Growing Up in the Urban Outdoors
Edited by Desiree Cooper

 

Available for pickup during the luncheon

 

A triumphant, cross-generational exploration of Black joy and resilience.

 

Remember the long, jubilant days of summer spent outdoors? This vibrant collection invites readers to return to that “carefree” season—riding bikes through the neighborhood, hopping the ferry to Boblo Island, fishing along the river, dancing on warm nights to Afrobeats and jazz, and cooling off in the Swimmobile.

 

For the Detroiters featured in this evocative anthology, those sun-drenched memories were often shaped by racism and exclusion. Emerging and award-winning creators of all ages recount both the struggles and triumphs of claiming space in the urban outdoors. Through poetry, essays, creative nonfiction, and comics, Black Summers blends nostalgia with resistance, resilience, and joy—offering a powerful reflection rooted in the African American experience.