Editors Tony Medina, Samiya A. Bashir and Quraysh Ali Lansana

Format: Paperback, 500pp.
ISBN: 0883782391
Publisher: Third World Press
Pub. Date: February 2002

Read an AALBC.com Review

What is the role of today's emerging young artists in the current struggle for equality and justice? How do the voices of the neXt generation define the issues and politics of today?

Role Call is just that. It's a role call of a new generation of Black writers and artists. It is an exploration of our current cultural landscape in poetry, fiction, essays, visual arts and theater-on-the-page. This groundbreaking anthology is the litmus test--and a call to arms--of a generation grown fat on the limited freedoms won by the civil rights struggle. Role Call takes on issues of race, sexuality, education, nationalism, spirituality, AIDS, globalization, hip hop and the rise of the prison industrial complex. Role Call is a journey through the tropics of black rage, black love and black fire.

Editors Tony Medina and Louis Reyes Rivera

Format: Paperback, 320pp.
ISBN: 0609808400
Publisher: Crown Publishing Group
Pub. Date: October  2001
Edition Desc: 1 ED

“Here is a democratic orchestration of voices and visions, poets of all ages, ethnicities, and geographic locations coming together to create a dialogue and to jam–not slam. This is our mouth on paper, our hearts on our sleeves, our refusal to shut up and swallow our silence. These poems are tough, honest, astute, perceptive, lyrical, blunt, sad, funny, heartbreaking, and true. They shout, they curse, they whisper, and sing. But most of all, they tell it like it is.” –Tony Medina

Catch the Fire!!!: A Cross-Generational Anthology of Contemporary African-American Poetry
Click to order via Amazon

ISBN: 1573226548
Format: Paperback, 288pp
Pub. Date: January 1998
Publisher: Berkley Publishing Group
Edition Number: 1

"...Empathetic poems by Toi Derricotte, Haile Gerima, and M. Eliza Hamilton stand out among many voices. Five chapters cover street violence, families, "the complexity and perplexity of love," bi/multiracial identity, and "various Black cultural expressions such as dance, music, sport." Also included are editor Gilbert's interviews Amiri Baraka, June Jordan, Abiodum Oyewole, Sonia Sanchez, Ntozake Shange, and Quincy Troupe."

In Defense of Mumia
Click to order via Amazon

ISBN: 0863160999
Format: Paperback, 400pp
Pub. Date: March 1996
Publisher: Writers & Readers Publishing, Inc.

Editors: S. E. Anderson & Tony Medina

In 1982, the award-winning journalist and former Black Panther Mumia Abu-Jamal was convicted of killing a Philadephia police officer and was sentenced to death. He was on death row for 13 years before a groundswell of public opinion questioned the fairness of his trial and demanded a stay of execution. In August 1995, artists, activists, and concerned citizens met in New York City to demand a new trial. This book documents their overwhelming outpouring of support.

Deshawn Days
Click to order via Amazon

Tony Medina, R. Gregory Christie (Illustrator)

ISBN: 1584300221
Format: Hardcover, 32pp, Pub. Date: April 2001
Publisher: Lee & Low Books, Inc., Edition Description: 1 ED

Author Tony Medina drew from his own experiences growing up in the projects to create the story of DeShawn Williams. We meet DeShawn’s grandmother, who helps him with his homework, and his cousin Tiffany, who shares in his laughter and adventures. We learn of his dreams — to be a rap star — and of his nightmares, including one in which the graffiti in his neighborhood comes alive. Beautifully illustrated by award-winning artist R. Gregory Christie, this book and its diverse cast of characters will charm readers of all backgrounds.

Love to Langston
Click to order via Amazon

Tony Medina, Gregory Christie (Illustrator)

ISBN: 1584300418
Format: Hardcover, 40pp, Pub. Date: February 2002
Publisher: Lee & Low Books, Inc., Edition Description: 1ST

Fourteen poems offer young readers an exciting glimpse into the life of Langston Hughes, one of America's most beloved poets. Each poem explores important themes in Hughes's life — his lonely childhood, his love of language and travel, and his dream of writing poetry. Color illustrations throughout and extensive notes at the back of the book expand upon the poems, giving a broader picture of Hughes's life and the time in which he lived.

Christmas Makes Me Think
Click to order via Amazon

Tony Medina, Chandra Cox (Illustrator)

ISBN: 1584300248
Format: Hardcover, 32pp, Pub. Date: November 2001
Publisher: Lee & Low Books, Inc., Edition Description: 1 ED

The young narrator of Christmas Makes Me Think is thrilled with the holiday’s prospects: the presents he’s wishing for, the big tree he’s hoping to get, the cake he’ll bake with his grandmother. But he begins to wonder. What about the people who don’t get presents, or don’t even have a place to live? He soon realizes that he can make a difference by giving some of his presents to kids who have none. Chandra Cox’s bright collage art adds beauty to Tony Medina’s thoughtful message about community and caring.

Tough Love: Cultural Criticism and Familial Observations on the Life and Death of Tupac Shakur
Click to order via Amazon
or Order Directly From AALBC.com

edited by Kwame Alexander & Michael Datcher

Read More About Tough Love

Medina is also included on the Jazz Poetry Kafe: The BlackWords Compilation CD