The Jubilee Reader Issue 16 - July/August 2025

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The Jubilee Reader

Recent books by African American authors and writers from the African diaspora, along with works on related topics.

Issue 18 • July/August 2025

Fiction Behind the Waterline

A teenager and his grandmother struggling to survive in their Katrina-flooded Third Ward home in New Orleans discover a mysterious room behind his closet that reveals hidden secrets about their community.

The Dark Maestro

A cello prodigy forced into witness protection after his drug-dealer father turns informant must use his wits and musical gifts to fight for survival.

The Devil Three Times

The descendants of a young African woman who made a deal with the devil while aboard a slave ship find themselves visited by the devil in their times of greatest need.

The Fantasies of Future Things

Two Atlanta men working for a real estate company displacing Black residents in preparation for the 1996 Olympics must reconcile their human dignity with their professional ambitions.

Flight of the Sparrow by

An ambitious cadet at the prestigious STARS military academy devises a daring plan to rescue her grandmother, a notorious space pirate who has been wrongfully sentenced to death for an act of terrorism she did not commit.

Flirting Lessons

When a shy, single woman enlists Napa Valley’s biggest heartbreaker for flirting lessons, their arrangement ignites undeniable chemistry, forcing both women to confront their feelings and risk everything for a chance at something real.

Gold Coast Dilemma

A Ghanaian-American book editor assigned to develop an imprint devoted to African American literature finds romance with her coworker, who just so happens to be her boss’s nephew. (And the guy who ghosted her two years earlier.)

Harriet

Tubman:

Happy Land

A young woman visiting her estranged grandmother in North Carolina uncovers a hidden legacy tied to a forgotten kingdom of freed people.

Live in Concert

by Bob, the Drag Queen

In a time when the greatest heroes from history have been magically returned to Earth, Harriet Tubman returns to create an inspirational hip-hop album with a fallen producer.

Jack

Girlz: Atlanta

Three devoted sisters enter the world of corporate scamming with plans for taking down the people who ruined their lives, but find themselves seduced by sudden wealth and all it entails.

Listen to Your Sister by Neena Viel

After being linked to a series of violent assaults, three siblings are forced to take refuge in a secluded mountain cabin, where they find their lives threatened by otherworldly forces.

Ms. V’s Hot Girl Summer

A hard-working single mother of twin sons is tricked into a Caribbean vacation, where she finds herself drawn to a much younger man.

No Ordinary Love

A pop star fighting to be free of her philandering husband and producer is drawn to a Dodgers pitcher, despite knowing that her prenuptial agreement might be her downfall.

O Sinners!

A journalist investigating a cult led by a Vietnam vet is forced to come to terms with old memories while trying to resist the cult leader’s spell.

One In a Million

A Grammy-winning, Oscar-nominated megastar involved in a fertility clinic mix-up finds romance with the unintended father of her accidental daughter.

Red Clay

One Way Witch

A woman whose daughter sacrificed herself to save their world seeks out a sorcerer who can help her develop her own magic.

Universality

A Season of Light by

A man haunted by his sister’s disappearance during the Nigerian Civil War locks his teenage daughter in her room to protect her from the same fate, unleashing chaos within his family that leads to rebellion and a desperate escape plan.

A multigenerational saga chronicling the interwoven lives of an enslaved Black family and their white owners as the Civil War ends and Reconstruction begins.

The Sable Cloak

After a violent attack at an illegal rave, a determined journalist unravels a web of intrigue involving a corrupt landlord, a controversial columnist, and a group of anarchists.

Spilling the Tea by

A wounded veteran of the war in Iraq and the survivor of an automobile accident that claimed the lives of her parents find themselves drawn together by scandal, secrets, and an intense mixture of dislike and physical attraction.

In 1940s St. Louis, a powerful Black couple who built their family’s legacy through politics and a prestigious funeral business face a devastating tragedy that threatens their empire.

A Wager at Midnight

A young woman who disguises herself as a man to pursue medical research finds herself drawn to the doctor who saves her from scandal when her true identity is unmasked.

We Rip the World Apart

A 24-year-old pregnant with a child she isn’t sure she wants, her white mother, and her Black grandmother contend with grief, trauma, and the complexities of race.

When the Harvest Comes

On the eve of his wedding, a young gay man must confront buried trauma when he learns of his estranged father’s death.

You Could Do Damage

A marriage of convenience between a man seeking to reclaim his seat as heir of a criminal enterprise and a woman on the brink of homelessness becomes a battleground in which hearts and willpower clash.

Zeal

A love letter from an enslaved woman to her beloved — a Union soldier freed after the end of the Civil War — connects the stories of a modern-day couple in Harlem and their ancestors in the post-Civil War South.

Non-Fiction

Art

A Short History of Black Craft in Ten Objects

Ten illustrated essays tell the stories of handcrafted objects and their makers, providing inspiration and insight into Black history and craftsmanship.

Biography & Autobiography

The Afterlife of Malcolm X by

An exploration of the iconic leader’s posthumous influence on Black Power, hip-hop, literature, sports, and politics.

Marsha: The Joy and Defiance of Marsha P. Johnson by

The first definitive biography of revolutionary LGBTQ+ activist Johnson, who legendarily threw the first brick in the 1969 Stonewall Uprising.

Together We Roared: Alongside Tiger for His Epic Twelve-Year, Thirteen-Majors Run by Steve Williams

Golf caddie Steve Williams provides an account of his 12-year partnership with Tiger Woods, sharing previously untold stories about their successes and friendship.

Business & Finance

The Financial Abundance Blueprint: A Black Woman’s Guide to Achieve Financial Literacy, Build a Successful Career, and Break Boundaries by Amanda

The founder of the online community Living in the Abundance presents strategies for attaining financial independence, growing one’s wealth, and climbing the corporate ladder.

Lead Like You Mean It: Lessons on Integrity and Purpose from the C-Suite by

One of America’s top Black female C-suite executives draws on her experiences in the workplace to present a new approach to blending life and career.

Cooking Chop Chop: Cooking the Food of Nigeria

An exploration and celebration of the ingredients, flavors, and textures of Nigerian cuisine, featuring 100 recipes and photography of the food and its people.

Ghana to the World: Recipes and Stories that Look Forward While Honoring the Past

Top Chef finalist Eric Adjepong presents a collection of 100 West African-inspired recipes that blend traditional and modern flavors.

Gursha: Timeless Recipes for Modern Kitchens, from Ethiopia, Israel, Harlem, and Beyond

Chef and restaurateur Barhany celebrates Ethiopian Jewish cuisine with personal stories, cultural essays, and more than 100 recipes from the intersection of the African and Jewish diasporas.

Kwéyòl/Creole: Recipes, Stories, and Tings From a St. Lucian Chef’s Journey

James Beard Award-winning chef Compton presents 100 recipes that incorporate her St. Lucian roots, AfroCaribbean influences, and Creole traditions.

Education

Reading for Our Lives: The Urgency of Early Literacy and the Action Plan to Help Your Child by

Literacy advocate Smart uses personal stories, historical accounts, and scholarly research to provide parents with practical tips for nurturing language and literacy development in children. Essays

In My Remaining Years

A collection of darkly humorous essays that explore the complexities of midlife, aging gracefully, gender fluidity in middle age, and other topics.

Gardening

Black Girls Gardening: Empowering Stories and Garden Wisdom for Healing and Flourishing in Nature by Amber Grossman

A collection of stories and photography celebrating Black women in the garden, based on the BlackGirlsGardening Instagram account.

History

A

History of the World in Six Plagues: How Contagion, Class, and Captivity

Shaped Us, from Cholera to COVID-19

In this exploration of six historical epidemics, science historian Bonhomme argues that pandemics have deepened racial, economic, and social inequities.

Making

Sense of Slavery: America’s Long Reckoning, from the Founding Era to Today by Scott

A historical exploration of how generations of Americans have wrestled with the paradox of slavery in a country founded on principles of liberty and equality.

A More Perfect Party: The Night

Shirley Chisholm and Diahann Carroll Reshaped Politics

A recounting of Diahann Carroll’s legendary 1972 party for Shirley Chisholm’s presidential campaign, which featured guests such as Huey P. Newton, Berry Gordy, Flip Wilson, and Goldie Hawn.

Tulsa Race Massacre: The Department of Justice Review and Evaluation by United States Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division

The United States Department of Justice’s report on the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre, when white Tulsans coordinated to murder hundreds of Black residents of Tulsa’s Greenwood district.

Language Arts

Pronoun Trouble: The Story of Us in Seven Little Words by John

Columbia University linguistics professor McWhorter discusses the history of pronouns and explains how the modern controversies surrounding them are nonsensical.

Memoir

I Lived to Tell the Story: A Memoir of Love, Legacy, and Resilience

by

2017 Women’s March organizer Mallory reflects on the moments that shaped her personal life and her public life in activism.

Matriarch:

A Memoir by Tina KnowlesLawson

The mother of Beyoncé Knowles-Carter and Solange Knowles recounts a storied life that helped shape the personal and professional destinies of her daughters.

Of My Own Making: A Memoir

Fashion business leader Burke reflects on her povertystricken upbringing in 1980s Detroit, early battles with addiction, and her subsequent pursuit of education that allowed her to transform her life.

This Changes Everything

In this love letter to life and the importance of human relationships, Merritt recounts how his life was changed when he was diagnosed with cancer.

Black Woman Grief: A Guide to Hope and Wholeness by Natasha Smith

Grief advocate and podcast host Smith discusses grief as it is experienced by Black women in the United States.

Self-Help

Glory in Your Story: Activating a Fearless Faith to Change Your Life, Your Career, and the World

Mielle Organics founder Rodriguez discusses the importance of religious faith, the value of embracing risk, and the need to build resilience against hardships and criticism.

This Is Your Mother:

A Memoir

A daughter reflects on her relationship with her resilient and dominant mother, whose faith and struggles with poverty and illness kept her family above water during exceedingly hard times.

Religion and Spirituality

The Anti-Greed Gospel: Why the Love of Money is the Root of Racism and How the Church Can Create a New Way Forward

A Black Christian historian discusses how the church can break the destructive cycle of economic exploitation.

The Inner Fitness Revolution: A Roadmap to Your Freedom and Joy by Tina Lifford

Actress and empowerment counselor Tina Lifford shares 14 practices to help readers connect with their authentic selves, overcome emotional struggles, and develop resilience.

Social Science

Bad Law: Ten

Popular Laws That Are Ruining America

Legal analyst Mystal argues for the repeal of ten harmful laws shaping modern America, examining issues such as abortion, immigration, and gun control.

Black

Power Scorecard: Measuring the Racial Gap and What We Can Do to Close It

A senior fellow at the Brookings Institution uses extensive research to quantify how much power Black Americans actually have, and identifies areas of investment that could close the racial gap and benefit everyone.

Integrated: How American Schools Failed Black Children

The chair of Africana Studies at Brown University uses sociological data and the stories of four generations of her family to challenge the idea that integration benefited Black communities.

The

Science of Racism: Everything You Need to Know But Probably Don’t — Yet

A social psychologist uses empirical evidence to examine the pervasiveness of racism and proposes scientifically grounded solutions for building a more equitable future.

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