like me. They were also smart enough to hire some amazing writers, like Ta-Nehisi Coates, Roxane Gay, and Yona Harvey, for a new run in the series.
Phenomenal Woman: Maya Angelou’s Incredible Life
Most people recognize Maya Angelou’s name. She may be the most popular and well-known author/poet of our time. What many people might not know is how fully she lived her life, how many adventures she had, how phenomenal she really was.
Get familiar with Jazmine Sullivan
When it comes to the current state of rhythm & blues, the two names most people mention are Beyoncé and Rihanna. Both of whom I love, but there are a lot of other Black women out there making great music. One in particular is Jazmine Sullivan. I first heard Sullivan’s music when I saw the music video for her debut single “Need U Bad” on BET (back when they actually played music videos). She immediately captivated me with her voice.
All Hands on Tech: Explore Hidden Figures with Super Science at Your Library!
How did NASA mathematician Katherine Johnson calculate the trajectories for missions to space? With genius level STEM skills!
Punitive Measures, Pushout and Pittsburgh
At the same time that Black women are outpacing others in the post-graduate arena, many young Black women are being left behind in public schools, marginalized by punitive and surveillance systems embedded into our education programs and into society at large. Black girls make up 16 percent of the public school population, but represent more than one-third of all girls with a school-related arrest.
Natural Hair Magic
I never knew the true texture of my hair until I was in my mid-twenties. The time I spent at my aunt’s shop meant slapping a relaxer on my hair and smoothing it out until she was convinced my hair would be straight enough for the gods. I never went too long without a relaxer for fear of the new growth or “naps” underneath, a severely flawed fear passed down from generation to generation.