19 Comments
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Regina Black's avatar

Fantastic list! I’m reading Lone Women right now which is also a great comp

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Shanna Miles's avatar

I need to read his catalog

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Hellokittyluvr069 ≽^ ˕ • ྀི≼'s avatar

Yess! Amazing list!!! Blood at the root was good!!

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Quincy Quest's avatar

Agreed. 🎯. I honestly felt many aspects of the book Ring Shout when watching the film.

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Shanna Miles's avatar

It’s the same time period. I thought it was Ring Shout a year ago when the description came out.

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Quincy Quest's avatar

Yesss. Honestly, the part when they were dancing outside was also quite reminiscent of an actual Ring Shout ceremony. P. Djèlí Clark did his thing with this book! I also felt a smidge of Lovecraft Country vibes too

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Shanna Miles's avatar

Very much so

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Reda Rountree (she/her)'s avatar

I love that this list has everything from middle school reads to Octavia Butler to you! These are great descriptions, too, I’m also going to share this list with my kids!

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Shanna Miles's avatar

Yay! It’s hard to get the word out about really good reads, but sometimes you get to strike at the right cultural moment.

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Reda Rountree (she/her)'s avatar

This is definitely your moment. I shared it on Bluesky, too.

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Shanna Miles's avatar

Thank you!

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bobbie's avatar

I agree with the whole list!!

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Pete Forester's avatar

Thank you for including Ring Shout. I’ve seen too many lists omit it.

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Shanna Miles's avatar

It’s the MOST important recommendation!

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Pete Forester's avatar

I could not agree more. If Coogler didn’t read it in his creative process, I’d be shocked. They are in such close conversation. Fantasy (horror fantasy in this case, also: Lovecraft Country) and SciFi (see: Watchmen TV show, Octavia E Butler!) give such great distance and entry points to talk about these necessary conversations in regards to the American project, inviting audiences in that would otherwise shy away. We need so many more Black American voices in these spaces!!!

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Shanna Miles's avatar

You should try Bitter Root too. It’s about 1930’s monster hunters.

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Pete Forester's avatar

On it! Thank you!

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Taylor Cobb's avatar

Wow!! This is an amazing list!!

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C Nelson-Lifson's avatar

during one of the after credit scenes i was reminded of The Gilda Stories by Jewelle Gomez

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