The Root Presents: It's Lit!

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 climbing the ranks at Vibe and Rolling Stone, the philosophies she lives by, and what she hopes readers get out of her new book, Bevelations: Lessons from a Mutha, Auntie, Bestie.

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 president of Sweet Blackberry—a creative nonprofit that produces animated films for children about unsung Black heroes from history. Last year, Karyn published two books for children and young adults—Flying Free: How Bessie Coleman's Dreams Took Flight, and How High the Moon. Listen to hear Karyn discuss how she went from acting to writing, and why she's so excited to be bringing these lesser-known Black heroes to life for kids.

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 hear Michelle—who happens to be the great-granddaughter of the legendary journalist—talk about her approach to writing her great grandmother's story for a young adult audience, and the many ways in which we're still fighting Ida's fight today.

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 of Alice Walker’s famous novel, as well as an examination of the cultural response to the book, and the movie and musical that followed. Listen to hear Salamishah talk about how the project came to her, the process of researching the beloved book's backstory, and what it was like to interview Alice Walker herself.

In addition to being an author, Salamishah is also a professor at Rutgers University, a contributing critic-at-large for the New York Times, and is the co-founder of A Long Walk Home, which is an organization focused on empowering young artists and activists to end violence against all girls and women.

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 activist, cookbook author, and award-winning songwriter. Tune in to hear Alice talk about her latest book, Black Bottom Saints, and the many personal inspirations that drove her to write this historical novel about Detroit's Black Bottom neighborhood.

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. Charles' new book, The Devil You Know: A Black Power Manifesto, is a thrilling call to action for Black communities to consider an alternate future of true equality. Listen to Charles talk with Danielle and Maiysha about how a return to the south by Black people could fuel real and lasting positive change.

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. Listen to hear Drs. Blain and Kendi discuss how this historical project came together, why they chose to put this book together in its unique format, and what they hope readers take away from the book.

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 discuss what it was like to collaborate with other writers and creatives on Black is King, the incredible research that went into The Motherload, and why criticism is in actuality an honor.

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 inspiration behind The Vanishing Half, what she hopes readers understand about her message around colorism and her newest venture into writing for TV.

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 society's basic opinions, and why now is a better time than any to go after what you've been dreaming of pursuing.

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 Danielle and Maiysha about how her latest book came to be, what it really means to be anti-racist, and the importance of Black self-love.

Kenrya is the author of five books, including How We Fight White Supremacy: A Field Guide to Black Resistance, and her journalistic work has appeared in outlets like Fast Company, Ebony, and Glamour. She also co-hosts The Turn on Podcast with sex educator Erica Easter.

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 Year, and won a PEN/Hemingway award. Listen to hear Yaa talk with Danielle and Maiysha about her latest book, Transcendent Kingdom, and the incredible journey she undertook during the process of researching and writing it.

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 their first young adult novel, Dear Haiti, Love Alaine, and the research that went into their latest book, One of the Good Ones.

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 most giftable books, the classics they recommend and the books they predict will be future classics.

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 Poems, and has a brand new volume out called Make Me Rain: Poems & Prose. Listen to hear the iconic writer talk about her perspective on where we are currently as a country, the advice she gives to young writers, and why food plays such an integral role in her work.

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 series, is now sharing his revered approach to writing with a brand new MasterClass. And, fortunately, with us too! Listen to hear Walter talk about why being a writer doesn't require a particular background, the genius of science fiction, and why everyone should take a stab at writing a novel.

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 Danielle and Maiysha about how she met Mariah, the careful and collaborative process of writing the book, and the significance of the singer being able to tell her own story.

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 hear curator and activist Kimberly Drew and New York Times journalist and podcast host Jenna Wortham talk about how Black Futures came to be, what they hope people take away from the collection, and the immense value of amplifying Black voices.

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 Down, Look Both Ways, and As Brave As You, and he is also the 2020–2021 National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature. Jason's latest book is an adaptation of Ibram X. Kendi's Stamped From the Beginning called Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You. Listen to hear Jason speak with Danielle and Maiysha about why he loves writing for middle-grade audiences, the arduous process of adapting an award-winning piece of literature, and the unique magnificence of Black children.

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 Congressman Cummings' memoir, We're Better Than This: My Fight for the Future of Our Democracy, after his passing last year. Listen to hear Maya talk with Maiysha and Danielle about her husband's powerful message, what Kamala Harris's win means for Black women, and what the path forward should look like for our new leaders.

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 Marley Dias Gets It Done: And So Can You! Listen to hear Danielle and Maiysha's conversation with Marley about the changes she's seen since starting #1000 Black Girl Books, who inspires her, and her new Netflix series Bookmarks: Celebrating Black Voices.

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 and Maiysha about how they came to recognize their purpose, the importance of destroying the idea of the monolithic Black identity, and navigating the transition from writing for print to writing for TV.

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 yourself as a Black woman, what the left continues to get wrong in the Black Lives Matter movement, and the backstory of her forthcoming book, Mediocre: The Dangerous Legacy of White Male America.

This week we're speaking with award-winning poet, author and playwright Claudia Rankine. Claudia's latest book, Just Us: An American Conversation is a stunning collection of poems, essays and images that address the meaning of whiteness and all of its impacts. Listen to hear Claudia talk with Danielle and Maiysha about white male privilege, entitlement and the importance of digging into uncomfortable conversations.

This week we're joined by author Morgan Jerkins—Senior Editor at ZORA, and author of the New York Times bestseller This Will Be My Undoing: Living at the Intersection of Black, Female, and Feminist in (White) America. Listen to hear Morgan talk with Danielle and Maiysha about her latest book, Wandering in Strange Lands, which chronicles her journey to uncover her roots by following the footsteps of The Great Migration. It's an eye-opening journey through a history that remains largely untold.

This week on It's Lit we're joined by author, academic, “crunk feminist” and 2017 Root 100 honoree Brittney Cooper, author of the New York Times bestseller Eloquent Rage: A Black Feminist Discovers Her Superpower. Listen to hear Brittney talk about Black women's political power, the importance of emphasizing Black feminism, and why she will always ride for Beyoncé in spite of her critics.

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Pulitzer-prize winning journalist Nikole Hannah-Jones joins us for our very first episode of The Root Presents: It's Lit! Tune in to hear her talk about the development and progression of the 1619 project, the immense debt that is owed to Black Americans, and the importance of reframing history and our electoral process in a more honest way.

The Root is bringing you something lit this September.