Podcast Summary:

Podcast: All Of It
Host: Alison Stewart, WNYC
Episode: The Schomburg Centennial Book List
Date: February 2, 2026

Overview

This episode of “All Of It” celebrates Black History Month and the centennial of the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture by unveiling the “100 Black Voices” book list. Host Alison Stewart is joined by Myra Liriano (Associate Chief Librarian, Schomburg) and Brian Jones (Senior Director of Reading & Engagement, NYPL) to discuss the origins, curation process, and impact of this essential list. The conversation highlights the breadth of Black literary contributions, the list's global scope, listener favorites, and the critical role of literature in understanding culture and history.

Main Discussion Points

1. Genesis of the 100 Black Voices List

• The list was developed to mark the Schomburg's 100th anniversary and Black History Month.

• Inspired by the New York Times’ “Top 100 Books of the 21st Century,” but focused on Black voices.

• The team surveyed 72 influential Black writers, librarians, and thinkers, collecting 400+ nominations.

  • Quote:
    “We asked them, instead of 'the best books,' we asked, 'What are the books that have impacted your practice that were published between 1925 and 2025?'” — Myra Liriano [03:32]

• Limited each author to one book on the list to maximize diversity.

• The list spans genres, timeframes, and includes international voices.

2. Inspiration & Goals of the List

• Aims to inspire readers with both familiar and surprising selections by showing the wide expanse of Black literature.
  • Quote:
    “It’s familiar to see James Baldwin … but maybe surprising to see we chose Giovanni’s Room.” — Brian Jones [05:36]
• Selections intended to prompt readers to explore new or overlooked works.

3. Process & Challenges

• Resource limitations compared to major publications (e.g., New York Times) necessitated a community-driven approach.
• Narrowing down from over 400 nominations to 100 was a challenge.
• Categories were devised for easier exploration (poetry, fiction, biography, etc.).
  • Practical tip: Readers can explore the list online by genre at schomburg.org/100. [09:57]

4. Inclusion of Global Black Voices

• Although most submissions focused on American authors, the Schomburg team intentionally supplemented the list with voices from Africa, the Caribbean, and the diaspora.
  • Quote:
    “The Schomburg Center has always been global in its scope…we felt it was really important this list represents what our collection strengths are.” — Myra Liriano [10:44]

5. Listener Calls: Personal Connections to Black Literature

Listeners shared favorites, illustrating the list’s diversity and personal resonance:

• Ralph Ellison’s Invisible Man: “It has some really amazing themes. I highly recommend it to anybody.” — Mohid [07:24]
• Toni Morrison’s Beloved: “Inspired, loved Toni Morrison… particularly Beloved.” — Andrea [07:49]
• Percival Everett’s James: “I found it to be an engrossing read…it was respectful of the Huckleberry Finn, which I don’t think is racist at all.” — Rob [08:27]
• Other listener mentions:
  • Passing by Nella Larsen
  • The Street by Ann Petry
  • Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston
  • Sister Outsider by Audre Lorde
  • Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi
  • Parable of the Sower & Parable of the Talents by Octavia Butler

6. Surprising & Noteworthy Selections

• Some authors or works were selected over more expected titles (e.g., Sula instead of Beloved for Toni Morrison, Giovanni’s Room for Baldwin).
• The selection process revealed books that even the panelists weren’t familiar with:
  • Quote:
    “There's a book by Aimé Césaire that I haven't read or didn’t even know about...” — Brian Jones [11:46]
  • Quote:
    “Nervous Condition by Tsitsi Dangarembga...a feminist book that looks at rejecting the patriarchy of Zimbabwe.” — Myra Liriano [12:35]

7. Highlighting Plays and Dramatic Works

• The list features major Black playwrights, recognizing their influence on American theater.
  • Included: Dutchman (Imamu Amiri Baraka), Fences (August Wilson), Top Dog/Underdog (Suzan-Lori Parks), A Raisin in the Sun (Lorraine Hansberry). [19:53]

8. Approaches to Teaching and Reading Black Literature

• Listeners and panelists noted the value of including poetry, children’s books, and anthologies to reach students.
  • Notable works for young readers: Uncle Jed’s Barbershop (Margaree King Mitchell), A Voice of Her Own (attributed to Phillis Wheatley), The Undefeated (Kwame Alexander & Kadir Nelson).
• Encouragement for inclusive teaching:
  • Quote:
    “Our literature is inclusive, not exclusive. Go for it.” — Listener text [26:36]

9. Books with Lasting Impact

• Yaa Gyasi’s Homegoing (2016) discussed for its sweeping narrative connecting African and African American histories:

  • Quote:
    “There is something about these books that attempt to connect the Black experience here in the United States with the African past...It's such an ambitious novel.” — Brian Jones [17:50]

• The Black Jacobins by C.L.R. James on the Haitian Revolution, highlighted as “so dynamic…one of the most inspiring and amazing events in world history.” — Brian Jones [23:21]

• The Sweet Flypaper of Life (Langston Hughes & Roy DeCarava): Documents Harlem life through poetry and photo-essay; selected for its local resonance. [24:25]

10. Personal Book Recommendations from Guests

• Brian Jones:
  • Black Reconstruction in America (W.E.B. Du Bois): “Don’t read it by yourself. Form a study group.”
• Myra Liriano:
  • Sula (Toni Morrison): “Listening to Toni Morrison read it really just made it so wonderful.” [27:55]
  • Giovanni’s Room (James Baldwin): “If you haven’t read Baldwin, if you haven’t read Giovanni’s Room, I highly recommend it.” [27:55]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

Community-Driven Curation

“We frantically emailed and we didn't manage to get through to all the people we wanted to…the list of people we wanted to reach was over 600.”
— Myra Liriano [03:32]

Discovery & Humility

“I consider myself somebody who reads a lot of Black history, but there’s a lot here I haven't read. So, I've got some work to do.”
— Brian Jones [11:46]

Literature as Resistance

“A lot of our books by black authors are being banned throughout the country, so we thought that was a significant effort to continue to pursue.”
— Amelia, caller from Queens [13:46]

The Power of Narrative

“[Homegoing] hit me when I first picked it up like a ton of bricks…there’s something about seeing the long sweep of these two families, of these sisters, is really powerful.”
— Brian Jones [17:50]

Encouragement for Inclusive Education

“Our literature is inclusive, not exclusive. Go for it.”
— Listener text [26:36]

Timestamps for Important Segments

| Timestamp | Segment Description | |-----------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 02:45 | Origins of the Schomburg book list | | 05:36 | How the list inspires readers | | 09:18 | Responding to listener recommendations | | 10:44 | Importance of global Black voices | | 11:46 | Books new to the panelists | | 13:46 | Book clubs and the impact of reading Black authors | | 17:40 | The power of Homegoing and connecting Black American & African histories | | 19:53 | Plays highlighted on the list | | 23:21 | The Black Jacobins and learning from revolutionary history | | 24:25 | The Sweet Flypaper of Life & Harlem’s literary importance | | 27:19 | Final shout-outs and key recommendations |

Conclusion

This episode celebrates a century of Black literary excellence and the ongoing importance of the Schomburg Center. Through the 100 Black Voices list and its wide-ranging discussion, listeners are invited to discover both foundational and lesser-known works, enriching their understanding of Black culture and its global impact. The episode closes with personal recommendations, calls for inclusive teaching, and encouragement for all readers to explore the vast canon represented on the list.

Explore the full list and categories at: schomburg.org/100