Sponsored by Zócalo Public Square.
In the early 20th century, Hattiesburg, Mississippi, was a city of opportunity for African Americans—as well as a place of systemic segregation and violent racism. How did Hattiesburg’s African American residents forge deep bonds amidst institutional oppression—helping to spark the Civil Rights movement? And why did many of those bonds fail to survive after segregation was outlawed? William Sturkey, winner of the 10th annual Zócalo Public Square Book Prize for Hattiesburg: An American City in Black and White, visits Zócalo to discuss Hattiesburg with historian David W. Blight, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Frederick Douglass: Prophet of Freedom. Join us online TONIGHT at 5 PM PDT/8 PM EDT. Register to receive the streaming link!
Happy New Release Day! Which was technically yesterday, but we’re talking about them today, as we do every Wednesday! I’m extremely excited about the number of woman-written nonfiction titles coming out this week, so let’s look at some:
Troop 6000: The Girl Scout Troop That Began in a Shelter and Inspired the World by Nikita Stewart. I love a troop story! Troop Beverly Hills, Troop Zero, and now we’ve got Troop 6000. This is the story of the “Girl Scout program specially designed to serve girls in the New York City Shelter System.” A Girl Scout mother and her five children had their rental home sold out from under them and ended up in a shelter. She volunteered to start a chapter and Troop 6000 has now served over 700 members. People and the things they do are sometimes amazing.
No, You Shut Up: Speaking Truth to Power and Reclaiming America by Symone D. Sanders. If you’re looking to find your voice, here y’go. Sanders says that “change doesn’t just happen at the ballot box. We need people fighting oppression, injustice, and inequality—in the workplace, on the cultural battlefield, in government, in every corner of the world.” Here she shares her personal stories and the stories of other changemakers to help inspire you to take action and speak up.
Brown Album: Essays on Exile and Identity by Porochista Khakpour. If you’ve been waiting for Khakpour’s latest after 2018’s Sick: A Memoir, here you GO. Here she writes about her family’s immigration to the United States in the wake of the Iranian Revolution, trying to negotiate “Tehrangeles” while also trying to assimilate into her new country, and post-9/11 and post-2016 life for an Iranian-American.
Weird But Normal: Essays by Mia Mercado. Racial identity! Gender roles! Workplace dynamics! Beauty standards! Don’t you love books that tell you that thing you thought only you dealt with / were embarrassed by is in fact common to many people? Add in essay titles like “Depression Isn’t a Competition but, Like, Why Aren’t I Winning?” and “Bath & Body Works Is the Suburban Nonsense I Crave” and you’ve got a new release I am very excited about.
America’s First Female Serial Killer: Jane Toppan and the Making of a Monster by Mary Kay McBrayer. We haven’t done a true crime new release in a while! And the author writes for Book Riot! What unexpected synergy. Ok, so in 1902, Jane Toppan, aka Jolly Jane, confessed to 31 murders, most if not all of which were in Massachusetts. This biography of her is for people “who are fascinated by how serial killers are made.” And by a woman writing about women instead of Harold Schechter for once.
As always! You can find me on Twitter @itsalicetime and co-hosting the For Real podcast with Kim here at Book Riot. Until next time, enjoy those facts, fellow nerds.