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06/16/2026

Honoring Black History Beyond February

“Our democracy flourishes when we see and value one another—and we only do that when we share our stories and take time to listen.”...

Join Lissa Jones and Kevin Lindsay as they explore how Black literature enhances civic imagination and strengthens identity in a new Black Market Reads episode.

04/25/2026

Michael Richards – Are You Down?

“Having something in a rural space shifts the context of what permanence and importance American history is—for any and all, in every and all spaces.” Esther Callahan Michael Richards: Are You Down? is a compelling monograph that examines the life and work of Jamaican American artist Michael Richards through essays, images, and personal reflections. Edited by Alex Fialho and Melissa Levin, and featuring writers such as Edwidge Danticat, the book explores Richards’ engagement with race, history, flight, and identity while preserving the depth and urgency of his artistic legacy....

https://blackmarketreads.com/2026/04/25/michael-richards-are-you-down/

04/16/2026

A New Episode! In this powerful episode of Black Market Reads, host Lissa Jones sits down with award-winning poet Michael Kleber-Diggs to explore the depth and intention behind his collection Worldly Things. Their conversation moves fluidly between poetry, fatherhood, community, and the responsibility of bearing witness, as Diggs reflects on writing as an act of care—rooted in intimacy, empathy, and presence.

https://blackmarketreads.com/2026/04/16/episode-105-michael-kleber-diggs-worldly-things/

03/27/2026

Dear listeners,
“To divorce the history of slavery from these narratives is a disservice to us, to our history, to our understanding of the world.”--Vanessa Riley
Swashbuckling Heroines and High Seas Adventures with Novelist Vanessa Riley. Inspired by the true story of Jacquotte Delahaye—a 17th-century free woman of color who rose to become one of the most feared pirates in the Caribbean—FIRE SWORD AND SEA follows a woman who defies the rigid conventions of her time.

Celebrating Women's History Month, in this episode of Black Market Reads, Lissa talks with author Vanessa Riley about a little known bit of history.

Listen wherever your favorite podcasts are found and on BlackMarketReads.com for GO DEEPER information related to this episode.

https://blackmarketreads.com/2026/03/27/vanessa-riley-fire-sword-sea/

Discover the remarkable journey of Jacquotte Delahaye, a fearless pirate in Vanessa Riley's 'Fire Sword and Sea,' exploring identity and freedom.