Legacy Lit Announces Inaugural “Blackademics” Virtual Event Featuring Award-Winning Authors John B. King Jr. and Karida L. Brown on the State of Black Education
Conversation about Critical Issues Surrounding Black Education in the U.S. Takes Place September 22, at 6:00 PM, ET
NEW YORK, NY — (August 4, 2025) — Krishan Trotman, Vice President and Publisher of Legacy Lit, announced today the launch of the imprint’s groundbreaking “Blackademics Author Talk Series,” which debuts Monday, September 22, at 6:00 PM, ET. The series’ first event will showcase a virtual conversation moderated by Philip McHarris, Assistant Professor in the Department of Black Studies at the University of Rochester and author of BEYOND POLICING, featuring two distinguished voices in education and racial equity: John B. King Jr., Chancellor of SUNY and former U.S. Secretary of Education and author of TEACHER BY TEACHER, and Karida L. Brown, Emory University professor, NAACP Image Award winner, and author of THE BATTLE FOR THE BLACK MIND.
The event, titled “The State of Black Education,” will explore critical issues surrounding Black education in the U.S., including access, equity, and representation in both K-12 and higher education. The speakers will address the future of education through the lens of policy, activism, and lived experience, offering insight for educators, students, and academics.
“Our commitment is to publish and showcase a racially diverse roster of leading intellectuals,” said Krishan Trotman, Publisher of Legacy Lit. “We aim for Blackademics to not only provide a platform for BIPOC academics but to also foster ongoing conversation between academics, students, and publishers, creating a dynamic space for intellectual exchange.”
Legacy Lit, an imprint dedicated to amplifying historically underrepresented voices, created the Blackademics series to serve as a platform for Black and POC scholars and thought leaders. With this series, Legacy Lit aims to encourage dialogue that inspires social change, uplifts marginalized communities, and highlights the intersection of education, race, and justice.
The Blackademics series complements Hachette Book Group’s newly launched Raising Readers initiative, a global effort to address the alarming decline in childhood reading for pleasure. By elevating the work of scholars who examine the state of education through a racial and equity lens, Blackademics reinforces the importance of early literacy, representation, and equitable access as foundational to a lifelong love of reading. Research shows that reading for fun is one of the biggest predictors of future success and an engine that drives social mobility, as it positively impacts academic results, happiness, communication skills, ambition, and wealth.
Each installment of the Blackademics series will spotlight Legacy Lit authors and other influential figures across the Hachette Book Group, offering a space for transformative ideas and engaging conversations.
RSVP for the event HERE.
About Legacy Lit
Legacy Lit is an imprint dedicated to giving voice to issues, authors, and all groups that have been underrepresented, under-served, and overlooked. Our mission is to inspire social change and to elevate and celebrate diverse communities. We are unapologetically intentional and committed to promoting equality and equity for all people. Our books uplift and celebrate diverse communities using fresh narratives, powerful storytelling, and big ideas that will educate, enlighten, and inspire.
About Grand Central Publishing Group
Grand Central Publishing Group reaches a diverse audience through books that cater to every kind of reader. Our divisions include Grand Central Publishing, Hachette Nashville, and Union Square & Co.
About Hachette Book Group
Hachette Book Group (HBG) is a leading US general-interest book publisher made up of dozens of esteemed imprints within the publishing groups Basic Books Group; Grand Central Publishing Group; Hachette Audio; Little, Brown and Company; Little, Brown Books for Young Readers; Orbit; Workman Publishing; and Running Press Group. We also provide custom distribution, fulfillment, and sales services to other publishing companies.
Our books and authors have received the Pulitzer Prize, National Book Award, Caldecott Medal, Newbery Medal, Booker Prize, Nobel Peace Prize and other major honors.
We are committed to diversity in our company and our publishing programs, and to fostering a culture of inclusion for all our employees and authors. We are proud to be part of Hachette Livre, the world’s third-largest trade and educational publisher.
Visit hachettebookgroup.com to learn more about HBG imprints. For updated news follow HBG on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Threads, TikTok, X.com, Pinterest, and YouTube.
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Press Contact: legacylit@hbgusa.com