About The Book

A powerful read redefining the meaning of genius while illuminating the ways in which Black Americans have found various ways to thrive despite insurmountable obstacles.

A Washington Post 50 Notable Nonfiction Books of 2025 Pick

About The Author

Tre Johnson was born in Trenton, NJ and now finds himself in Philadelphia, where he writes with a focus on race, culture and politics. His work has appeared in The Washington Post, Rolling Stone, Vox, The New York Times, Slate, Vanity Fair, The Grio, and other outlets.

He has appeared to provide media commentary on CNN Tonight with Don Lemon; CBS Morning Show; PBS NewsHour, NPR’s Morning Edition, and other programs. In addition to writing, Tre is a career educator, working both inside and outside the classroom as a teacher and leader.

About The Moderator

Tramon Lucas is the digital editor for The Baltimore Banner, where he focuses on alerts and homepage curation, optimizes content for search and produces social videos. He also produces The Banner’s evening newsletter, The P.M. Scan, and writes the Saturday morning newsletter.

Why join the Banner Book Club?

The Banner Book Club is your chance to meet and speak directly with prize-winning authors about their latest books and connect with a community of fellow book lovers. It’s an opportunity to explore Maryland’s literary heritage and engage with the trusted journalism that drives positive change. You’ll be the first to know of our upcoming book club events. And it’s free!