Thanks to Ecco and Netgalley for the Advanced Reader's Copy!

Available January 2025

Expansive yet precise, Imani Perry's Black in Blues traces the appearance of the term blue in African and Black history, starting pre-colonization and ending in our present era. As with all of Perry's books, there is a delicate balance of history, cultural analysis, and personal reflection. I thoroughly enjoyed the vivid way Perry brings it all to life and seems to be able to time travel without much break in logical reasoning. What felt a bit off was the ending, particularly the multiple endings. With a book this enormous, I know a tidy ending wasn't possible, but it feels like Perry became ummoored and lost in the blues herself. Still, this is a worthy read!