My People - Five Decades of Writing About Black Lives

“Charlayne Hunter-Gault is an eminent Dean of American journalism, a vital voice whose work chronicled the civil rights movement and so much of what has transpired since then. My People is the definitive collection of her reportage and commentary. Spanning datelines in the American South, South Africa and points scattered in between, her work constitutes a history of our time as rendered by the pen of a singular and indispensable black woman journalist.”-Jelani Cobb

From the legendary Emmy Award-winning journalist, a collection of ground-breaking reportage from across five decades which vividly chronicles the experience of Black life in America today.

At just nineteen years old, Charlayne Hunter-Gault made national news after she had mounted a successful legal challenge that culminated in her admission to the University of Georgia in January 1961—making her one of the first two Black students to integrate the institution. As an adult, Charlayne switched from being the subject of news to covering it, becoming one of its most recognized and acclaimed interpreters.

Over more than five decades, this dedicated reporter charted a course through some of the world’s most respected journalistic institutions, including The New Yorker, NBC, and the New York Times, where she was often the only Black woman in the newsroom. Throughout her storied career, Charlayne has chronicled the lives of Black people in America—shining a light on their experiences and giving a glimpse into their community as never before. Though she has covered numerous topics and events, observed as a whole, her work reveals the evolving issues at the forefront of Black Americans lives and how many of the same issues continue to persist today.

My People showcases Charlayne’s lifelong commitment to reporting on Black people in their totality, “in ways that are recognizable to themselves.” Spanning from the Civil Rights Movement through the election and inauguration of America’s first Black president and beyond, this invaluable collection shows the breadth and nuance of the Black experience through trials, tragedies, and triumphs of everyday lives.

This definitive collection of Charlayne Hunter-Gault’s landmark journalism includes:

On the Front Lines of History: Firsthand accounts of the struggle for justice, from the author’s own desegregation of the University of Georgia to her coverage of activists like John Lewis and the rise of Black Power. The Black Woman’s Experience: Reporting that centers the trailblazing lives, challenges, and triumphs of Black women, from civil rights pioneers to the artists and professionals often overlooked by mainstream media. Harlem and Black Culture: An intimate look into the heart of Black America, featuring vivid portraits of life, art, and community in Harlem, from its corner bookstores to its symphony orchestras. A Global Freedom Struggle: Dispatches from South Africa during the fight against apartheid, Nigeria, and beyond, drawing powerful parallels between the fight for liberation at home and abroad.