BLK LIT

In Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn, we sit with Darlene Okpo at Adanne Books & Co. about the purpose and niche of independent bookstores and the challenges of running one largely alone. Okpo explains her motivation as an NYC educator and African American studies major who saw students and adults disengage from reading when schools and institutions didn’t reflect their interests or Black history; she emphasizes listening to customers, curating books by and about people of color, and creating a healing community space.
Visit Adanne Bookshop: https://adanne.co/
Instagram: https://adanne.co/pages/instagram.com/adanne.co
Connect: Jacquees Thomas @_ThatsPeace
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At The Lit Bar in Mott Haven, Bronx, with the founder Noelle "Santos" Brown in season two of “BLK LIT,” spotlighting women preserving Black stories by opening bookstores across the metro area. Brown describes opening The Lit Bar in 2019 after learning the Bronx’s last bookstore (a Barnes & Noble) was threatened, motivating her to create a community literary resource. Brown discusses her audacity and willingness to learn, her curated approach to serving the Bronx’s diversity, and why more bookstores in the Bronx would strengthen the local literary ecosystem. She frames The Lit Bar as an evolving legacy, focused initially on literacy activism and now on creating jobs and a growing economy in her community.
Visit The Lit Bar: https://www.thelitbar.com/
Connect: Jacquees Thomas @_ThatsPeace
Sign up for News and Great Gifts for Book Lovers AbakeBooks.com
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Listen to Season Two of BLK LIT.


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In this lively roundtable discussion, host Jacquees Thomas sits down with some of her favorite book influencers to unpack the fictional novel Sky Full of Elephants. Joining the conversation are Jordan Hernandez, founder of Completely Booked; Chase Griffin and Shaquille Anderson, co-founders of Booked and Busy Book Club; and Anne, creator of LaGringaBaiana.
Together, they dive into each guest’s personal journey and the inspirations behind their literary platforms while exploring the complex themes woven into Cebo Campbell’s Sky Full of Elephants. The discussion highlights the layered perspectives of characters like Sydney and Charlie, the emotional weight of forgiveness and identity, and the possibility of adapting the novel into a series.
The panel also reflects on the unspoken influence of setting; how Alabama’s charged history and the ocean’s symbolic presence act as characters of their own, shaping the narrative’s depth and impact.
This episode offers an intimate look at the power of literature to inspire community and culture—and how that same community can uplift an artist’s perspective, even in the absence of mainstream media support.
Connect:
Jacquees "Peace" Thomas @_ThatsPeace
Jordan Hernandez @_CompletelyBooked
Chase Griffin & Shaquille Anderson @BookedandBusyBookClub_
Anne @LaGringaBaiana
Read: SKY FULL OF ELEPHANTS
Learn More: CeboCampbell.com
Special Thanks to @CeboCampbell
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In this episode of BLK LIT, host Jacquees Thomas delves into the life and work of Cebo Campbell, author, creative director, and award-winning poet. Best known for his debut novel, Sky Full of Elephants, Campbell’s work has captured the attention of book clubs and literary influencers across the country.
The episode explores Campbell’s creative journey, including the personal experiences that shaped his voice, the inspiration behind his storytelling, and the challenges he faced while promoting his work. With powerful insights from Campbell himself and reflections from book influencers, this conversation examines themes of identity, culture, and the intentional removal of the white gaze in storytelling.
As the dialogue unfolds, listeners gain a deeper understanding of Campbell’s process, his richly drawn characters, and the emotional weight his work carries, on the page and beyond.
Connect: @_ThatsPeace @CeboCampbell
Read: SKY FULL OF ELEPHANTS
Learn More: CeboCampbell.com
Special Thanks To:
Jordan Hernandez @_CompletelyBooked
Chase Griffin & Shaquille Anderson @BookedandBusyBookClub_
Anne @LaGringaBaiana
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