This is not a passive listen--narrator Jermaine Fowler commands the attention of his audience. His audiobook is a detailed consideration of Black history with a focus on how the American public has learned a deliberately curated story in order to promote a sanitized version. Listeners who only recently learned of the Tulsa Massacre and are wondering what else they haven't been accurately taught will find Fowler's audiobook to be an excellent source of information. He provides an unflinching account of multiple atrocities against Black people. Yet his premise shines through: The intellectually rigorous audiobook is ultimately about humanity and how an accurate understanding of history can move us forward.
Pub Date: Jan. 22, 2023
Duration: 14 hrs, 45 mins
Publisher: OrangeSky Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Soft-voiced narrator Danielle Lee James becomes the author as she recounts her research into the life, accomplishments, and trials of Mary MacLeod Bethune, who was often called the "First Lady of the Struggle" or "First Lady of Black America." Author Noliwe Rooks's brief academic work focuses on Bethune's political philosophy as it is intertwined with the life and legacy of this consequential twentieth- century woman who dared to fight the system for Black women and girls. Using subtle pauses and changes in pacing, James skillfully moves listeners' attention between discussions of Bethune's life and the author's reflections on Bethune's accomplishments, including her crucial work with First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt, Presidents Truman and FDR, and other national leaders.
Pub Date: July 23, 2024
Duration: 3 hrs, 45 mins
DD ISBN: 9780593864715
Publisher: Penguin Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Narrator Janina Edwards gives an exceptional presentation of this biographical examination of Harriet Tubman. This audiobook compares the work of Tubman and other known civil rights activists in the pre-Civil War period. Edwards effectively delivers the vignettes of Tubman's life, complete with Southern accents and the local vernacular of the era. Tubman endured more physical abuse and mental hardships in her lifetime than any other activist. Most did not physically help hundreds of slaves gain their freedom. Edwards creates a realistic portrait of the woman, her life and loves, and what drove her into action. There is new information embedded in this portrait that will amaze most listeners. Edwards's clear admiration for this hero resonates in her voice and performance.
Pub Date: June 18, 2024
Duration: 6 hrs
DD ISBN: 9780593864395
Publisher: Penguin Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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