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
24. Searching For The Color Purple, With Salamishah Tillet
This week we're speaking with the brilliant Salamishah Tillet to talk about her latest book, In Search of The Color Purple: The Story of an American Masterpiece, which is a deep dive into the history…
00:40:15 |
Fri 05 Mar 2021
23. Alice Randall Takes Us To The Black Bottom
This week we have the multi-talented Alice Randall on It's Lit! Alice is the bestselling author of The Wind Done Gone, Ada's Rules, and Rebel Yell. In addition to being a writer, Alice is also a food…
00:41:33 |
Fri 26 Feb 2021
22. The Next Great Migration, With Charles Blow
This week we're talking with esteemed journalist and author Charles M. Blow. Charles is a longtime New York Times Op-Ed columnist and is author of the award-winning memoir, Fire Shut Up In My Bones. …
00:42:09 |
Fri 19 Feb 2021
21. Drs. Keisha Blain and Ibram X. Kendi Talk 400 Years and 400 Souls
This week we're talking to two venerable scholars, Dr. Keisha Blain and Dr. Ibram X. Kendi, about their new collaboration, Four Hundred Souls: A Community History of African America, 1619-2019. Liste…
00:28:58 |
Fri 12 Feb 2021
20. Clover Hope Brings Us The Motherlode
This week we're speaking with the brilliant writer Clover Hope, co-writer of Beyoncé's Black is King, and author of the new book, The Motherlode: 100+ Women Who Made Hip-Hop. Listen to hear Clover di…
00:28:54 |
Fri 05 Feb 2021
19. Talking Prose, Passing and the Power of Black Women, With Brit Bennett
This week we chat with the incredibly talented Brit Bennett. Brit is the author of two bestselling novels, 2016's The Mothers and 2020's The Vanishing Half. Listen to hear Brit talk about the inspira…
00:37:58 |
Fri 29 Jan 2021
18. Into Thick of It, With Michelle Buteau
This week we're joined by the talented and hilarious Michelle Buteau. Listen to hear the comedian, actress, and author talk about what inspired her new book, Survival of the Thickest, how she defies …
00:39:13 |
Fri 22 Jan 2021
17. Kenrya Rankin Wants to Have a Word About Anti-Racism
This week we sit down with award-winning journalist, author, and podcaster Kenrya Rankin to talk about her latest book, Anti-Racism: Powerful Voices, Inspiring Ideas. Listen to hear Kenrya talk with …
00:35:37 |
Fri 15 Jan 2021
16. The Transcendent Work of Yaa Gyasi
This week we sit down with the incredibly gifted writer Yaa Gyasi to talk about the craft of writing. Yaa's first book, Homegoing, was a New York Times Notable Book, one of Oprah’s Best Books of the …
00:30:15 |
Fri 08 Jan 2021
15. Two is Better Than One, With Maika and Maritza Moulite
This week we're chatting with the very talented writing duo, Maika and Maritza Moulite. Listen as the Moulites speak with Danielle and Maiysha about their co-writing process, the inspiration for thei…
00:39:24 |
Fri 01 Jan 2021
14. A Special Holiday Episode from It's Lit!
Merry Christmas and happy holidays from It's Lit! This week we're bringing you a special episode in which Maiysha and Danielle discuss the page-turners they couldn't put down this year, the year's mo…
00:35:32 |
Fri 25 Dec 2020
13. Poetically Justified, With Nikki Giovanni
This week we have the legendary, award-winning poet Nikki Giovanni joining us on It's Lit. Nikki is the author of over 30 collections of poetry including the New York Times bestselling Bicycles: Love…
00:44:17 |
Fri 18 Dec 2020
12. Unlocking the Mystery of Writing, With Walter Mosley
This week we're speaking with the illustrious, award-winning author Walter Mosley. The prolific writer of over 60 books and counting, including the bestselling Easy Rawlins and Fearless Jones mystery…
00:31:05 |
Fri 11 Dec 2020
11. Michaela Angela Davis on the Meaning of Mariah Carey
This week we sit down with fashion, beauty and activism icon, Michaela Angela Davis. Michaela is the co-author of Mariah Carey’s new memoir, The Meaning of Mariah Carey. Listen to hear her talk with …
00:41:51 |
Fri 04 Dec 2020
10. Going Black to the Future, With Kimberly Drew and Jenna Wortham
This week we're joined by two remarkable women who have recently collaborated on a project that isn’t so much a book or a novel as it is a gorgeous, mixed-media zine called Black Futures. Listen to h…
00:34:37 |
Fri 27 Nov 2020
9. Jason Reynolds On Why Kids Are The Best Audience To Write For
This week we're talking with award-winning and New York Times bestselling author, Jason Reynolds. Best known as a prolific YA writer, Jason is the author of numerous books including Ghost, Long Way D…
00:40:01 |
Fri 20 Nov 2020
8. Maya Rockeymoore Cummings on Whether We're Better Than This
This week we sit down with Dr. Maya Rockeymoore Cummings—politician, entrepreneur and and wife of the late congressman Elijah E. Cummings. Maya was key in seeing through the publication of Congressma…
00:38:27 |
Fri 13 Nov 2020
7. How Marley Dias Gets It Done
This week we sit down with Marley Dias, the 15-year-old author and activist who is changing the literary landscape for kids. Marley is the founder of the 1000 Black Girl Books campaign, and author of…
00:31:45 |
Fri 06 Nov 2020
6. George M. Johnson on Purpose, Pronouns and the Power of Identity
We have the brilliant author, journalist and activist George M. Johnson on It's Lit this week to talk about their book, All Boys Aren't Blue: A Memoir-Manifesto. Listen to George talk with Danielle a…
00:38:31 |
Fri 30 Oct 2020
5. So You Want to Talk About Ijeoma Oluo
We're speaking with the brilliant and astute Ijeoma Oluo this week, author of the bestselling So You Want to Talk About Race. Listen to hear Ijeoma talk about the importance of taking care of yoursel…
00:33:37 |
Fri 23 Oct 2020
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