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The first volume in an anthology series that amplifies the voices of unsung Black poets to paint a more robust picture of our national past, and of the Black literary imagination, with a foreword by Tracy K. Smith

A Penguin Classic

Joshua Bennett and Jesse McCarthy repeatedly found themselves struck by the number of exciting poets they came across in long-out-of-print collections and forgotten journals whose work has been neglected or entirely ignored, even by scholars of Black poetry. Minor Notes is an excavation initiative that recovers and curates archival materials from these understudied, though supremely gifted, African American poets of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, and aims to bridge scholarly interest with the growing general audience who reads, writes, and circulates poetry within that tradition. As Minor Notes clarifies, the work of contemporary Black poets is perhaps best understood through the lens of a long-standing tradition of the poet as witness, as prophetic voice, as communal bard, and as scholar of the everyday and the miraculous. The poets featured in Volume 1 are George Moses Horton, Fenton Johnson, Georgia Douglas Johnson, Henrietta Cordelia Ray, David Wadsworth Cannon Jr., Anne Spencer, and Angelina Weld Grimké.

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Ranging from Ta-Nehisi Coates’s case for reparations to Toni Morrison’s revolutionary humanism to D’Angelo’s simmering blend of R&B and racial justice, Jesse McCarthy’s bracing essays investigate with virtuosic intensity the art, music, literature, and political stances that have defined the twenty-first century. Even as our world has suffered through successive upheavals, McCarthy contends, “something was happening in the world of culture: a surging and unprecedented visibility at every level of black art making.” Who Will Pay Reparations on My Soul? reckons with this resurgence, arguing for the central role of art and intellectual culture in an age of widening inequality and moral crisis.

Addresses the political and aesthetic evolution of African American literature and its authors during the Cold War, an era McCarthy calls “the Blue Period.”

In the years after World War II, to be a black writer was to face a stark predicament. The contest between the Soviet Union and the United States was a global one—an ideological battle that dominated almost every aspect of the cultural agenda. On the one hand was the Soviet Union, espousing revolutionary communism that promised egalitarianism while being hostile to conceptions of personal freedom. On the other hand was the United States, a country steeped in racial prejudice and the policies of Jim Crow.

Black writers of this time were equally alienated from the left and the right, Jesse McCarthy argues, and they channeled that alienation into remarkable experiments in literary form. Embracing racial affect and interiority, they forged an aesthetic resistance premised on fierce dissent from both US racial liberalism and Soviet communism. From the end of World War II to the rise of the Black Power movement in the 1960s, authors such as Richard Wright, James Baldwin, Gwendolyn Brooks, and Paule Marshall defined a distinctive moment in American literary culture that McCarthy terms the Blue Period.

In McCarthy’s hands, this notion of the Blue Period provides a fresh critical framework that challenges long-held disciplinary and archival assumptions. Black writers in the early Cold War went underground, McCarthy argues, not to depoliticize or liberalize their work, but to make it more radical—keeping alive affective commitments for a future time.

You know that 3 a.m. feeling? When you’re wide awake asking yourself: Is this really it?

That nagging feeling that "this isn’t enough anymore" isn’t weakness—it’s wisdom. What once felt fresh now feels like going through the motions. Successful but not satisfied. Accomplished but not alive. You’ve spent years building a life that looks perfect on paper but feels like something is missing when you’re alone with your thoughts.

Society calls it a crisis. But what if it’s actually clarity?

In The Comeback Era, TODAY Show wellness expert Yasmine Cheyenne transforms that restless feeling into rocket fuel for authentic change. Through reconnecting with "Little You"—the person you were before the world told you who to be—you’ll stop performing for everyone else and start living for yourself. This isn’t about burning your life down. It’s about remembering who you were before you learned to dim your light.

In the book, you’ll meet five people who also answered the call: The executive who realized her corner office was a cage. The mother who discovered "having it all together" meant losing herself completely. The achiever who checked every box except the one that mattered. Their stories—and Yasmine’s Seven C’s of Purpose framework—will show you how to:

* Stop watching your life go by and start living it
* Transform past mistakes into pocket wisdom—not baggage
* Convert “someday” dreams into today’s reality
* Turn midlife confusion into crystal clarity

This book is your permission slip to stop pretending everything’s fine and start building the life you actually want.

Bobby McNeil Jr.'s Cracking the Code: 10 Possible Reasons You Didn't Get the Job isn't your average career guide; it's a gripping narrative infused with Bobby's unparalleled insights from over a decade of experience as a highly successful tech recruiter, award winning industry leader, and trusted industry voice & influencer. Buckle up for an amazing ride as Bobby unravels the hidden pitfalls most job seekers overlook. Each chapter is a revelation, blending raw anecdotes, industry wisdom, and data to demystify all misconceived notions around resumes, interviews, networking, social media presence, and more. This book goes beyond just tips & tricks -it's a roadmap reshaping your approach to land that dream tech job or skyrocket your career. "Cracking the Code" isn't a book; it's your blueprint to crack open new possibilities and rewrite your job-seeking narrative.

What Awaits Within the 'Cracking the Code' Chapters

In the most straightforward, thoughtful, engaging, yet informative way possible, Cracking the Code: 10 Possible Reasons You Didn't Get the Job will:

- tap into the psyche of hiring managers and employers

- explore the most common pitfalls of job seekers in the hiring process

- offer practical, actionable solutions with guidance for instant application

- dispel any negative misconceptions for a positive mindset shift

- provide a candid & honest overview of the recruitment and hiring lifecycle

- puts you in the driver seat of your interview readiness and preparedness

Cracking the Code: 10 Possible Reasons You Didn't Get the Job is your secret weapon! Perfect for new grads, career switchers, and anyone on the job hunt, this book is a goldmine. It's not just tech jobs-it's a game-changer that fits any profession. Its timeless wisdom will keep you ahead in the career race for years to come!

Be at home in yourself and recreate your living space as a cozy sanctuary of peace and calm during stressful times with this mindfulness meditation book by Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh.

Hailed by TIME magazine as "the monk who taught the world mindfulness," Thich Nhat Hanh developed practices for people to be able to feel at home in themselves and in the world, especially during times of transition and change.

Designed to be both inspiration and guidebook for those new to mindfulness practice, Making Space offers easy-to-follow instructions for:

* Setting up an area in your home for mindfulness practice—a literal breathing space
* Listening to a mindfulness bell to bring you home to yourself
* Breathing and sitting meditations
* The "cake in the refrigerator" practice for households to consciously steer their conversations in a harmonious direction
* Walking meditation
* Cooking and eating a meal in mindfulness

Whether you live alone or with your partner or a family, this beautifully illustrated book can help you create a sense of retreat and sanctuary in yourself and at home.

Life is most certainly a general thing.

Have you ever become bogged down by the weight of expectations and the unpredictability of the future? I have. Have you ever felt overwhelmed by loneliness and wondered why every friendship and relationship you come across fails? Can you tell the difference between lust and love? Do you even know what "love" really is? What's the point of dating? Why are women excused for sexualizing men, while men are criticized if the roles were reversed? Do you find yourself procrastinating and wasting time? Is your confidence shaky, and your insecurities running wild in your mind? If you answered "Yes" to any of these questions, you have come to the right place. In this book, I am going to share some of my most personal experiences and stories with real-life, current, young adult issues, along with some (in my opinion) helpful tips and/or viewpoints, all in small, short chapters. I want you to read this book and feel yourself having a one-on-one conversation with me wherever you are. I hope that when you finish reading this book, you will feel not only motivated and inspired to make a change in yourself but that in whatever issue or insecurity you are experiencing, you will no longer feel like you're the only one who has (or is) experiencing those things. Or perhaps you'll find some humor in the relatability of this book, and it brings you a laugh. In whatever way this book affects you, I pray that, in some way, this book will bring something positive into your life.

Kwame Alexander's Say Yes is a meaningful manifesto that challenges readers to embrace the transformative power of "yes." Adapted from Alexander's inspiring commencement speech at American University, this book weaves personal stories, profound insights, and actionable wisdom into a must-read guide for anyone ready to fuel their passion, turn rejection into resilience, and unlock their potential.

Turning “No” into New Horizons. Kwame Alexander shares how every "no" shaped his path and fueled his determination. With insights into navigating the interplay of business and art, he reveals how to stay true to your passion while forging a fulfilling, successful life. This is a call to dreamers, creators, and change-makers: your dreams deserve your effort, even when the road gets tough.

The Power of Saying Yes. Through vibrant storytelling and motivational wisdom, Say Yes explores how one word can alter perceptions, open doors, and lead to unimagined possibilities. Whether writing a groundbreaking novel or stepping into the unknown, Alexander's journey proves the power of persistence and the beauty of embracing the unexpected.

Perfect for college graduates, creative thinkers, and anyone chasing their dreams, Say Yes is a transformative manifesto for those ready to turn challenges into opportunities and passion into purpose. Let this book inspire you to say "yes" to your own bold vision.

Inside, you’ll find:
●      Stories of triumph over rejection and practical steps for overcoming challenges.
●      Inspiration to balance passion with practicality in creative and professional pursuits.
●      A guide to building resilience and redefining success.

If you like 101 Essays That Will Change the Way You Think, Very Good Lives, or The 7 Habits for Graduates, you'll love Power of Yes.

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • LONGLISTED FOR THE NATIONAL BOOK AWARD • One of today’s most insightful and influential thinkers offers a powerful exploration of inequality and the lesson that generations of Americans have failed to learn: Racism has a cost for everyone—not just for people of color.

WINNER OF THE PORCHLIGHT BUSINESS BOOK AWARD • ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR: Time, The Washington Post, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Ms. magazine, BookRiot, Library Journal

“This is the book I’ve been waiting for.”—Ibram X. Kendi, #1 New York Times bestselling author of How to Be an Antiracist

Look for the author’s podcast, The Sum of Us, based on this book!

Heather McGhee’s specialty is the American economy—and the mystery of why it so often fails the American public. From the financial crisis of 2008 to rising student debt to collapsing public infrastructure, she found a root problem: racism in our politics and policymaking. But not just in the most obvious indignities for people of color. Racism has costs for white people, too. It is the common denominator of our most vexing public problems, the core dysfunction of our democracy and constitutive of the spiritual and moral crises that grip us all. But how did this happen? And is there a way out?

McGhee embarks on a deeply personal journey across the country from Maine to Mississippi to California, tallying what we lose when we buy into the zero-sum paradigm—the idea that progress for some of us must come at the expense of others. Along the way, she meets white people who confide in her about losing their homes, their dreams, and their shot at better jobs to the toxic mix of American racism and greed. This is the story of how public goods in this country—from parks and pools to functioning schools—have become private luxuries; of how unions collapsed, wages stagnated, and inequality increased; and of how this country, unique among the world’s advanced economies, has thwarted universal healthcare.

But in unlikely places of worship and work, McGhee finds proof of what she calls the Solidarity Dividend: the benefits we gain when people come together across race to accomplish what we simply can’t do on our own. The Sum of Us is not only a brilliant analysis of how we arrived here but also a heartfelt message, delivered with startling empathy, from a black woman to a multiracial America. It leaves us with a new vision for a future in which we finally realize that life can be more than a zero-sum game.

LONGLISTED FOR THE ANDREW CARNEGIE MEDAL

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • “With a thoughtfully curated series of essays, poetry, and conversations, the brilliant scientist and climate expert Ayana Elizabeth Johnson has assembled a group of dynamic people who are willing to imagine what seems impossible, and articulate those visions with enthusiastic clarity.”—Roxane Gay

Our climate future is not yet written. What if we act as if we love the future?

A SMITHSONIAN BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR

Sometimes the bravest thing we can do while facing an existential crisis is imagine life on the other side. This provocative and joyous book maps an inspiring landscape of possible climate futures.

Through clear-eyed essays and vibrant conversations, infused with data, poetry, and art, Ayana Elizabeth Johnson guides us through solutions and possibilities at the nexus of science, policy, culture, and justice. Visionary farmers and financiers, architects and advocates, help us conjure a flourishing future, one worth the effort it will take—from every one of us, with whatever we have to offer—to create.

If you haven’t yet been able to picture a transformed and replenished world—or to see yourself, your loved ones, and your community in it—this book is for you. If you haven’t yet found your role in shaping this new world or you’re not sure how we can actually get there, this book is for you.

With grace, humor, and humanity, Johnson invites readers to ask and answer this ultimate question together: What if we get it right?

On possibility and transformation with:
Paola Antonelli • Xiye Bastida • Jade Begay • Wendell Berry • Régine Clément • Steve Connell • Erica Deeman • Abigail Dillen • Brian Donahue • Jean Flemma • Kelly Sims Gallagher • Rhiana Gunn-Wright • Olalekan Jeyifous • Corley Kenna • Bryan C. Lee Jr. • Franklin Leonard • Adam McKay • Bill McKibben • Kate Marvel • Samantha Montano • Kate Orff • Leah Penniman • Marge Piercy • Colette Pichon Battle • Kendra Pierre-Louis • Judith D. Schwartz • Jigar Shah • Ayisha Siddiqa • Bren Smith • Oana Stănescu • Mustafa Suleyman • Jacqueline Woodson

Presented in partnership with Project Row Houses and The Black Man Project

Join us for a virtual author talk in celebration of Jason Wilson's newest book, Battle Cry. This conversation will be moderated by The Black Man Project and presented in partnership with Project Row Houses

Event Deets:

When: Tuesday, September 21 at 7:00 pm CST

Where: Virtual via Crowdcast

How:  Registration is required by adding a ticket to your cart and checking out.  You have the option to grab a ticket for free, make a donation with your ticket, or purchase the book together with the ticket. 

We hope to see you there!

About the Book:

For decades, Jason Wilson tried his best to "be a man" but struggled to express the full range of human emotions because the only ones he felt comfortable expressing were the traditional "masculine" emotions--anger, aggression, and boldness. This went on until he finally released years of past trauma to attain the healing he needed to become a better man, husband, father, and leader. Learning how to master his emotions and verbally process them transformed Jason's life and relationships in ways he never could have imagined. He now seeks to expose the lies that many men have been deceived to believe about manhood and bring healing to their lives.

Battle Cry will teach men how to wage and win the war within themselves--unlearning society's definition of masculinity and empowering them with the tools needed to freely live from their hearts instead of their fears. Wilson shows readers how to

• win internal battles before they turn into external wars;
• master their emotions instead of being ruled by them;
• release trauma from their past so they can live fully to their potential in the present; and
• communicate more effectively with the people in their lives.

About the Moderators:

The Black Man Project explores the origins of how misconceptions such as one-dimensional expression and emotional inaccessibility have come to be. We specifically explore the complexity of African American masculinity for young boys and simultaneously create safe spaces for black young men to engage in dialogue that grants space that nurtures healing, wholeness, leadership, accountability, and brotherhood.

To learn more about The Black Man Project visit www.theblackmanproject.com.

About Project Row Houses:

Project Row Houses is a community platform that enriches lives through art with an emphasis on cultural identity and its impact on the urban landscape. We engage neighbors, artists, and enterprises in collective creative action to help materialize sustainable opportunities in marginalized communities.

Project Row Houses occupies a significant footprint in Houston’s Historic Third Ward, one of the city’s oldest African-American neighborhoods. The site encompasses five city blocks and houses 39 structures that serve as home base to a variety of community-enriching initiatives, art programs, and neighborhood development activities. PRH programs touch the lives of under-resourced neighbors, young single mothers with the ambition of a better life for themselves and their children, small enterprises with the drive to take their businesses to the next level, and artists interested in using their talents to understand and enrich the lives of others. Although PRH’s African-American roots are planted deeply in Third Ward, the work of PRH extends far beyond the borders of a neighborhood in transition. The Project Row Houses model for art and social engagement applies not only to Houston, but also to diverse communities around the world.

To learn more or to make a donation to Project Row Houses visit www.projectrowhouses.org