Givens Foundation's Black Market Reads Podcast debuts third season

MINNEAPOLIS - Jan. 2, 2018 - PRLog -- The Given's Foundation for African American Literature is excited to announce a new season of Black Market Reads, a podcast featuring conversations with Black writers and artists. The podcast is hosted by Lissa Jones, creator and host of Urban Agenda on KMOJ Radio.

Herman Milligan, Chair of the Givens Foundation Board of Directors described the mission of the foundation and the role of Black Market Reads, "Our goal is to provide the public access to high quality Black American writers who are producing exceptional literary works that reveal the rich cultural heritage of this population of writers. The Black Market Reads Podcast Series fulfills this mission by giving the public free online access to interviews with writers who are either renown or are emerging as an important voice within this literary genre."

What can listeners look forward to this season?

In the third season of Black Market Reads host Lissa Jones continues to engage in thoughtful discussions of race, literature, art and culture with Black writers and thinkers from across genres. Listeners can look forward to hearing the voices of former Minnesota Supreme Court Justice Alan Page, actress Joy Dolo of Blackout Comedy, screenwriter Michael Starrbury, jazz musician and professor Dr. Damani Phillips of the University of Iowa, and many more.

The first episode of the season, available now, finds Lissa Jones speaking with Justice Alan Page at his home in Minneapolis. The two engage in a insightful conversation about his recently published children's books, the importance of education, and his collection of Americana (which will be exhibited at the Hennepin County Central Library from January 8 to February 6, 2018).

In the coming weeks, we will share conversations with:

Local actress and educator Joy Dolo, a founding member of the all-black improv comedy ensemble Blackout, who enlightens us on the power of comedy to influence culture and the importance of representation on the stage;

Screenwriter Michael Starrbury tells Lissa how he found success in the LA film industry while continuing to work and raise his family in Minnesota, and what it was like to have his film, The Inevitable Defeat of Mister and Pete (2013), screened by First Lady Michelle Obama at the White House;

University of Iowa professor (and active jazz musician) Dr. Damani Phillips shares what it was like researching his recently published book What Is This Thing Called Soul?: Conversations on Black Culture and Jazz Education (Peter Lang, Inc., 2017), his love of music, and the challenges of academia, "Soul, like love, it's a difficult thing to prove in a scientific sense, but there is no doubt it exists", says Dr. Phillips.

Describing her work on the show, Black Market Reads host Lissa Jones says:  "It is a privilege to amplify and uplift the breadth, depth, and scope of African American thought offered through the literature that reflects the culture of our times. I love the conversations with our authors - no matter what medium they are using."

Where can listeners find Black Market Reads?

Episodes of Black Market Reads are available on Libsyn (http://givensbmr.libsyn.com/) (http://givensbmr.libsyn.com/), the Apple podcast app, Android, Stitcher, and many other common podcast platforms.

Archival episodes of Black Market Reads are still available and feature conversations between the show's original hosts Erin Sharkey and Junauda Petrus, serving as Givens Cultural Producers, and writers like Roxane Gay, Dean Moss, Mat Johnson, Paul Beatty, and others.

This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a Minnesota State Arts Board Operating Support grant, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund. Production services for the show provided by iDream.tv.

Media availability:

Herman Milligan, Chair

Givens Foundation for African American Literature

Board of Directors

givensfoundation@gmail.com

612.272.8491

Lissa Jones, Host

612.791.6279

alifemosaic@icloud.com