In the last moments of his life, George Floyd called out for his mother. Dion Graham narrates this passage with such knowing naturalism and compassion that it will just about break listeners’ hearts. With his ease with American regional accents and idioms, Graham follows Floyd’s life from North Carolina to coming of age in the tough Third Ward of Houston, Texas. Sensitive and bighearted, Floyd had early run-ins with police, served time in prison, and was addicted to painkillers. He moved to Minnesota, hoping for a new start. On May 25, 2020, Floyd was murdered by a white Minneapolis policeman. In their introduction the authors ably frame the political and historical significance of Floyd’s death, but it’s Graham’s narration that brings Floyd’s shortened life alive.
Pub Date: May 17, 2022
Duration: 13 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9780593590423
Publisher: Penguin Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
A thoroughly researched and organized history of Black music, delivered with confidence and authority.
Narrator Shamaan Casey is an essential guide to this detailed history of musical theory, form, and creativity. Author Gibbs is a musician and a founding member of the Black Rock Coalition, which supports the creative work of Black musicians. His audiobook reflects a deep understanding of music theory, particularly how Western expectations of structure and style have fundamentally misunderstood Black music. The chapters dig deep into granular details, and listeners are often directed to accompanying attachments. Not including some performed examples seems like a missed opportunity in the audio format. Yet Casey is skilled at delivering all the essential details of this layered, important text.
A thoroughly researched and organized history of Black music, delivered with confidence and authority.Pub Date: April 14, 2026
Duration: 10 hrs, 45 mins
DD ISBN: 9781668657997
Publisher: Hachette Audio
Review Posted Online: today
A gripping account.
Starting with the NYC subway shooting of four unarmed Black teenagers by Bernie Goetz in 1984, the author shows how the court system’s failure to serve justice to the white perpetrator is one of many examples of racial injustice caused by white anger about rapid societal changes. Thompson discusses how, with the failed trickle-down economic policies of the Reagan years, simmering rage about these and other stressors for white people were brought to a boil by sensationalized media coverage and divisive, opportunistic politicians. Though narrator Erin Bennett’s pacing will sound unusually slow to some listeners, her connection with this story of crime and justice and its broader context is exceptional. Her tone and her interpretive skill promote effortless engagement with the author’s nuanced examination of how economic and societal stress have led to so much untethered anger.
A gripping account.Pub Date: Feb. 10, 2026
Duration: 14 hrs
DD ISBN: 9798217295678
Publisher: Random House Audio
Review Posted Online: March 17, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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