The Comet (Mint Editions―Black Narratives)

Published by Mint Editions on June 8, 2021, "The Comet (Mint Editions―Black Narratives)" revives a captivating tale from the visionary mind of W. E. B. Du Bois. Set against the backdrop of a devastated New York City, this pioneering science fiction narrative unfolds through the eyes of Jim Davis, a bank messenger who, after a comet's passage, finds the bustling metropolis eerily stilled by death. Emerging from the bank's vault, Jim encounters a wealthy white woman, and together they navigate this newfound reality where societal norms are stripped away, revealing raw, human vulnerability. As one of the earliest speculative works that challenge racial divisions amidst catastrophe, Du Bois's story is a profound exploration of racial justice. This thought-provoking book is an essential read for high-school students, offering a unique lens on humanity and equality through the fusion of historical insight and speculative imagination, urging readers to ponder, how deep does our common humanity run when society's constructs are peeled away?