Juneteenth marks the day in 1865 when the last enslaved Black Americans in Galveston, Texas, learned they were free, more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed. It’s a day of delayed liberation, yes, but also of enduring hope, cultural pride and the unyielding fight for justice. Over time, Juneteenth has evolved into a celebration of Black resilience and creativity, of voices that challenge the past and reimagine the future.
These six audiobooks illuminate that ongoing legacy. Each title underscores a different facet of what it means to be Black in America in the past, present and future. Whether rooted in history or infused with reimaginings, these stories honor the struggles and triumphs that Juneteenth represents. These aren’t just books to listen to, but narratives to reflect on, learn from and carry forward.
Harlem Rhapsody by Victoria Christopher Murray, narrated by Robin Miles
In 1919, trailblazing writer and editor Jessie Redmon Fauset arrives in Harlem determined to leave her mark. As the first Black woman to serve as literary editor of The Crisis magazine, she becomes a driving force behind the Harlem Renaissance by nurturing the voices of legends like Langston Hughes, Countee Cullen and Nella Larsen. But behind the scenes, Jessie is keeping a risky secret: an affair with her married mentor, W.E.B. Du Bois. As her influence grows and her own writing gains acclaim, Jessie finds herself at the heart of a cultural revolution, facing not just public triumphs, but the personal costs of ambition, love and legacy.
Narrator Robin Miles brings depth and nuance to this rich historical portrait, capturing both the grandeur of the era and the intimate struggles of a woman ahead of her time.
Small Worlds by Caleb Azumah Nelson (narrator)
Caleb Azumah Nelson, acclaimed for his debut Open Water, returns with Small Worlds, a lyrical and moving novel about love, family and self-discovery. Spanning three summers, the story follows Stephen, a first-generation Londoner born to Ghanaian immigrants. Caught between expectations and his own dreams, he feels the pressure to follow the traditional path — university, independence, stability. But when he chooses music instead, his world begins to fracture in unexpected ways. From London to Accra and back again, Small Worlds is a beautifully crafted exploration of belonging, freedom, and the spaces we carve out for ourselves. Narrated by Nelson himself, the audiobook adds a deeply personal layer to the lyrical prose, offering listeners an intimate connection to the rhythms and emotions that shape Stephen’s world.
Isaac's Song by Daniel Black, narrated by JD Jackson
Isaac has spent years hiding his artistic passions and authentic self, shaped by the rigid expectations of his father in rural Missouri. But in the vibrant world of late 80s Chicago, he finally begins to live openly — until the AIDS crisis and the brutal beating of Rodney King cast a shadow over his hard-won joy. At his therapist’s urging, Isaac begins to write, tracing the threads of his identity back through family history and inherited trauma in Arkansas. What he uncovers is a startling revelation that could either bring long-sought clarity or unravel the life he’s begun to build.
Poignant and richly layered, Isaac’s Song marks a powerful return to the characters of Don’t Cry for Me. Narrator JD Jackson delivers a soulful and resonant performance, capturing the emotional depth, vulnerability and courage at the heart of Isaac’s journey.
Harriet Tubman: Live in Concert by Bob The Drag Queen (narrator)
In a bold reimagining of history, Harriet Tubman returns to the modern world — and she’s ready to tell her story like never before. With a vision of turning her life into a groundbreaking hip-hop album and stage show, Harriet teams up with Darnell Williams, a disgraced music producer searching for a second chance. As they collaborate with the four freedom seekers she once led, the studio becomes a space for reckoning, healing and revolution. What unfolds is a powerful exploration of legacy, artistry, and the enduring fight for liberation.
Narrated by Bob The Drag Queen with vibrant energy and emotional range, the audiobook delivers a one-of-a-kind listening experience that blends history, music and imagination into something unforgettable.
Black Panther Woman: The Political and Spiritual Life of Ericka Huggins by Mary Frances Phillips, narrated by Deanna Anthony
This powerful and deeply researched biography chronicles the extraordinary life of Ericka Huggins — Black Panther Party leader, educator, poet, mother and political prisoner. Arrested in 1969 alongside Bobby Seale in a high-profile case that made her a target of FBI surveillance, Huggins endured the full weight of state repression. Drawing from never-before-seen prison records, personal letters, photographs and declassified FBI files, Mary Frances Phillips paints a vivid portrait of Huggins’s unwavering commitment to justice and spiritual resilience. Her story reveals how acts of self-care, community support and radical compassion sustained her through incarceration and beyond.
Narrator Deanna Anthony brings clarity and reverence to Huggins’s journey, delivering a commanding and compassionate performance that enhances this vital, intersectional examination of gender, activism and survival within the Black Power movement.
Black in Blues: How a Color Tells the Story of My People by Imani Perry (narrator)
Imani Perry takes readers on a powerful journey through history, art and personal reflection, exploring the deep connection between Blackness and the color blue. Blue symbolizes hope and possibility, endless skies, open waters, but it also carries sorrow, as echoed in Louis Armstrong’s haunting lyric, “What did I do to be so Black and blue?” Drawing from her own life, as well as cultural and historical touchstones, Perry traces this connection across time and place. She unpacks the indigo cloths of West Africa, once traded for human lives, the complex legacy of “Blue Black” as a descriptor of dark-skinned people, and the blues music that channels both pain and joy. In this lyrical and thought-provoking book, Perry reveals how blue — and Blackness — hold profound layers of meaning, shaping history, identity and the human experience.
Poignant, spellbinding and utterly original, Black in Blues is a brilliant new work that could only have come from the mind of one of our greatest writers and thinkers. Attuned to the harrowing and the sublime aspects of the human experience, it is every bit as vivid, rich and striking as blue itself.
Narrated by Perry with grace and quiet power, the audiobook draws listeners in with the same emotional depth and lyrical cadence that defines her writing, making the experience both intimate and resonant.
