July 2025 Edition
We’re back with the second edition of Stories That Move—our monthly roundup of cultural works that shine a light on truth, justice, and the transformative power of storytelling. This month, we’re highlighting nonfiction books released in June and July that haven’t yet been featured in a previous blog. Each one amplifies untold, overlooked, or urgently needed narratives that enrich our collective understanding of Black history, social justice, and civil rights. And if you’re looking ahead to 2026, the 365-day Black history wall calendar and African American Art Wall Calendar will be released in July 2025.
Their Accomplices Wore Robes: How the Supreme Court Chained Black America to the Bottom of a Racial Caste System
Brando Simeo Starkey | Released June 3, 2025
In this sweeping and unflinching historical analysis, Starkey argues that the U.S. Supreme Court has long been complicit in maintaining a racial caste system. From Reconstruction to today, he shows how the Court consistently sided with forces of white supremacy, undermining constitutional promises and stalling Black advancement.
Toni at Random: The Iconic Writer’s Legendary Editorship
Dana A. Williams | Released June 4, 2025
This eye-opening portrait of Toni Morrison reveals a lesser-known side of the literary legend: her groundbreaking work as an editor at Random House. Dana A. Williams offers an intimate and incisive look at how Morrison used her position to elevate Black voices and reshape American literature—cementing her influence not just as a writer, but as a cultural architect.
Front Porch Wisdom: Navigating Leadership, Legacy, and the Quest for a Thriving Black South
W. Franklyn Richardson | Released June 18, 2025
Drawing from decades of leadership in the Black church and civil rights arenas, Rev. Richardson offers deeply personal insights on legacy, justice, and building thriving Black communities. With warmth and clarity, Front Porch Wisdom invites readers to sit, listen, and lead with purpose.
Black Girls Breathing: Heal from Trauma, Combat Chronic Stress, and Find Your Freedom
Jasmine Marie | Releasing July 9, 2025
Founder of the breathwork platform black girls breathing, Jasmine Marie offers a practical, heart-centered guide to healing from racial trauma and chronic stress. Drawing from her own experience and her work with thousands of women, this book is both a toolkit and a sanctuary for Black women seeking rest, freedom, and self-connection.
The Empowered Hysterectomy: Your Complete Handbook to Diagnosis, Decision, and Treatment
Dr. Kameelah Phillips | Releasing July 16, 2025
Grounded in medical expertise and cultural awareness, Dr. Kameelah Phillips’ guide to hysterectomy centers the needs of women—especially women of color—who often face bias and misinformation in reproductive health care. The Empowered Hysterectomy is a comprehensive, compassionate resource for navigating decisions with knowledge and agency.
Misbehaving at the Crossroads: Essays & Writings
Honorée Fanonne Jeffers | Releasing July 23, 2025
Known for her bestselling novels and poetry, Jeffers steps into nonfiction with this powerful collection of essays that reflect on Black womanhood, resistance, and cultural memory. With her signature lyricism and fire, Jeffers offers a personal and historical meditation on what it means to be Black, female, and unapologetically misbehaved in America.
Black Genius: Essays on an American Legacy
Tre Johnson | Release Date: July 30, 2025
This smart, soulful collection of essays challenges narrow definitions of genius by celebrating the everyday brilliance found in Black communities. With humor, heart, and sharp cultural insight, Tre Johnson highlights everything from the comedic genius of Dick Gregory to the cultural power of airbrushed T-shirts and aunties organizing bus trips to Atlantic City. Black Genius is a love letter to Black creativity in all its forms—personal, political, and profound.
The Conjuring of America: Mojos, Mermaids, Medicine, and 400 Years of Black Women’s Magic
Lindsey Stewart | Releasing July 30, 2025
This genre-defying exploration of Black women’s healing traditions reclaims centuries of wisdom and resistance. From rootwork to reproductive justice, The Conjuring of America traces the intertwined histories of magic, medicine, and survival—and how Black women’s practices have shaped the health and spirit of the nation.
Join the Movement: Help Us Keep These Stories Alive
We need your help to grow a vibrant community dedicated to uncovering and sharing stories that matter. Do you know of a powerful upcoming book, film, or exhibit on racial or social justice? Send your recommendations to leadership@marchonfest.org. You can also help by forwarding Stories That Move to friends and colleagues or sharing them on social media.
Together, we can preserve history, deepen our understanding, and inspire lasting change.
March On!
