LaToya Watkins, Kai Harris & Janelle Williams With Phoebe Robinson: A Conversation

In LaToya Watkins‘ Perish: A Novel, a Black Texan family explores the effects of inherited trauma and intergenerational violence as it comes together to say goodbye to their matriarch on her deathbed. Perish follows four members of the Turner family as their reunion brings out long-kept secrets and forces each member to ask questions about who is deserving of forgiveness – and blame. Kai Harris‘ What the Fireflies Knew: A Novel is a coming-of-age novel told by almost-11-year-old Kenyatta “KB” Bernice. In the wake of their father’s death and mother’s disappearance, KB and her sister try to make sense of their new life with their estranged grandfather. Part of growing up is learning that loved ones, and perfect families, can be flawed. And in Gone Like Yesterday, using magical realism as her story follows two Black women – Zahra, a college prep coach, and Sammie, a teenage girl and budding activist soon off to college – Janelle M. Williams explores the experience of being a Black woman in today’s America and asks what we owe to our families, our ancestors, and ourselves. Moderating is author Phoebe Robinson, founding publisher of Tiny Reparations Books.