Posted in Black Joy, Celebration, On the Desk...

Black Music Month 2025: NPR-Tiny Desk Features

We have entered another Black Music Month celebration and there is so much music to dive into! A little background on the yearly celebration! Also known as African American Music Appreciation Month, it is an annual celebration in the United States that takes place every June. Designated by President Jimmy Carter in 1979 , BMM is a time to recognize and appreciate the contributions of African American musicians, composers, singers, and songwriters to American culture. 

The month serves as a celebration of the enduring impact and legacy of Black musicians and their creativity on American music, culture, and history. 

And just like last year, I look forward to sharing NPR’s Tiny Desk Concert features for the month. This year’s Black Music Month-Tiny Desk Concerts “honors the anniversaries of landmark albums that have shaped the course of music and culture.”

So let’s see what we have in store this week…

E-40

Amerie

Wiz Khalifa

Posted in Monthly Book Recommendations, On the Desk..., On The Radar

Dr. G’s Monthly Book Recommendations-May 2024

TGIF!! I know you thought, did Dr. G forget about us? Not at all, closing out the month with a few literary gems to get you prepared for the summer. And I can literally vouch for each of the books…you say how? Well, they are all a part of my personal library!! Matter of fact a few of them are even on my summer reading list. So grab your wallets and add some books to your carts!! And as always, Don’t forget to support your local bookstores!!

Check out May’s Monthly Book Recommendations below:

  • A Thousand Words on Race and Hope: Light For the World To See ~Kwame Alexander
  • Nigeria Jones ~ Ibi Zoboi
  • Mr. Jimmy from Around the Way ~Jeffrey Blount
  • Blackness is Burning: Civil Rights, Popular Culture, and the Problem of Recognition ~TreaAndrea M. Russworm
  • Feenin: R&B Music and the Materiality of BlackFem Voices and Technology ~Alexander G. Weheliye
  • Souls of Black Folk: A Graphic Interpretation ~W.E.B. DuBois & Paul Peart-Smith
  • Life, I Swear: Intimate Stories from Black Women on Identity, Healing, and Self-Trust ~Chloe Dulce Louvouezo
  • Textures: The History and Art of Black Hair ~The KSU Museum & HIRMER

As an Extra Bonus…If need something to do for the summer and want to support your favorite author, check out these upcoming Book Festivals:

And as always, remember you can always go back and check out previous lists in the “Resource” section of the website!