In Conversation with Rochelle Riley - Author of ’That They Lived’

Rochelle Riley recently ended a 20-year career as a nationally-syndicated, award-winning Detroit columnist in 2019 to become the City of Detroit’s Director of Arts and Culture. In 2018, she published 'The Burden: African Americans and the Enduring Impact of Slavery,' and she's just followed that up with a new book, 'That They Lived: African Americans Who Changed the World.' In this new book, which is out this week via Wayne State University Press, Riley's words describe the formative moments in the lives of some of the icons of Black History, and those words are paired with the stunning photography of Cristi Smith-Jones, capturing black and white images of her daughter Lola, and Riley's grandson Caleb, dressed in full costume to recreate some of the most memorable images from our history books. 

 

 

"That They Lived fills in gaps in the history that American children have been taught for generations. For African American children, it will prove that they are more than descendants of the enslaved. For all children, it will show that every child can achieve great things and work together to make the world a better place for all. Available where books are sold and from WSU."

 

More info: https://www.rochelleriley.com/the-burden/ 

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Music provided by Chad Stocker: https://honesttogoodness.bandcamp.com/