The Root Presents: It's Lit!
Here at The Root we’ve always loved, praised, and centered Black literature in the broader conversation. Each week host Maiysha Kai sits down with an author we love to talk about their work, what inspires them, and what they hope to contribute to the culture at large. Guests so far include Nikole Hannah Jones, Brittney Cooper, Stacey Abrams, Ibram X. Kendi, Ijeoma Oluo, Morgan Jerkins, and Claudia Rankine.
- Update frequency
- every 7 days
- Average duration
- 33 minutes
- Episodes
- 65
- Years Active
- 2020 - 2021
44. Exploring the Ethereal With Akwaeke Emezi
This week we're talking with artist and New York Times bestselling author Akwaeke Emezi. Akwaeke has been a rising star in the literary world with popular novels like Freshwater and The Death of Vive…
00:42:54 |
Thu 22 Jul 2021
43. Speaking to Everyman, With M Shelly Conner
This week we're sitting down with writer and humorist M Shelly Conner about her new novel, Everyman, which is a brilliant work of historical fiction about heritage, identity, and The Great Migration.…
00:29:58 |
Thu 15 Jul 2021
42. Carol Anderson and the Fatal Inequality of The Second Amendment
This week we're talking with historian Carol Anderson about her latest book, The Second: Race and Guns in a Fatally Unequal America. Carol is the author of the New York Times bestseller White Rage, a…
00:36:20 |
Thu 08 Jul 2021
41. Clint Smith Tells Us How the Word Is Passed
This week we have the brilliant poet, journalist, and author Clint Smith on the show to talk about his latest book, How the Word Is Passed: A Reckoning with the History of Slavery Across America. Lis…
00:33:42 |
Thu 01 Jul 2021
40. Kiley Reid Takes Us Through ‘Such A Fun Age’
This week we sit down with Kiley Reid, author of Such a Fun Age. Kiley's debut novel took 2020 by storm—not only was it an instant New York Times bestseller, but it was also named Best Book of the Ye…
00:26:54 |
Thu 24 Jun 2021
39. Dawnie Walton Takes Us On an Imagined Trip Through Black Rock History In ‘The Final Revival of Opal and Nev’
This week we sit down with the very talented Dawnie Walton, whose brilliant debut novel, The Final Revival of Opal & Nev, has been named one of the most anticipated books of 2021 by Essence, Vogue, O…
00:34:32 |
Thu 17 Jun 2021
38. Hanif Abdurraqib Illuminates the History of Black Entertainment With ‘A Little Devil in America’
This week we're speaking with award-winning poet, essayist, and cultural critic Hanif Abdurraqib. Hanif's previous works have garnered widespread praise, including 2017's Book of the Year They Can't …
00:31:14 |
Thu 10 Jun 2021
37. Zakiya Dalila Harris Makes Us Think Twice With ‘The Other Black Girl’
This week we're talking with Zakiya Dalila Harris, whose debut novel 'The Other Black Girl' is one of the most highly-anticipated books of the summer. The literary thriller is so gripping, in fact, t…
00:32:33 |
Fri 04 Jun 2021
36. Deesha Philyaw Talks The Secret Lives of Church Ladies
This week we're talking with the immensely talented Deesha Philyaw. In 2020, Deesha published her debut collection of short stories, The Secret Lives of Church Ladies. Though initially, it took Deesh…
00:31:07 |
Fri 28 May 2021
35. Gabrielle Union and Dwyane Wade on Honesty, Storytelling, and Their Sweet Shady Baby
This week we're joined by power couple Gabrielle Union and Dwyane Wade. The talented duo has written their first children's book together called Shady Baby about their youngest daughter, Kaavia James…
00:30:23 |
Fri 21 May 2021
34. Stacey Abrams Is the Hero We Need, Writing the Heroes She Wishes She’d Had
This week we're joined by the one and only Stacey Abrams. As if fighting for voting rights and defending American democracy weren't enough, Stacey also happens to be a New York Times bestselling auth…
00:22:36 |
Fri 14 May 2021
33. Jasmine Mans Calls Us Closer With “Black Girl, Call Home”
This week we have the super talented Jasmine Mans on the show to talk about her latest collection of poems, Black Girl, Call Home. Listen to hear Jasmine talk about how she came to love poetry as a f…
00:27:07 |
Fri 07 May 2021
32. Tarana Burke and Tanya Fields Remind Us “You Are Your Best Thing”
This week we're talking with two incredible women, Tarana Burke and Tanya Fields. Tarana is the founder of the Me Too movement and a former Root 100 honoree, and Tanya is the founder of the Black Fem…
00:43:00 |
Fri 30 Apr 2021
31. Robert Jones, Jr. Talks Baldwin, Black Queerness and Why Antebellum Slavery Must Be Remembered
This week we have the brilliant and beautiful writer Robert Jones, Jr.—creator of the blog Son of Baldwin, and author of New York Times bestseller The Prophets. Listen to hear Robert discuss the back…
00:34:12 |
Fri 23 Apr 2021
30. Getting Good With Money, With Tiffany Aliche
This week we're talking with the brilliant Tiffany Aliche—personal finance educator, and author of the new book Get Good With Money: 10 Simple Steps to Becoming Financially Whole. Listen to hear how …
00:29:31 |
Fri 16 Apr 2021
29. Zerlina Maxwell Wants to Heal Our Liberal Divide
This week we're sitting down with Zerlina Maxwell—political analyst, Director of Progressive Programming for SiriusXM, and co-host of Sirius XM’s award-winning show Signal Boost. Zerlina is also the …
00:31:02 |
Fri 09 Apr 2021
28. Exploring the Disordered Cosmos, With Chanda Prescod-Weinstein
This week we're talking with the brilliant Dr. Chanda Prescod-Weinstein, a theoretical physicist whose research focuses on understanding the origin of spacetime and the particles that populate it. He…
00:38:22 |
Fri 02 Apr 2021
27. Studying the Book of Bevelations, With Bevy Smith
This week we're joined by the one and only Bevy Smith, Gracie Award-winner and host of the Sirius XM show Bevelations on Radio Andy. Listen to hear Bevy talk about why she made a career pivot after c…
00:36:36 |
Fri 26 Mar 2021
26. Karyn Parsons' Story Is Fresher Than Hilary Banks
This week we're joined by actress/author Karyn Parsons. Karyn is perhaps best known for playing the hilarious Hilary Banks on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, but she also happens to be the founder and p…
00:39:35 |
Fri 19 Mar 2021
25. Talking Ida B. and Queen Tings, With Michelle Duster
This week we're joined by award-winning historian, activist, and author Michelle Duster, to talk about her new book, Ida B. the Queen: The Extraordinary Life and Legacy of Ida B. Wells. Listen to hea…
00:31:41 |
Fri 12 Mar 2021
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