Inaugural Edition — June 2025
In a time when key aspects of American history—such as the truth about slavery, Jim Crow, the civil rights movement, and ongoing racial injustice—are being banned from classrooms, stripped from textbooks and government websites, and distorted by political agendas, it’s more important than ever to come together and ensure these stories are not lost.
That’s why we’re launching March On!: Stories That Move, our monthly cultural roundup. Each edition will spotlight new or about-to-be-released books, films, and art that bring forward the untold and mistold stories of the civil rights movement and deepen our understanding of racial and social justice. This inaugural edition features a remarkable lineup of book releases from mid-May to June 2025—and trust us: There’s no shortage of brilliance. Future editions will include film and art.
Books to Read This Month
Joy Goddess: A’Lelia Walker and the Harlem Renaissance by A’Lelia Bundles
(Release date: June 10, 2025)
We’re honored to begin with Joy Goddess, written by March On! board member A’Lelia Bundles. This dazzling biography of her great-grandmother, Madam C.J. Walker’s daughter and a cultural force in her own right, brings to life a fascinating figure whose legendary parties and famed Dark Tower salon helped define the Harlem Renaissance, making her a central figure in one of the most vibrant eras of American cultural history.
The Battle for the Black Mind by Dr. Karida L. Brown
(Release date: May 13, 2025)
Dr. Karida L. Brown traces the long fight for educational justice, from post–Civil War America to the present day. Drawing on more than a decade of research, she reveals how Black communities built systems of learning in the face of segregation and structural racism. The book is a historical reckoning and a call to action to protect and empower Black minds today.
Yet Here I Am by Jonathan Capehart
(Release date: May 20, 2025)
Jonathan Capehart, a longtime and trusted moderator of March On!’s galas, offers a deeply personal and compelling book in Yet Here I Am. He explores his journey as a Black man in America and reflects on the ongoing fight for racial justice. Blending memoir and cultural critique, Yet Here I Am offers insight into the resilience and activism shaping today’s civil rights landscape.
Erased: What American Patriarchy Has Hidden From Us by Anna Malaika Tubbs
(Release date: May 20, 2025)
In this powerful and eye-opening book, Anna Malaika Tubbs exposes the overlooked histories and contributions of Black women in shaping America, challenging the patriarchal narratives that have long erased their impact. With rigorous research and compelling storytelling, Erased reveals the hidden truths that reshape our understanding of race, gender, and power in the United States.
Mother Emanuel: Two Centuries of Race, Resistance, and Forgiveness in One Charleston Church by Kevin Sack
(Release date: June 3, 2025)
This book traces the 200-year history of the South’s oldest A.M.E. congregation and its enduring role in the fight for racial justice. In the wake of the 2015 white supremacist massacre that claimed nine lives during Bible study, Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist Kevin Sack explores how faith, community, and the power of forgiveness shaped the response of the victims’ families.
Bibb Country: Unearthing My Family Secrets of Land, Legacy—and Lettuce by Lonnae O’Neal
(Release date: June 17, 2025)
Journalist, and long-time festival advisor, Lonnae O’Neal dives deep into the history of the complex relationship between her ancestors and the white family that developed the Bibb strain of lettuce, revealing stories of racial injustice and resistance. This investigative work uncovers the echoes of the civil rights movement in local communities and shines a light on ongoing struggles for equity.
Join the Movement: Help Us Keep These Stories Alive
This inaugural post features a remarkable lineup of book releases from mid-May to June 2025—but this is just the beginning. We need your help to build a vibrant community that uncovers and shares stories that matter. Here’s how you can take action:
- Send us your recommendations: If you know of upcoming books, films, or art exhibits related to social and racial justice, email your suggestions to leadership@marchonfest.org.
- Email your networks: Share March On!: Stories That Move with your friends, family, and colleagues—and encourage them to sign up so they don’t miss future editions.
- Share on social media: Post the article on your social channels, and follow us for the latest updates and releases.
Together, we can keep history alive, deepen understanding, and inspire change.
