“I picked this book up and couldn't put it down till I'd read every poem and story. Black Summers: Growing Up in the Urban Outdoors is full of joy, wisdom, and righteous resistance. What splendor in these pages!”
—Camille Dungy, author of Soil: The Story of a Black Mother’s Garden, and America, A Love Story
A triumphant, cross-generational exploration of Black joy and resilience.
Remember frolicking outside during the long, jubilant days of summer? This vibrant collection invites readers to breathe deeply and return to that "carefree" season. From riding bikes with friends through the neighborhood, to hopping the ferry to Boblo Island, catching catfish along the river, dancing on warm nights to Afrobeats and jazz music, and cooling off in the Swimmobile, those sun-drenched memories were often clouded by racism for the Detroiters in this evocative anthology. These emerging and award-winning creators of all ages recount the struggles and triumph of staking their claim to public spaces. Ranging from poetry to essay, creative nonfiction to comics, this collection blends nostalgia with struggle and resilience. Arising from the iconic city of the African American experience comes this exploration of Black joy in the urban outdoors.
Contributors: Tommye Blount, Justin Boggués, Isaiah Chambers, Esperanza Cintrón, Zig Zag Claybourne, Nandi Comer, Desiree Cooper, Bridgett M. Davis, Kahn Santori Davison, Jean Alicia Elster, shannon garth-rhodes, D'Nae Hearn, Stephen Henderson, Charisma Holly, Xavier Jackson, Mic Jennings, Luther Keith, Angela Atabex Lugo-Thomas, MARS. Marshall, Chace Morris, Keith A. Owens, Pamela Hilliard Owens, Kamron Reynolds, Brittany Rogers, Satori Shakoor, Renee Simms, Cassandra Spratling, Lillien Waller, Rochelle Wilson-Ellis
Advance Praise for Black Summers:
“Magnificently curated by Desiree Cooper, this collection is full. Like summers growing up in the urban outdoors. Like the feelings of Black people navigating Detroit's public space. In all its insightful recollections and creative variety, Black Summers is full of pleasure, of pain, of splendor, of struggle, of home.” —Ibram X. Kendi, #1 New York Times Best Selling author of How to Be an Antiracist
“Black Summers is a mesmerizing archive of Black life, adventure, and beauty in Detroit. Written by Detroiters who know and love the city the most, this collection shines with testaments of survival and celebration—the true engines of the Motor City.”
—J K Chukwu, author of The Unfortunates, a GMA Buzz Pick
“Black Summers sings of porches, parks, and rivers where Detroit’s spirit runs free. Desiree Cooper’s anthology shows how, even in hard times, the earth and our imaginations conspire to keep us whole. These pages are a hymn to sunlight, laughter, and possibility.”
—Rue Mapp, Founder and CEO, Outdoor Afro