Assata by Assata Shakur is a phenomenal memoir, in which Assata recounts her years as an active member of the Black Panther Party. In May of 1973 she was present at a shootout on the New Jersey Turnpike, in which a white state trooper lost his life. She was then incarcerated for four years prior to her conviction on flimsy evidence as an accomplice to murder. The book gives the reader a sense of what growing up black in the 60s and 70s was like, while also critiquing activism and revolutionary groups of the time. Two years after her conviction, Assata escaped from prison and currently resides in Cuba where she was granted political asylum.  Assata’s resilience throughout all that she endures is truly inspiring and makes this an autobiography worth reading.     

One of the greatest works of magical realism, One Hundred Years of Solitude is easily Gabriel Garcia Marquez’ s most renowned novel.  Taking place in the mythical town of Macondo, the reader experiences love and lust, the variety of life, riches and poverty, and the search for peace and truth.  Marquez’s storytelling is distinct and captivating, seamlessly weaving politics, spirituality, and culture together. There is no better book to fully immerse yourself in and become enraptured with.

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For Langston Hughes on His 123 Birthday

Speech given on February 1, 2024 in Havana, Cuba In 1927 Langston Hughes walked into a Cuba amid an emerging community of artists, intellectuals, and radicals.  He saw a “sunrise in a new land [– a day – in his words]sic – full of brownskin surprises, and hitherto unknown contacts in a world of color.”  … Continued

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Palestine Week 2024

January 18, 2024 – January 25, 2024 In keeping with our ongoing mission of uplifting racial and cultural connections, Busboys and Poets is hosting Palestine Week (January 18 through January 25, 2024). This week-long series of events will offer a diverse range of programming featuring Palestinian food, music, dance, poetry, discussions, and other enriching events. … Continued

What to read: Celebrating National Poetry Month at Busboys and Poets

What to read: Celebrating National Poetry Month at Busboys and Poets

April in DC – a time to welcome the sun, greet the cherry blossoms and relish the city’s many parks in bloom. April is also National Poetry Month, and being home to a vibrant literary community, DC celebrates every year with a diverse offering of events, readings and books to savor. Here at Busboys and … Continued

Busboys and Poets Book Review: We’re Going to Need More Wine

Busboys and Poets Book Review: We’re Going to Need More Wine

The following is a guest post by Busboys and Poets customer Dr. Donna Oriowo. To read the complete post, please visit her website. Here is a little disclosure about me, I don’t generally like autobiographies. I find that they can be terribly dull and full of pomp. I know I read The Last Black Unicorn … Continued

Busboys and Poets Books Review: Jim Brown, Last Man Standing

Busboys and Poets Books Review: Jim Brown, Last Man Standing

In clear, fluid prose, Dave Zirin chronicles the life of legendary Cleveland Browns running back, Jim Brown, from his childhood in St. Simons Island, Georgia, raised by three women, through his NFL and Hollywood acting careers, to his cultural impact as a Black Power icon in the 1960s and beyond. Zirin reveals a complicated picture … Continued