Audiobooks narrated by Kim Staunton

Calling All Blessings: A Blessings Novel

"NAACP nominee and USA Today bestselling author Beverly Jenkins celebrates her beloved Blessings series with a heartwarming novel set in Henry Adams, Kansas. “If you haven’t yet gotten your hands on [this] author’s work, you should do so immediately.”—Shondaland Tamar July, town matriarch of Henry Adams, KS, is being haunted by dreams of her humiliating wedding day, sixty years ago, when she discovered her intended, Joel Newton, was already married. The truth left her furious, heartbroken, and carrying a child, her son Malachi “Mal” July. Why are these dreams coming to her now? And is the great horned owl perched on her backyard shed somehow connected? When Joel’s legitimate son comes to Henry Adams wanting to meet his half-brother, Mal, Tamar must deal with her past, her anger, and explore what it means to truly forgive. Tamar isn’t the only one being tested. Teenager Devon July wants to be anyone but himself. When he first arrived in Henry Adams, as an eight-year-old foster child, he wanted to be a preacher. Then, to be like his adopted brother, Amari. Now, he’s decided to be a variant of James Brown—wig included—rather than who he really is, a boy who lost his beloved grandmother and is the son of a mentally challenged woman. Will Tamar be able to guide his spirit quest and place him on the road to finally being at peace within himself? As the big August 1st celebration nears, town owner Bernadine Brown has a lot on her plate, chief among them, what to do with former mayor Riley Curry’s monstrous tribute to his hog Cletus. There are no secrets in Henry Adams, but there’s never a dull moment either. "

Beverly Jenkins (Author), Kim Staunton (Narrator)

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Here: Where the Black Designers Are / A Life in Advocacy

"Designer, activist, and educator Cheryl D. Holmes-Miller is legendary for her decades of scholarship and advocacy, and as a touchstone and conscience for the design profession. In HERE: Where the Black Designers Are, Holmes-Miller documents the history of—and answers to—the question she has been asking for decades: “Where are the Black designers?” Holmes-Miller explores this essential question through the lens of her own development as a designer and leader, beginning with her own family and its rich multiethnic history. She narrates her experiences as a design student at Rhode Island School of Design (RISD), Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA), and Pratt Institute, leading up to her oft-cited Pratt thesis examining barriers to success for Black designers. Holmes-Miller describes the work of her eponymous studio for noted clients that included NASA, Time Inc., and the nascent Black Entertainment Television (BET), as well as the story of her later critiques of the industry in Print magazine and other design publications. Holmes-Miller also recounts the parallel history of collective efforts by fellow scholars and advocates over the past fifty years to identify and celebrate Black designers. HERE is part memoir, part historical investigation, and an urgent call for justice and recognition for Black designers. “This book is representative of the shoulders on which we, as Black graphic designers, stand. These are the legacies we are fighting to uphold and the torches we must continue to carry. The journey of the Black designer has not been easy. It isn’t easy. And while we may be left out of history books, this is a reminder that we are here. Always have been. Always will be.”—Tré Seals, Vocal Type"

Cheryl D. Holmes-Miller (Author), Kim Staunton (Narrator)

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Before the Ships: The Birth of Black Excellence

"Before the Ships is a powerful and poetic celebration of the early roots of Black history. The great achievements and accomplishments across Africa prior to the Transatlantic slave trade are told through melodious words, that culminate into the strength and resilience of modern-day Black people. For so many of us, the first introduction to Black history begins with lessons about slavery. While slavery is a crucial part of African-American history, it is not the beginning. In fact, there is a rich history tied to the continent of Africa that deserves to be told and to be marveled at-- which is exactly what Maisha Oso does in Before the Ships."

Maisha Oso (Author), Kim Staunton (Narrator)

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A Seat at the Table: The Life and Times of Shirley Chisholm

"Shirley Anita St. Hill Chisolm rose from being the child of immigrants to running for the highest office in the land. She was both the first African American woman elected to the US Congress and the first African American woman of a major political party to make a serious run for president of the United States. These achievements were not in spite of her background but rather because of it. She persevered by being steadfast in her political convictions and unwilling to compromise on the issues she believed in. Chisholm directly challenged the political establishment and gave a political voice to so many segments of society that were historically ignored—women, racial minorities, young people, the gay community, domestic and agricultural workers, and the poor—not only in her home district in Brooklyn, New York, but across the country. Her run for the 1972 Democratic presidential nomination may not have ended in victory, but it was successful in forging a grassroots campaign that united diverse Americans behind a candidate who championed their collective interests. Her efforts laid the groundwork for change then, now, and in the future. Without Shirley Chisholm, there may not have been a Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, or Kamala Harris. “A Seat at the Table is a must-read. The authors share Shirley Chisholm’s personal narrative and convey how she was passionate about equality and education as she navigated racism and sexism in the United States. She is an inspiration to all of uswho serve the public good.”—Dr. Camille M. Davidson, Dean of Southern Illinois University School of Law"

Drs. Glenn L. Starks, F. Erik Brooks (Author), Kim Staunton (Narrator)

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Climbing the Rough Side of the Mountain: The extraordinary story of love, civil rights, and labor ac

"The remarkable story of a couple who came together during the Civil Rights Movement and made fighting for equality and civil and workers’ rights their purpose for more than sixty years, overcoming adversity—with the strength of their love and commitment—to bring about meaningful change. Norman Hill was the national program director of the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE), staff coordinator for the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, staff representative of the Industrial Union Department of the AFL-CIO, and president of the A. Philip Randolph Institute from 1980 to 2004, the longest tenure in the organization’s history. He remains its president emeritus. Velma Murphy Hill, a graduate of the Harvard Graduate School of Education, was a leader of the Chicago Wade-in to integrate Rainbow Beach, East Coast field secretary for CORE, and assistant to the president of the United Federation of Teachers, where she unionized 10,000 paraprofessionals, primarily Black and Hispanic, working in New York public schools. She was vice president of the American Federation of Teachers and International Affairs and civil rights director of the Service Employees International Union. The Hills were the only Black couple to hold leadership positions in the civil rights and labor movements. When Velma Murphy was knocked unconscious by a brick thrown by a man from an angry white mob and was carried away by Norman Hill, it was the beginning ofa six-decade-long love story and the turmoil, excitement, and struggle for civil rights and labor movements. In Climbing the Rough Side of the Mountain, the Hills reflect upon their more than half century of fighting to make America realize the best of itself. Through profound conversations between the two, Velma and Norman Hill share their earliest memories of facing racial segregation in the 1960s, working with Martin Luther King, Jr., Bayard Rustin, and A. Philip Randolph, crossing paths with Malcolm X and Stokely Carmichael. They also reveal how they kept white supremacists like David Duke from taking office, organized workers into unions, met with Presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama, and continued to work tirelessly, fighting the good fight and successfully challenging power with truth."

Norman Hill, Velma Murphy Hill (Author), Arnell Powell, Kim Staunton (Narrator)

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A Christmas to Remember: A Novel

"NAACP nominee and USA Today bestselling author Beverly Jenkins returns to her beloved Blessings series with a Christmas wedding in the town of Henry Adams, Kansas. Ever since Bernadine Brown bought the town of Henry Adams, her relationship with diner owner Malachi “Mal” July has had its share of ups and downs. But now they’re finally ready to say “I do.” Or are they? As wedding preparations go into full swing, and families both local and extended begin to gather for the festivities, that long awaited walk down the aisle hits a speed bump that may derail everything. But Mal and Bernadine’s relationship isn’t the only one being tested. Preston Mays aka Brain, loves his girlfriend as much as he does physics but when she decides being a couple is no longer a good thing, his heart is broken. Will connecting with his bio dad’s family ease his pain? Reverend Paula Grant has been patiently waiting for God to send her someone to share her life. When the town’s charming new chef arrives in town, she wonders if he could be the one. And then there’s former mayor Riley Curry who throws a parade with his hog Cletus! There’s always a lot going on in Henry Adams, and this will be a Christmas to remember."

Beverly Jenkins (Author), Kim Staunton (Narrator)

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Those Who Saw the Sun: African American Oral Histories from the Jim Crow South

"The past is not past. We may think something ancient history, or something that doesn’t affect our present day, but we would be wrong. Those Who Saw the Sun is a collection of oral histories told by Black people who grew up in the South during the time of Jim Crow. Jaha Nailah Avery is a lawyer, scholar, and reporter whose family has roots in North Carolina stretching back over 300 years. These interviews have been a personal passion project for years as she’s traveled across the South meeting with elders and hearing their stories. One of the most important things a culture can do is preserve history, truthfully. In Those Who Saw the Sun we have the special privilege of hearing this history as it was experienced by those who were really there. The opportunity to read their stories, their similarities and differences, where they agree and disagree, and where they overcame obstacles and found joy, feels truly like a gift."

Jaha Nailah Avery (Author), Arnell Powell, Jaha Nailah Avery, Kim Staunton (Narrator)

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Africa Risen: A New Era of Speculative Fiction

"From an award-winning team of editors comes an anthology of thirty-two original stories showcasing the breadth of fantasy and science fiction from Africa and the African Diaspora. A group of cabinet ministers queries a supercomputer containing the minds of the country’s ancestors. A child robot on a dying planet uncovers signs of fragile new life. A descendant of a rain goddess inherits her grandmother’s ability to change her appearance—and perhaps the world. Created in the legacy of the seminal, award-winning anthology series Dark Matter, Africa Risen celebrates the vibrancy, diversity, and reach of African and AfroDiasporic science fiction and fantasy and reaffirms that Africa is not rising—it’s already here."

Sheree Renee Thomas (Author), Amin El Gamal, Dele Ogundiran, Jamie Lincoln Smith, Kim Staunton, Tamika Katon-Donegal, Tony Tambi (Narrator)

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The Bennetts' Christmas

"It's been fifteen years and now those Bennett girls are all grown up, finished with college and ready to take on the world in their new careers. Close as ever, Kennedy, Victoria, Monica and Sebrina decide not to return to Georgia, but to move north to St. Paul, Minnesota. They have plans to succeed at all of their goals. Falling in love isn't on the agenda. In The Bennetts' Christmas, Kennedy and Victoria discover that when it's your time, you can't hide from love. In The Bennetts' Christmas, Monica and Sebrina discover romancing around the holidays are the best!"

Brenda Jackson (Author), Kim Staunton (Narrator)

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To Catch a Raven: Women Who Dare

"“A living legend.'' -- Julia Quinn The newest novel in USA Today bestselling author Beverly Jenkins’s compelling Women Who Dare series features a fearless grifter who goes undercover to reclaim the stolen Declaration of Independence. Lying and cheating may be sins to some people, but for Raven Moreaux, it is a way of life. She comes from a long line of grifters and couldn’t be prouder…Until she’s forced to help the government. A former Confederate official is suspected of stealing the Declaration of Independence, and Raven, posing as his housekeeper, is tasked with getting it back. Her partner is the too handsome Braxton Steel. Masquerading as a valet/driver, Brax is also supposed to be her “husband.” He has his own reasons for doing this job, but when their pretend marriage ignites into fiery passion, they’ll have to put everything—including their hearts—on the line."

Beverly Jenkins (Author), Kim Staunton (Narrator)

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Evicted!: The Struggle for the Right to Vote

"Black hands in Fayette County, Tennessee, were free to pick cotton and corn but were barred from casting ballots. A whirlwind of change blew through the county when Black landowners like John McFerren and Harpman Jameson organized registration drives to help Black citizens vote—but not without violent attempts to stop it. White farmers evicted Black sharecroppers off their land, leaving families stranded and forced to live in tents. White shopkeepers also refused to sell to them. But the voiceless did finally speak. In 1965 the Voting Rights Act legally ended voter discrimination. Alice Faye Duncan’s powerful words and Charly Palmer’s bold art not only capture the Tent City struggle but also the hope, determination, and unwavering courage of everyday people."

Alice Faye Duncan (Author), Kim Staunton (Narrator)

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Sometimes Farmgirls Become Revolutionaries: Florence Tate on Black Power, Black Politics and the FBI

"Sometimes Farmgirls Become Revolutionaries is the story of an unsung civil rights organizer, Black Power activist, and barrier-breaking Black woman, Florence Louise Tate (1931–2014). Tate was close to the young leaders of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee. She became a mentor, a mother-of-themovement, and a target of J. Edgar Hoover and the FBI. Tate defied stereotypes of the 1960s, playing key roles in the lives and work of an astonishing number of high-profile leaders of the most influential social-change organizations and events of the twentieth century. She also worked with numerous Black Nationalist leaders and Pan-African activists, US politicians, and members of the Congressional Black Caucus. She was close to Marion Barry and Jesse Jackson, serving both men as press secretary. An accomplished activist, most people never knew that Tate was bravely fighting chronic depression. She endured years of electroconvulsive shock treatments and therapy to live a full life, contribute to her community, fight for human and civil rights, and be available to her family. Farmgirls is an engaging collage of Tate’s life, woven together from her journal entries, memories from people who knew her, and excerpts from her FBI files. These multiple perspectives bring into focus the complex and complicated saga of a public persona engaged in private struggle, defying and overcoming the odds."

Florence Tate, Jake-Ann Jones (Author), Beresford Bennett, Kim Staunton (Narrator)

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Audiobooks Narrated by Kim Staunton