The Stacks Ep. 361 Reading Black Writers Gave Me Heritage with Tembe Denton-Hurst
Mar 5, 2025
Tembe Denton-Hurst, an author and journalist at New York Magazine, shares her journey of discovering identity through literature. She emphasizes the importance of reading Black writers for cultural representation and discusses how her background shaped her literary interests. Tembe also explores the significance of communal reading, critiques historical narratives involving white women in slavery, and reflects on her writing process for her novel, Homebodies. With a mix of humor and insight, she dives into her favorite books and the emotional impact of reading.
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Rereading Youthful Finds As An Adult
- Tembe read adult novels like The Color Purple and Push as a child and later reread them with deeper understanding.
- She remembers initial shock at content and later appreciation for thematic complexity.
White Women’s Role In Social Hierarchy
- White women historically used ownership of people to access social status when land ownership was restricted.
- Tembe connects that history to contemporary social hierarchies and the importance of studying it.
Join Nonfiction Book Clubs
- Read serious nonfiction with others to contextualize current events and broaden understanding.
- Tembe and Tracy invite readers to join their book club for challenging historical works.