Join us for a powerful and timely public lecture by Dr. Randal Maurice Jelks, who will explore Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. 's haunting concern toward the end of his life—that the United States had become “a burning house.” Dr. Jelks will examine the democratic challenges we face locally, regionally, and nationally. We Are Lit will be selling books at […]
The 2026 Dr. Martin Luther King - Undaunted Hope: Memorial March will take place on January 20th at 3:30 p.m. at the downtown MLK Plaza. Please fill out this form if you will be marching in the parade. RSVP for the panel discussion at this link
Africana Festival, African American Research Library & Cultural Center, Fort Lauderdale, Florida March 27-28, 2026
PLA Conference Book Signing — Minneapolis, Apr 2 Randal Maurice Jelks will be signing copies of his new book My America: Langston Hughes and the Making of a New Democracy at the Public Library Association Conference in Minneapolis. Stop by the signing table between 10:30–11:00am and pick up a personally signed copy. The PLA Conference brings together thousands of library […]
Join author Randal Maurice Jelks for an evening of conversation and community at Strive Bookstore in Minneapolis. Jelks will be joined in conversation by Angela Ajayi for a wide-ranging discussion about My America: Langston Hughes and the Making of a New Democracy — exploring Hughes' life, legacy, and what his vision of democracy means for America today. Books will be […]
Randal Maurice Jelks comes to Morgensterns Books in Indiana, Iowa for an author event in conversation with Prof. Abegunde. Together they'll explore the themes at the heart of My America: Langston Hughes and the Making of a New Democracy — Hughes' radical imagination, his commitment to justice, and his enduring relevance in contemporary America. This is an intimate evening not […]
Randal Maurice Jelks presents at the College Language Association Annual Conference at the Westin Hotel in Jackson, Mississippi. Joined in conversation by Jason Miller and Akiba Harper, Jelks will discuss My America: Langston Hughes and the Making of a New Democracy in a scholarly setting that honors the long tradition of Black literary and linguistic scholarship. The CLA has long […]
Randal Maurice Jelks joins writer and educator C. Leigh McInnis for an afternoon reading and conversation at Central United Methodist Church in Jackson, Mississippi. Set in the Family Life Center, this event will delve into My America: Langston Hughes and the Making of a New Democracy, examining Hughes' profound influence on American culture, literature, and the ongoing struggle for equality. […]
