Volume XXIV: The Imagination

In this episode we sit and chat with Associate Professor of History and Director of African and African American Studies at the University of Memphis Prof. Brian Kwoba about his book Hubert Harrison: Forbidden Genius of Black Radicalism -- recipient of the  2026 Frantz Fanon Outstanding Book Award and The 2026 Phillis Wheatley Book Award from the Sons and Daughters of the United States Middle Passage.Alongside Kwoba, we think about what "radicalism" means and what it means to be radical. Kwoba discusses the often forgotten about "Genius of Black Radicalism," Hubert Harrison, and why he thinks that Harrison was one of the earliest exemplars of Black Radicalism.In this episode, listeners learn about the various positions Hubert Harrison held politically--many of which were far ahead of their time. For instance, we learn that Harrison called for the end of capitalism, was an early radical voice on sex education and reproductive rights, and was one of the first Black figures in U.S. history to explicitly and publicly defend Non-monogamous relationships through his Free Love politics.Mentioned in this Episode:Hubert Harrison: Forbidden Genius of Black Radicalism [Book] - Brian KwobaW.E.B. Dubois: A Rebel with a Cause [PBS Documentary]Black Love, Black Hate: Intimate Antagonisms in African American Literature [Book] - Felice BlakeThe Dictionary of Obscure SorrowsGet in Touch with and Follow Dr. Brian Kwoba:IG- @Dr.KwobaWebsite- www.briankwoba.comFollow us across our social media channels:IG- @PagestrgTikTok & Youtube- @PagesthereadinggroupWebsite- www.Pagestrg.comSpotify: PAGES PODApple Podcasts: PAGES POD

In this ancillary episode of the PAGES Pod, we step away from our traditional Volume Series to bring you a conversation with the creators of the Enlighten Ideology Bookclub, UnComposedClay and TheGoodChild. Together, we discuss their relationships to reading, politics, and intellectual community, as well as the story behind how the Enlighten Ideology Bookclub came into being.From the books that have shaped them to the role that reading plays in political education and personal growth, this conversation explores what it means to build spaces dedicated to thoughtful engagement and collective learning.If you're interested in reading communities, political thought, or simply hearing how others cultivate a life of ideas, tap in.You can connect with these creators on the SPILL social media app at @UnComposedClay and @TheGoodChild to see what they're reading, follow their work, and stay up to date on upcoming book club discussions.

PAGES the Reading Group presents:In this episode of PAGES Pod, we present the live audio from a talk delivered as part of the San José State University Philosophy Department’s Invited Speaker Series. The talk, titled “What’s Wrong with Intimacy Confining Restraints,?” is delivered by Justin Clardy, PhD—founder of PAGES TRG and Assistant Professor of Philosophy at Santa Clara University.In the talk, Prof. Clardy examines how dominant ideals of intimacy can function as restrictive frameworks, shaping our relationships in ways that often go unquestioned. Drawing on philosophy of love, social norms, and relational ethics, the talk invites listeners to rethink what intimacy asks of us—and at what cost.The full visual recording of the talk, including the Q&A session, is available on YouTube. We encourage you to check that out as well for the complete experience.Follow us across our social media channels:IG- @PagestrgTikTok & Youtube- @PagesthereadinggroupWebsite- www.Pagestrg.com

This commemorative episode of the PAGES POD marks the one-year anniversary of our Fireside Chat at Santa Clara University and features a conversation on Black suffering, Afropessimism, and public emotion. The episode features Prof. Frank Wilderson III, Chancellor’s Professor of African American Studies at University of California, Irvine, in dialogue with Assistant Professor of Philosophy Prof. Justin Clardy (SCU) and doctoral candidate Kevin Morris (UMass).The conversation examines civic indifference and the grammar of Black suffering.This is also a moment of reflection and return. Whether you joined us live or are encountering the conversation for the first time, this episode invites you to sit with the questions that remain with us long after the conversation was had.Mentioned in this episode:Civic Indifference and Black Suffering (Youtube Episode)Engendering Blackness: Slavery and the Ontology of Sexual Violence - Patrice DouglassScenes of Subjection - Saidiya HartmanBlack Skin White Masks - Frantz FanonThe Wretched of the Earth - Frantz FanonFollow us across our social media channels:IG- @PagestrgTikTok & Youtube- @PagesthereadinggroupWebsite- www.Pagestrg.com

PAGES the Reading Group presents Volume XXIIII:In this Volume, we explore the 'imagination' across a wide range of contexts—how it takes shape in childhood, fuels fantasy, and orients us toward possible futures. In this episode, we consider the ethical dimensions of imagining: how our inner worlds shape our values, inform our actions, and raise difficult questions about responsibility. Can we be held accountable for what we imagine? What do our imaginings reveal about who we are and the worlds we hope for—or fear? This conversation invites listeners to think carefully about the power and consequences of the imagination in everyday life.Mentioned in this Episode:Barney's Imagination Song"Imagining in Oppressive Contexts" - Robin ZhengThe Color of Kink - Ariane Cruz"When a Man Cries" - Leon BridgesThe Dictionary of Obscure SorrowsOther Life (Film)Follow us across our social media channels:IG- @PagestrgTikTok & Youtube- @PagesthereadinggroupWebsite- www.Pagestrg.com

We’re stepping into a new book at Earl Grae Cafe! In this episode, Earl (she/they) reads Elizabeth Brake’s foreword to Justin Clardy’s Why It’s OK to Not Be Monogamous. Earl sets the stage for deeper conversations on monogamy and non-monogamy, inviting us to reconsider what it means to love freely and ethically.This short (~12 minutes) episode is the perfect entry point into our new read. And if you haven’t tuned in to the first seven episodes of Earl Grae Cafe, now’s the time to catch up! Like, subscribe, and join us on PAGES Pod as we keep reading good books, but having even better dialogue.Past Episodes of Earl Grae Cafe:Episode 01: Earl Grae Cafe- The Origin of Others (Foreword)Episode 02: Earl Grae Cafe- The Origin of Others (Chapter 1)Episode 03: Earl Grae Cafe- The Origin of Others (Chapter 2)Episode 04: Earl Grae Cafe- The Origin of Others (Chapter 3)Episode 05: Earl Grae Cafe- The Origin of Others (Chapter 4)Episode 06: Earl Grae Cafe- The Origin of Others (Chapter 5)Episode 07: Earl Grae Cafe- The Origin of Others (Chapter 6)Other Pages Pod Episodes you might like:PAGES Pod Volume XX: Problems with LovePAGES Pod Volume IX: Sad LovePAGES Pod (Live)- A Fireside Chat on Why It's OK to Not be MonogamousVisit the PAGES TRG Online Library - Here

We grow up, but do we ever stop being our parents’ kids? In this episode, we unpack what it really means to be an "adult child." How does this shape the dynamic between parents and their grown children? Do our parents ever truly see us as adults, or are we forever frozen in time as “their baby”? And what does it mean for us—do we ever fully see them beyond their role as parents?Join us as we dig into these questions and more, exploring the messy, shifting relationships between parents and their grown children. Tune in, reflect, and maybe even rethink the way you see your own family ties.Listen in, and don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share!A Few Texts Mentioned this Episode:Freedom as a Constant Struggle by Angela DavisNicomachean Ethics by AristotleBetween the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi CoatesAbstracted: Fictive Kinships in Black Extended Families Follow us across our social media channels:IG- @PagestrgTikTok- @PagesthereadinggroupWebsite- www.Pagestrg.com

Join us for the final episode of Toni Morrison's The Origin of Others read by Earl Grae.Don’t forget to like and subscribe to the PAGES Pod channel wherever you get your podcasts to stay tuned for more from Earl Grae Cafe!Past Episodes of Earl Grae Cafe:Episode 01: Earl Grae Cafe- The Origin of Others (Foreword)Episode 02: Earl Grae Cafe- The Origin of Others (Chapter 1)Episode 03: Earl Grae Cafe- The Origin of Others (Chapter 2)Episode 04: Earl Grae Cafe- The Origin of Others (Chapter 3)Episode 05: Earl Grae Cafe- The Origin of Others (Chapter 4)Other Pages Pod Episodes you might like:PAGES Pod Volume XXII: Afropessimism, Care, and [Fractured Kinship]PAGES Pod Volume XV: Body PoliticsPAGES Pod Volume XII: AfropessimismVisit the PAGES TRG Online Library - Here

In Episode 06 of Earl Grae Cafe, Earl (she/they) dives into Chapter 5 of Toni Morrison’s The Origin of Others to explore the inspiration behind Morrison’s Beloved: the true story of Margaret Garner, an enslaved mother who faced trial for infanticide during the Fugitive Slave Law era. In this 25-minute episode, Earl examines Morrison’s reflection on the challenge of telling stories about those whose lives and voices are often erased—a powerful theme that echoes Saidiya Hartman’s work in Venus in Two Acts.This episode offers a thoughtful look at storytelling, identity, and the unspoken lives of “Others.” New listeners can jump right in, while regulars can appreciate the building depth of each chapter. Be sure to check out previous episodes (1-5) for more of Earl’s readings and reflections on Morrison’s brilliant insights.Don’t forget to like and subscribe to the PAGES Pod channel wherever you get your podcasts to stay tuned for more from Earl Grae Cafe!Past Episodes of Earl Grae Cafe:Episode 01: Earl Grae Cafe- The Origin of Others (Foreword)Episode 02: Earl Grae Cafe- The Origin of Others (Chapter 1)Episode 03: Earl Grae Cafe- The Origin of Others (Chapter 2)Episode 04: Earl Grae Cafe- The Origin of Others (Chapter 3)Episode 05: Earl Grae Cafe- The Origin of Others (Chapter 4)Other Pages Pod Episodes you might like:PAGES Pod Volume XXII: Afropessimism, Care, and [Fractured Kinship]PAGES Pod Volume XV: Body PoliticsPAGES Pod Volume XII: AfropessimismVisit the PAGES TRG Online Library - Here

In Episode 05 of Earl Grae Cafe, Earl (she/they) delves into Chapter 4 of Toni Morrison’s The Origin of Others, exploring the shifting definitions of "Black" and "Blackness" in literature. In this short episode, Earl guides listeners through Morrison’s examination of naturalist and constructionist views on race, with a special focus on how Blackness is portrayed, understood, and constructed. As always, Earl offers thoughtful reflection on Morrison's writing.If you’ve been following along, this episode continues to unpack Morrison’s rich reflections on race and identity. And if you’re new, now’s the perfect time to catch up—be sure to check out past episodes (1-4) of Earl Grae Cafe for more of Earl’s insightful readings and commentary.Don’t forget to like and subscribe to the PAGES Pod podcast channel wherever you get your podcasts so you don’t miss any future episodes of Earl Grae Cafe!Past Episodes of Earl Grae Cafe:Episode 01: Earl Grae Cafe- The Origin of Others (Foreword)Episode 02: Earl Grae Cafe- The Origin of Others (Chapter 1)Episode 03: Earl Grae Cafe- The Origin of Others (Chapter 2)Episode 04: Earl Grae Cafe- The Origin of Others (Chapter 3)Other Pages Pod Episodes you might like:PAGES Pod Volume XXII: Afropessimism, Care, and [Fractured Kinship]PAGES Pod Volume XV: Body PoliticsVisit the PAGES TRG Online Library - Here