TEXTS FOR THE Classroom

Black SummeRs

In this collection of essays and poems from Black Detroiters, writers explore themes of historical racial trauma, gentrification, urban sanctuary, homophobia, equal access to outdoor spaces, community empowerment, and resilience. Ranging in ages from 16 - 74, these children and grandchildren of The Great Migration describe how racism continues to shape even the most universal of human experiences—the “carefree” days of summer.

“Desiree Cooper's reflections during (The Black Studies Podcast) were interesting. The way she is able to move across storytelling to a thoughtful analysis of race, class, nature, environment, joy, community, and modes of knowing is really great stuff.  The conversation in general had me thinking about the place of memoir writing and the personal essay in Black Studies. Not as an object of study or analysis, but the writing of memoir and personal essay as Black Studies practice.”—John E. Drabinski, Professor of African American and Africana Studies, and English, University of Maryland, College Park

“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 spaces. 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, Carter G. Woodson Endowed Chair in History at Howard University, and author of #1 New York Times Bestseller How to Be an Antiracist

Disciplines: Sociology, African American Studies, Literature, Civil Rights, American History, Urban Studies

Know the MOTHER

This collection of “flash fiction” (most stories are less than 750 words), explores how sexism is experienced within the confines of family relationships, and how motherhood often render women unknowable, even to themselves. In many of the stories, both racism and sexism are equally at play, leaving the reader to decide how the protagonist will resolve the dilemma—and why.

“I had the pleasure of inviting Desiree Cooper to mentor our students during a brief artist residency in the Fall of 2017. Throughout her visit to our program, I was impressed by Desiree's warmth, expertise, and ability to engage students. Desiree's comprehensive and professional approach to the preparation and execution of her planned activities, which included private critique sessions with students, class visits, and a public reading, made working with her a joy. Her generosity and creative insights left a lasting impression on my students, and led to demonstrated improvements in their creative projects post-residency.” —Laura Hulthen Thomas, Head of the University of Michigan Residential College creative writing program

“My interdisciplinary class entitled ‘Mothers and Daughters’ included cross cultural perspectives on the mother-daughter relationship. It was a privilege to include Know the Mother in my syllabus. As a bonus, my students had the rare had the opportunity to interact with Desiree Cooper, the author of a collection of stories which are so relevant to the focus of the class.”—Jennifer Myers, lecturer Social Theory and Practice Program, University of Michigan

I often use the stories from Know the Mother when I teach because [Cooper] can pack so much emotion and nuance into a small amount of space.—Christine Maul Rice, Asst. Professor of English, Valparaiso Univeristy

Disciplines: Women’s Studies, Sociology, African American Studies, Literature, Creative Writing