James Baldwin

Baldwin appears in “The Weight.” Baldwin is considered one of the most prominent and influential authors in U.S. history. He grew up during the turbulent Jim Crow era. The constant barrage of racism heavily influenced his writing, fiction and nonfiction, and continues to inspire the current generation of activists. He moved to France to escape the double oppression of being black and gay. This collection of essays borrows from one of Baldwin's works, The Fire Next Time."

Phillis Wheatley

Wheatley appears in “Dear Pledges of Our Love: A Defense of Phillis Wheatley’s Husband.” Wheatley is considered to be the first black female poet. She was the first African slave in the United States to publish a book of poems. In “Dear Pledges of Our Love: A Defense of Phillis Wheatley’s Husband,” Jeffers explores Wheatley’s life, specifically her relationship with her husband. Through...