Copyright: c.2026, Publisher: The Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, SRP: $29.95, Page Count: 338 pages

Four weeks of testing, and you’re exhausted.

Two gallons of blood, maybe three, have been removed. No lie. You’ve laid on tables, slid through machines, been scanned so much you lost count and finally, your doctors have a diagnosis. As in the new book “Curved Air” by Kevin Davies, you have hope there’s a what next?

Though the disease was known in parts of Africa and likely existed here in the United States for hundreds of years, sickle cell disease (SCD) is a relative newcomer in disease research.

Says Davies, “Sickle cell was first identified more than 120 years ago” and it was considered as a “Black disease.” Because of that, discrimination followed “sickle cell warriors” and research was scant, though white people can and do get SCD.

With “agonizing” pain as a major symptom, “SCD is one of roughly seven thousand genetic diseases” currently known to science. When someone has SCD, a genetic mutation causes their red blood cells to curve and get stuck in blood vessels, rather than flowing freely as they should. This diminishes the oxygen supply “to various parts of the body… which causes inflammation and pain,” jaundice, stroke, and damaged organs. Anemia, Davies says, can leave a patient fatigued and short of breath. Anticipating pain crises causes anxiety and PTSD.

Says Davies, “More than forty million people carry” one copy of the genetic mutation that causes SCD, and “five hundred thousand affected” babies are born with the disease per year, worldwide.

Over decades, research was done haphazardly. Papers were written; treatments were tried, used, or discarded. Doctors discovered that genetic testing could prevent new cases, a heartbreak for would-be parents. Researchers discovered that “a perfect storm” of confluence spread SCD: malaria, human population, and mosquitoes.

There was always hope that someday, sickle cell disease might be cured.

Then, Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR) gene-editing therapy was approved by the FDA, and a brave volunteer named Victoria Gray stepped forward…

So, you want to – need to – learn more about sickle cell disease? Is it imperative for you? Then, this is your book. But there are things you’ll want to know before you dive into “Curved Air.”

Because author Kevin Davies is the editor of The CRISPR Journal, you can expect up-to-date, cutting-edge information; but that’s a two-sided coin: the information is heavy-duty, not always easy to grasp, and it’s burdened by acronyms that can be overwhelming. Yes, that’ll inform you, but it may also send you elsewhere for further understanding, which really should’ve come from this book.

And yet, if you or someone you love has SCD, this is your book. It explains where the disease came from, why it hasn’t been completely cured yet, and what kind of hope you can hold. It’s a good start on a path to comprehension.

Also, be aware that the narrative here is sometimes padded with journalistic fluff that might annoy you if you’re eager to get to the science. Indeed, “Curved Air” will teach you. Then again, it also might test you.

By Carla Thomas

For educator, childcare provider and children’s author Tarsha Jordan, Bonita the Bumble Bee is much more than a colorful storybook character. The cheerful bee has become a teaching tool, a comforting friend and a creative way for children to explore their emotions, navigate life changes and discover the world around them.

Jordan’s inspiration for Bonita grew from her lifelong commitment to children and education. With more than 30 years of experience as an educator and administrator, she operates Kindergarten Readiness Academy, a licensed family childcare program in Oakland’s Longfellow neighborhood. The academy prepares young children socially, emotionally and academically for school.

Her firsthand experience has given Jordan a deep understanding of how children communicate, what captures their attention, and how stories can open conversations young readers may not otherwise know how to begin.

Jordan describes her mission as developing lifelong learners who love reading while introducing children to relatable characters. Bonita fulfills that mission by addressing real-life experiences in language children can understand.

In “Bonita The Bumble Bee and the Quarantine,” Jordan helped young readers process the uncertainty and isolation surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic. In a later book about returning to school, Bonita guided children through changing routines, expectations and emotions. Designed to promote social-emotional development and mental health awareness, editions were made available in English, Spanish and Mandarin.

Bonita’s impact becomes even more immediate when children meet the character in person. Jordan recently hosted a Mommy and Me children’s tea party at Bay Street Emeryville, where Bonita buzzed around the event, greeted young guests and brought the literary character to life.

“The children can interact with the character, experience the excitement of seeing a familiar literary friend come to life and develop an even stronger connection with reading,” Jordan said.

For children of color, that connection carries another important dimension: representation. Children benefit from seeing themselves reflected in books, educational environments, imaginative characters and the people creating those stories.

Jordan also believes Bonita expands children’s imaginations and encourages them to envision new possibilities.

“When children of color see authors that look like them creating books, building educational programs and bringing original characters into their communities, they are exposed to the possibilities beyond the story itself,” Jordan said. “They can begin to imagine themselves as writers, educators, entrepreneurs, artists and creators.”

Founded to introduce STEAM, (science, technology, engineering, the arts and mathematics) to children in transitional kindergarten through third grade, Bonita The Bumble Bee also addresses neurodivergent behaviors.

Known to young learners as “Teacher Tarsha,” Jordan combines Bonita’s whimsical personality with hands-on experiments and activities for children ages 3 to 8. The experiences promote early literacy, strengthen problem-solving skills and give children tools for managing their emotional health.

Jordan holds master’s degrees in education and public administration and is pursuing a doctorate in education. Her academic preparation and extensive classroom experience help her create programs that are both engaging and developmentally meaningful.

“We’re hoping to take Bonita to the next level and welcome new partnerships,” Jordan said.

Visit BonitaTheBumbleBee.com

By Gwen McKinney

For much of her childhood, Rosalyn Coates endured severe asthma. Confined to limited physical activity, she had to swap galloping with neighborhood kids for a seat on the porch.

But never alone, Coates, called “Roz” by friends, always invited her trusty companion: a good book. “All I could do is sit my buns still and read.”

So began the literary journey for Coates, 71, a retired attorney and **Oracle Set Book Club** member who helped incorporate the group’s nonprofit foundation, which has awarded annual scholarships to Washington, D.C., school students since 1999.

Touted as the oldest continuously operating Black women’s literary circle in Washington, D.C., Oracle Set was launched in 1966 by Claudette Franklin, a passionate literacy advocate who assembled the original 15 members and remained active until her death in 1996. Two founding members, Bernadette Derr and Maggalean Westin, remain active six decades later.

Today, members range in age from mid-30s to 80 and are capped at 18 members. Like most Black women reading circles, they traverse genres and hold rotating meetings at members’ homes, with good food and fellowship always on the menu.

A slice of joy and community, Oracle Set inspires self-determination, says Coates. “More than coming together to read, we affirm who we are through _what_ we read. We don’t wait for _The New York Times_ best sellers list to tell us what to choose. Our group opens us, not just to reading, but to the world that books inhabit.”

That same premise — radical and pioneering for their time — was embraced by one of the first recorded Black women’s reading groups. **The Female Literary Association**, founded by educator **Sara Mapps Douglas** in 1831, was based in Philadelphia and composed of “free” literate Black women.

Mostly leaders in the anti-slavery and suffrage movements, they were avid readers, writers and activists. They shared their own essays with the reading circle and delved into scripture, poetry and abolitionist journals. As the 19th century progressed into post-slavery emancipation, mutual aid for southern sisters and their kin was a hallmark activity of these literary circles, often called women’s clubs. Black women’s literary clubs would blossom over the decades that followed, taking root in Detroit, New York, Pittsburgh, Indianapolis and Washington, D.C.

Kathy Freeman says those bold intentions of ancestors dating back two centuries remain in our bones. Leader of A Gathering of Women Readers in Philadelphia, she says Black women have instinctively embraced the causes of family, community and the world.

“For women who look like me, book clubs are built upon collective actions. While everyone isn’t left-leaning, we are all humanists.”

Black women’s literary circles rebuke patriarchy, Freeman asserts. “Though we are the backbone of every movement we support – the church, civil rights, Black liberation – we usually go unrecognized. But in our book clubs everyone has a voice.”

Freeman’s group has supported medical drives for Cuba, clothing drives for Senegal, local book drives and summer camp for the city’s unhoused population. They host guest speakers from Philly and beyond. One, a few years before the assaults in Gaza, was Palestinian-American activist/author Susan Abulhawa.

Freeman, 69, a “happily retired” program analyst for the Philadelphia Health Department, started the reading group eight years ago. They gather quarterly, 13 strong, with two books for discussion and always open with wellness check-ins.

Most active in-person clubs skew older. However, the mix is intergenerational and convened online, by sororities, churches, social clubs and even celebrities (Oprah Book Club).

Monique Greenwood, Co-founder of**Go On Girl Book Club** (GOGBC), points to the sense of belonging that book clubs invoke. She remembers 1991, when her two friends, Tracy Mitchell-Brown and Lynda Johnson, were engrossed in chats about a book they were both coincidentally reading, _No Easy Place to Be,_ a debut novel by Steven Corbin about the Harlem Renaissance.

“I was feeling very left out…and wanted to be part of what seemed like a really important fellowship.” From there, the trio planted the seeds of Go On Girl Book Club.

Greenwood, 67, former editor-in-chief of _Essence_ and now owner of Akwaaba Bed and Breakfast Inns, anchored the first group in New York City. “We were casually structured, guided by some important criteria. Our membership was capped at 12 to coincide with the months we would meet.”

“Reading and reflection of the books served merely as a jumping-off point to share and exchange ideas; to hear each other’s voices,” Greenwood offered.

As members relocated, some carried the model with them, starting new chapters in other cities. Today, one of the nation’s largest in-person literary circles, Go On Girl claims 51 chapters and more than 500 members across the country. They hold an annual conference, distribute merchandise, and in 1999, wrote the book on book clubs.

The _Go On Girl! Book Club Guide for Reading Groups_, authored by the three founders, is a roadmap for starting, structuring and sustaining a successful literary circle, featuring reading lists, author chats and discussion questions.

Joyce Ferguson-Fleming and her D.C.-based Sister Girls Book Club recently celebrated their 25th anniversary. Ferguson-Fleming, 77, a voracious lifelong reader, was filling a void left by her daughter’s departure for college. She was not necessarily looking for new friends, but instead was mission-driven to assemble like-minded Black women.

“The goal was simple — a book club where everyone was invested in reading.  We didn’t come together as best friends, but as book lovers.”

Founder Ferguson-Fleming was joined for an interview with original members Lisa Griffith and Shelly Jackson.

Griffith, 71, said the idea of a book club was kicked around for at least two years. “One day Joyce set a date and time, and we started with eight members.” Over the 25 years, members have come and gone, but most have been with the book club for 15 years or more.

Said Jackson, “Joyce actually used our workplace — the DC Municipal Court — as her recruitment ground.”  Jackson, 64, a probation officer, said members included attorneys, administrators, clerks, and social workers. “We were all open to wide genres and themes, different perspectives, honest discussions. … No one judging you.”

“We feed each other,” adds Griffith, a retired court reporter.  “We lay out food, ideas, and nourish each other emotionally and spiritually…We go places I wouldn’t go on my own. Through Sister Girls, I am exposed.”

Over the decades they’ve enjoyed field trips, celebrated milestone birthdays, mourned the passing of members’ loved ones and cheered the birth of grandbabies. “We’ve grown from a reading circle to a sisterhood,” confides Ferguson-Fleming.

The legions of Black women book club members tell a bigger story in data released by Pew Research Center in 2014 exploring reading habits of Americans. Pew found that women across races and socioeconomic statuses read considerably more than their male counterparts. But Black women, especially college-educated, read the most, surpassing _all_ demographic groups in consumption of every book format — bound, audiobooks and e-books.

Curtis Bunn, a retired journalist and author of 14 books, attests to the Pew findings. “Black women absorb passion more than any other demographic group.”

Even before his 1999 debut novel _Baggage Check_ hit #1 on the _Essence_ Book List, Bunn embraced the word-of-mouth magic of Black women readers and embarked on speaking tours to book clubs across the country. “I always left those book clubs feeling uplifted. It was like going to church,” recalls Bunn, 65. “You get feedback that makes you a better writer.”

That feeling of being “immersed in a sustained happy hour” convinced Bunn to launch **The National Book Club Conference** in 2003. Nicknamed “Literary Bliss Weekend,” he marked the 22nd anniversary this year. Held in Atlanta and attended by some 400 primarily Black women (95%), conferees pay $350 for a series of general sessions, an awards event and breakout workshops attended by prominent authors and public luminaries.

“During the first conference I was in tears most of the weekend,” Bunn remembers. “The camaraderie, energy and joy made everyone feel they were where they were supposed to be. It’s more than meeting the author and other book club members. It’s an immersive experience!”

As technology changed how readers connect, Black women’s literary communities expanded beyond in-person living rooms. Glory Edim, 44, targeted a massive online community, appealing to younger Black women with **Well-Read Black Girl** in 2015. The online platform and book club, fueled by social media, claims more than 400,000 followers dedicated to celebrating the works of Black women authors. Well-Read also sponsors local in-person chapters across the country., hosting book festivals, a podcast and author conversations.

An _Essence_ article about Well-Read Black Girl inspired Kodee Brown, 35, to start a group in Greenville, South Carolina, in 2019. Working with an independent bookstore as the bookseller and venue host, Brown put out the call for members. Surprisingly, many showed up, including several White women.

“Our invitation emphasized everyone was welcome. but we were clear our focus was on Black women authors and the Black experience,” explains Brown. “Some of the White women came genuinely to connect as allies, others out of curiosity.”

Eventually, when membership was capped at 15, about three White women remained. At times, Brown believed the racial mix made conversations challenging and members often censored themselves. During her facilitation of the group, she worked hard to create a safe space.

The Greenville group, composed mostly of Black women, continues. After two years in leadership, Brown relocated to Charleston and stepped down, responding to the busy demands of her nursing career,  an advanced degree and eventually motherhood.

Now the mom of 4-year-old twins, Brown says she has passed on the passion for books to her girls. “From the time they were infants, we read to them. They could read before they could walk.”

“The book club was a time of joy,” Brown recalls. “I gained friends who have remained steadfast to this day. In those book groups we could hear each other.”

Being seen and heard is Marcie Thomas’ preoccupation. Founder of the**Brown Girl Collective**(BGC), she sponsors virtual book clubs, wellness sessions and author chats, a path that began in 2009, first focusing on research about Black women who were often ignored and invisible.

The pandemic accelerated the possibilities of virtual gathering, allowing literary communities to reach women well beyond their immediate neighborhoods. And Thomas, 59, saw an opportunity to stoke her passion for reading.

“Because I’ve always enjoyed reading, it spurred me to start a virtual book club.”

With Black women readers top of mind, Thomas has targeted nonfiction authors, novelists, poets, filmmakers and other content producers. What began as a monthly virtual event in 2020 has expanded to twice a week, featuring the Monday book club and Wednesday _Live Well Sister_. “No matter how old we are,” says Thomas, “there’s a little brown girl that lives within all of us.”

Across nearly two centuries, Black women have gathered in parlors and living rooms, from bookstores, conference halls and digital screens. The books bring them into the space. What they build together keeps them coming back.

Pastor Dr. Darius Brooks celebrated the release of his debut book, SAY, “SELF,” Volume I, on August 30, 2026, at Grace Central Church in Westchester, Illinois.

Presented by Brooks Legacy Publishing, the event brought together church members, relatives, friends and supporters for an afternoon of conversation, music and fellowship, marking a new chapter in Brooks’ ministry.

Legendary Chicago broadcast journalist Art Norman joined Brooks for a discussion about the experiences that inspired the book and the lessons Brooks has gained throughout his life and ministry. Brooks said he hopes the book will encourage readers to strengthen their faith, reconsider how they approach life’s challenges and pursue purposeful growth.

For years, people encountering Brooks at churches, restaurants, stores, airports and other places have asked him to repeat something he said so they could write it down. Those memorable observations and words of encouragement became the foundation for SAY, “SELF,” Volume I.

The self-published book contains 52 original inspirational statements known as #ADBQ, meaning “A Darius Brooks Quote.” Each quotation is accompanied by a personal reflection and space for readers to consider how its message applies to their lives. Structured as a 52-week journey, the book encourages readers to move forward through one quotation, reflection and intentional decision at a time.

The launch celebration concluded with an official release countdown and a book-signing session with Brooks. His wife, Deborah “Wonderful” Brooks, who designed the book, and their daughter, Dasha Brooks, also participated in the celebration.

“This book is the result of years of sermons, songs, conversations and life experiences,” Deborah Brooks said. “I have watched people stop Darius everywhere we go and ask him to repeat something so they could write it down. Now, it has already been written down for them. I could not be prouder of my husband and this incredible accomplishment.”

The family thanked the Grace Central Church congregation for its support and hospitality. It also expressed appreciation to Norman, Brooks’ relatives and friends, the event-planning team, volunteers and those who attended the celebration or purchased the book.

Brooks is an award-winning songwriter, composer, arranger, producer, musician and recording artist whose career in contemporary gospel music spans more than four decades.

For nearly 40 years, he served as music director for the late Rev. Jesse Louis Jackson Sr. and the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, traveling across the United States and internationally in support of the movement for civil rights, justice and equality.

He also spent more than 30 years in musical leadership with the late Rev. Milton Brunson and the Thompson Community Singers, known worldwide as “The Tommies.”

Brooks is the creative force behind several gospel standards, including “Safe in His Arms,” “My Mind’s Made Up,” “For the Good of Them,” “If I Be Lifted,” “I Tried Him and I Know Him,” “God’s Got It” and “Your Will.”

Throughout his career, he has worked with artists including Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, Ramsey Lewis, Shirley Caesar, Vickie Winans and Ricky Dillard. His work has received Grammy, Stellar and Dove Award recognition and reached audiences in Great Britain, Sweden, Italy, South Africa, Germany and other countries.

In 2009, Brooks became senior pastor of Grace Central Church. He also leads Darius Brooks & The Tommies Reunion and founded the SDM Foundation for Education and the Arts, through which he mentors and develops aspiring musicians and performing artists.

Whether preaching, writing music, mentoring artists or encouraging others through everyday conversations, Brooks has built his ministry around strengthening faith and helping people pursue their God-given purpose.

SAY, “SELF,” Volume I is the first installment in a planned series, with Volume II currently in development.

The book may be purchased at Grace Central Church’s website: New Book Release | Say, “Self” Volume I by Dr. Darius Brooks

Based on reporting by Gary Crusader.

Author: Audrey Smaltz with Alina Mitchell, foreword by Michael Kors, Copyright: c.2026, Publisher: Amistad, SRP: $27.99, Page Count: 256 Pages, Snaps, zippers, buttons, ties.

Toss that garment on, pull it up, wrap it around; you know what you like and how to wear it. The color is perfect for your skin tone, and the fabric enhances your figure. Yep, you always look your best and, as in the new book “Every Inch a Lady” by Audrey Smaltz (with Alina Mitchell), that best is fabulous.

“Born, bred, toasted, buttered, jellied, and honeyed in Harlem” in 1937, Audrey Smaltz was a force to be reckoned with almost from the time she could walk. Her parents imbued confidence in her; they nurtured her creativity and sent her to charm school, but they never allowed her to create a stir.

“That,” says Smaltz, “is not what ladies did.”

By the time she was a teenager, Smaltz was modeling for New York City designers. Shortly thereafter, she started working for a married man with whom she had an affair, and whom she loved very much. She broke up with him, attended college, and worked a series of jobs that taught her about fashion and jobs that didn’t seem to fit her. An ill-fated marriage took her to Chicago, where she ultimately landed a position that sent her to work in Ebony magazine’s New York office.

Working at Ebony was a career-changer, in a way. Smaltz traveled the world and learned more about fashion, but she didn’t exactly get along with her boss.

Finally, seizing an opportunity, Smaltz decided to launch her own company, Audrey Smaltz, Inc., a “fashion production business,” but she couldn’t get any designers to take a chance on her. Undaunted, she reorganized, re-branded, hit the streets, and knocked on doors until she finally found one client, which led to many others.

Through it all, her personal life was a whirlwind. She dated “more men than you can shake a book at,” settling down occasionally, briefly. Fashion had always been her first love, but she accidentally found real love, “the love of a woman,” at a leadership course…

There’s an old saying that writers need to add lots of “color” into their stories. Read a little of “Every Inch a Lady,” and you’ll notice immediately that author Audrey Smaltz (with Alina Mitchell) quite literally takes that to heart by mentioning nearly every color of the spectrum here. Hmm.

That oddity aside, Smaltz is a wonderfully lively storyteller, speaking with the energy of a woman much younger to the heart of anyone who loves fashion. That glee extends to collectors of vintage clothing, who will be delighted to read about the industry long ago and the way things worked then. Smaltz says she experienced racism, which is not unusual for pre-Civil Rights America, but doors were surprisingly closed for other reasons that will astound anyone who’s savvy about the fashion industry, even today.

There’s quite a bit of name-dropping in this book, but most of it belongs in the anecdotes, so you likely won’t mind. If you’re a fashionista, too, find “Every Inch a Lady,” and snap it up.

James Weldon Johnson was an educator, journalist, diplomat, lyricist, poet, and human rights activist best known as the writer behind “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” the timeless hymn celebrated as the Black national anthem. But he also used his writing to win the heart of the love of his life — Grace Nail Johnson.

James Weldon Johnson was born in Jacksonville, Florida, on June 17, 1871, to James and Helen Louise Dillet Johnson. Raised in a comfortable middle-class setting, James was encouraged by his mother, a public school teacher, to pursue intellectual and artistic interests. He attended Atlanta University, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in 1894. After graduation, he returned to Florida and served as a principal, founded a short-lived newspaper called Daily American, and eventually passed the Florida bar examination and worked briefly as a lawyer.

In 1902, James moved to New York, where he performed in a musical trio with his brother Rosamond and Bob Cole. He’d go on to write the lyrics to more than 200 songs. In New York, he also began making connections to influential members of the Black community, which led to the next stage of his career in diplomacy.

Around 1904, he met Grace Elizabeth Nail, the daughter of John Bennett Nail, a successful real estate entrepreneur. Love blossomed between James and Grace as the two exchanged letters over several years. In 1909, they got engaged, and on February 3, 1910, the two married at Grace’s parents’ home.

In the early years of their marriage, James served as American Consul. He was appointed by President Theodore Roosevelt and served in Central and South America from 1906 to 1913.

After his consular service, James joined the staff of the New York Age, which led him to become involved in the civil rights movement to fight racial prejudice and discrimination. He joined the NAACP in 1916 and later served as a field secretary, helping open new branches and expand membership. He also campaigned for a federal anti-lynching bill and spoke at the 1919 National Conference on Lynching. In 1920, Johnson became NAACP executive secretary, a position he used to fight against segregation and voter disenfranchisement in the South.

While fighting for justice, James was also honing his literary talents as a poet and writer. He influenced many younger writers of the Harlem Renaissance, including Langston Hughes, Claude McKay, and Countee Cullen.

Meanwhile, Grace was a civil rights activist and cultural patron in her own right, and her leadership helped shape and preserve the legacy of the Harlem Renaissance. She worked with the NAACP, participated in the historic 1917 Silent Protest Parade, and founded the NAACP Junior League in 1929 to inspire a new generation to get active in civic leadership. She was also a part of the Heterodoxy Club and many other African-American and feminist organizations. She supported and promoted African-American children’s literature, too.

In 1930, James retired from the NAACP to accept a teaching position at Fisk University, where he served until he died in an automobile accident on June 26, 1938.

After James’ death, Grace dedicated decades to preserving his legacy.

In 1941, she donated James’ papers to Yale University’s Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library, establishing the James Weldon Johnson Memorial Collection.

The collection expanded to include the cultural, artistic, intellectual, and political contributions of prominent African Americans and became an invaluable archive documenting the Harlem Renaissance and Black intellectual life.

Motivated by her love for her husband, Grace Nail Johnson helped preserve some of the Black voices and stories that shaped American history and culture.

Built to Last: Share Your Love Story

What does lasting love look like? Maybe it’s handwritten notes tucked into lunch bags, dancing in the kitchen after a long day, praying together through hard seasons, or simply choosing each other again and again over the years. Whatever your story looks like, we want to hear it.

For years, the Birmingham Times has celebrated local couples and the love that binds them through our popular “You Had Me at Hello” column. Now, we’re looking for more inspiring stories of commitment, partnership, laughter, resilience, and romance.

Have you been married seven years or longer? Tell us the secret to your enduring love. No relationship is ordinary, and every couple has a story worth sharing. Your journey could encourage newlyweds, inspire singles, or remind readers that lasting love still exists.

Whether your love story began with a blind date, a high school romance, a chance encounter, or friendship that grew into forever, we’d love to feature it.

To be considered for a future “You Had Me at Hello” column or to nominate a couple you admire, email [email protected] with the couple’s names, contact information, and the number of years they’ve been married.

Based on reporting by Birmingham Times.