Kazi 88.7 Fm Book Review

In September of 2019 Diverse Voice Book Review host Hopeton Hay interviewed Attica Locke, author of HEAVEN, MY HOME. Republishing this interview is part of DVBR's Celebration of Black Authors for Black History Month.  Attica was the first African American writer to win the Edgar Award for Best Novel from the Mystery Writers of America with her 2017 novel, BLUEBIRD, BLUEBIRD.With HEAVEN MY HOME, Locke continues her exploration of race and racism in America through the prism of her crime novels. She displays it through her protagonist’s reception by the local towns people in Jefferson, Texas. She also explores it through the debate his uncles that raised him engaged in on, and I quote, whether forgiveness made black folks saints or stooges. She also includes as an integral part of her story a historic black community in the area, Hopetown, that was founded by blacks after the civil war and is home also to Caddo Indians. Attica Locke is the award winning author of five novels and a screenwriter. Her novel, Blueb

Diverse Voices Book Review host interviewed Tanya Golash-Boza, author of BEFORE GENTRIFICATION: The Creation of DC's Racial Wealth Gap.  "This book shows how a century of redlining, disinvestment, and the War on Drugs wreaked devastation on Black people and paved the way for gentrification in Washington, DC. In Before Gentrification, Tanya Maria Golash-Boza tracks the cycles of state abandonment and punishment that have shaped the city, revealing how policies and policing work to displace and decimate the Black middle class."  Learn more about the book at Before Gentrification by Tanya Maria Golash-Boza - Paperback - University of California Press (ucpress.edu). Tanya Maria Golash-Boza is the Executive Director of the University of California Washington Center and a Professor of Sociology at the University of California, Merced. She is the author of five books that engage with issues such as racism, immigration policy, human rights, and race in Latin America.  Diverse Voices Book Review Social Media:Facebook

Diverse Voices Book Review host Hopeton Hay interviewed Cadwell Turnbull, author of the speculative novel WE ARE THE CRISIS.  WE ARE THE CRISIS is the second novel in a planned trilogy focusing on a world where monsters live secretly among humans. The second book explores the aftermath of monsters being revealed to society and centers around on movements for civil rights and community organizing, all while posing philosophical inquiries about creation, existence, and power dynamics in a society adjusting to its new reality with monsters.Learn more about the book and author at Cadwell Turnbull's web site.   

Diverse Voices Book Review host Hopeton Hay interviewed John Harris, author of TOMLIN: The Soul of a Football Coach.  In just his second season as the coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2009, Mike Tomlin became the second African American coach to win the Super Bowl.  With interviews from former players, coaches, and executives, Harris lets readers in on what it’s like to play for Tomlin, why he is (or is not) beloved in Pittsburgh, and how his continued success has helped change the landscape of what NFL franchises look for in hiring a head coach. Learn more about the book at Tomlin (skyhorsepublishing.com).John Harris is a veteran journalist who has covered sports, culture, race, and the executive search industry for the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, Philadelphia Inquirer, Tampa Bay Times, ESPN's Andscape, CBS Sportsline, and others. Formerly the co-host of The Ike Taylor Show and radio analyst of the Pittsburgh Power (Arena Football League), Harris is also the co-author of FROM GOLD TEETH TO GOLD JACKET (wit

In 2010, the same year that Pete Caroll was hired as head coach of the Seattle Seahawks, he published the book WIN FOREVER: Live, Work, and Play Like a Champion. I interviewed Carrolll for KAZI Book Review by phone in August of 2010 while he was in an airport waiting for his flight, thus the audio has some quality challenges. Nevertheless, in light of his hall of fame career as a college and NFL coach, and his recent firing a head coach of the Seahawks, I wanted to share this interview on his personal and coaching philosophy for success.

Diverse Voices Book Review host Hopeton Hay interviewed Steve Phillips, author of HOW WE WIN THE CIVIL WAR: Securing a Multiracial Democracy and Ending White Supremacy for Good.  The conversation between Hopeton Hay and the author revolves around the themes of civil rights, the ongoing struggle for racial equality, and the political tactics that have been used historically to suppress the rights of marginalized communities, particularly African Americans. Learn more about the book on his web site at https://www.stevephillips.com/.  

Diverse Voices Book Review host Hopeton Hay interviewed Elizabeth Crook, author of the novel THE MADSTONE.  Set during Reconstruction in Texas in 1868, THE MADSTONE is an adventure story of a young frontiersman who helps a pregnant young mother and her child flee across Texas from outlaws bent on revenge. The outlaws are based on the historically true Swamp Fox gang which terrorized and killed blacks, and agents of the Freedmen’s Bureau, a federal agency which provided relief and helped formerly enslaved people become self-sufficient.  In the interview we discussed Crook's commitment to tell the whole truth about Texas history in her storytelling. She cites storytelling as her motivation, as it is both educational and compelling.  Elizabeth Crook, who is the author of six novels, received the prestigious Texas Writer Award from the Texas Book Festival in 2023.Sign-up for the Diverse Voices Book Review email notification of interviews available to listen to at https://forms.office.com/r/NtvGUfwUgb  

Diverse Voices Book Review contributor Amanda Moore interviewed Dr. Gregg Hecimovich, a Hutchins Family Fellow at Harvard University and professor of English at Furman University in Greenville, South Carolina. His new book, THE LIFE AND TIMES OF HANNAH CRAFT: The True Story of the Bondwoman's Narrative, explores how Hannah Crafts escaped enslavement, and became a gifted writer who wrote about the inconceivable reality of her life and others who were victims of an oppressive society in the American South years before the Civil War.  Considered to be the first Black woman to compose a novel, Hannah Crafts wrote a story that depicted the lives of enslaved people and the many struggles they encountered in their everyday lives. You can learn more about Dr. Hecimovich at http://www.furman.edu and follow him on X (formerly known as Twitter) at @gregghecimovich.

Diverse Voices Book Review host Hopeton Hay interviewed Ytasha Womack, author of BLACK PANTHER: A Cultural Exploration.  In the interview, Womack discussed the impact of the Black Panther comics, and its significance within the context of Afrofuturism.  She also related the history of the Black Panther in Marvel comics, and how different writers have handled the character over the years, each bringing their own perspectives and cultural references to the stories.  Ytasha L. Womack is a critically acclaimed author, filmmaker, dancer, independent scholar, and champion of humanity and the imagination. Her book Afrofuturism: The World of Black Sci Fi & Fantasy Culture (2013) is the leading primer on the exciting subject which bridges science fiction, futurisms, and culture. 

Diverse Voices Book Review host Hopeton Hay interviewed historian Dylan C. Penningroth, author of BEFORE THE MOVEMENT: The Hidden History of Civil Rights. In the interview, the discussion revolves around the presentation of black civil rights history and the importance of grassroots movements and everyday people's contributions. The conversation also delves into the start-up of Black associations and organizations, and the success of their organizations proving, contrary to the belief of white Americans, that Blacks have the capacity for self-governance, and were worthy of the vote and American democracy. Penningroth’s research for the book focused on county records across the south exploring the legal lives of Blacks. Dylan C. Penningroth is a professor of law and history at the University of California, Berkeley. Learn more about the book at https://bit.ly/3SI29T4.  Sign-up for the Diverse Voices Book Review newsletter.

Diverse Voices Book Review host Hopeton Hay interviewed Femi Kayode, author of the novel GASLIGHT. The novel explores the story of the disappearance of the wife of the bishop of a mega church in Nigeria and the subsequent arrest of her husband on suspicion of murder. The novel delves into the church politics, corruption, and social and economic circumstances surrounding the rise of Pentecostal churches in Nigeria. In the interview Kayode said he aimed to create a character-driven story that sheds light on the complexities of the church. He added that the novel explores themes of spirituality, religion, economics, and politics, while providing insight into Nigerian culture and history. Learn more about the book at https://bit.ly/40KlmFs. Sign-up for the Diverse Voices Book Review email notification of interviews available to listen to at https://forms.office.com/r/NtvGUfwUgb   About the AuthorFemi Kayode trained as a clinical psychologist in Nigeria, before starting a career in advertising. He has created and

Diverse Voices Book Review host Hopeton Hay interviewed Langston Collin Wilkins, author of WELCOME 2 HOUSTON: Hip Hop Heritage in Hustle Town.  A native of Houston, Wilkins returns to the city where he grew up to illuminate the complex relationship between place, identity, and music in Houston’s hip hop culture. Langston Collin Wilkins is an Assistant Professor of Folklore and African American Studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. His research interests include African American folklife, African American music, urban folklore, car culture and public folklore.

Diverse Voices Book Review contributor Amanda Moore interviewed Yasmin Angoe, the author of the best-selling and award-winning Nena Knight thriller series.  Angoe published the final book in the trilogy, IT ENDS WITH KNIGHT, September 5, 2023. Angoe continues with the captivating tale of Nena Knight, a female assassin who has stepped into a new role as a leader within her organization.  Facing new obstacles in the present while confronting challenges from her past, Nena embarks upon a journey where her enemies may never be completely forgotten, but where she will definitely never be the same.  You can read more about her book at https://yasminangoe.com/Diverse Voices Book Review Social Media:Facebook - @diversevoicesbookreviewInstagram - @diverse_voices_book_reviewTwitter - @diversebookshayEmail: hbh@diversevoicesbookreview.com

Diverse Voices Book Review host Hopeton Hay interviewed Ernest McMillan, author of the memoir STANDING: One Man's Odyssey During the Turbulent '60s.  “This memoir of one man's coming-of-age through the Civil Rights movement follows his childhood innocence of white supremacy during the 50’s to his awakening as a full-time organizer in the deep south, and the petrifying costs he was bound to pay.”Diverse Voices Book Review Social Media:Facebook - @diversevoicesbookreviewInstagram - @diverse_voices_book_reviewTwitter - @diversebookshayEmail: hbh@diversevoicesbookreview.com

Diverse Voices Book Review contributor Amanda more interviewed Stephen Bright and James Kwak, authors of THE FEAR OF TOO MUCH JUSTICE: Race, Poverty, and the Persistence of Inequality in the Criminal Courts.Yale professor Stephen B. Bright and legal scholar James Kwak write a compelling narrative about the continuing injustices in America’s legal system.  The authors describe how the failure of our society to confront systemic issues such as racial bias, bigotry and unchecked prosecutorial power has led to substantial consequences where defendants are subjected to excessive punishment and innocent people plead guilty to crimes they did not commit. You can read more about their book on their website at http://www.thefearoftoomuchjustice.Diverse Voices Book Review Social Media:Facebook - @diversevoicesbookreviewInstagram - @diverse_voices_book_reviewTwitter - @diversebookshayEmail: hbh@diversevoicesbookreview.com

Teen's Choice Book Show (TCBS) host Maya Hay interviewed Jennifer Baker, author of Forgive Me Not. In this episode, the topics of forgiveness, the criminal justice system, diversity in YA books, and the process of writing are explored!Insta: @teenschoicebookshowEmail: teenschoicebookshow@gmail.com

Diverse Voices Book Review host Hopeton Hay interviewed Denise Mina, author of the Philip Marlowe novel THE SECOND MURDERER. "In THE SECOND MURDERER, Denise Mina becomes the first woman to recreate Raymond Chandler’s infamous detective, delivering a clever and timely new take on Philip Marlowe, as well as a propulsive, dark, and witty mystery all its own."Diverse Voices Book Review Social Media:Facebook - @diversevoicesbookreviewInstagram - @diverse_voices_book_reviewTwitter - @diversebookshayEmail: hbh@diversevoicesbookreview.com

Diverse Voices Book Review host Hopeton Hay interviewed Nancy Bilyeau, author of THE ORCHID HOUR. Set in 1923 in New York City, THE ORCHID HOUR is a historical mystery novel that brings to life the age of alcohol prohibition, the rise of violence, gangs, and police corruption through the eyes of its 23 years-old female protagonist Zia, an Italian immigrant and widower whose father-in-law is murdered. The novel is populated with historical figures including Salvatore Luciana, better known as Lucky Luciano, J. Edgar Hoover, and others.Diverse Voices Book Review Social Media:Facebook - @diversevoicesbookreviewInstagram - @diverse_voices_book_reviewTwitter - @diversebookshayEmail: hbh@diversevoicesbookreview.com

Diverse Voices Book Review contributor Amanda Moore interviewed Walter Greason and Damian Darrell Jerry, editors of ILLMATIC CONSEQUENCES: The Clapback to Opponents of Critical Race Theory.  A collection of essays, “ILLMATIC CONSEQUENCES combines social science and hip-hop studies to address disinformation and propaganda that distorted political discourse after the 2020 election.”

Diverse Voices Book Review host Hopeton Hay interviewed poet Amanda Johnston, author of the poetry collection ANOTHER WAY TO SAY ENTER. She is a writer, artist, and the 2024 Texas Poet Laureate. Born in East St. Louis, IL, and raised in Austin, TX, she began writing poetry while living in Kentucky. Her writing is published widely, and she has presented at numerous literary conferences and events. Johnston is also founder of Torch Literary Arts, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization established to publish and promote creative writing by Black women.Diverse Voices Book Review Social Media:Facebook - @diversevoicesbookreviewInstagram - @diverse_voices_book_reviewTwitter - @diversebookshayEmail: hbh@diversevoicesbookreview.comWeb site: https://diversevoicesbookreview.wordpress.com/