Julian Randall: The Dead Don’t Need Reminding: In Search of Fugitives, Mississippi, and Black TV Nerd Shit

In this Writers & Books Visiting Author series, Julian Randall transforms pop culture moments into deeply personal explorations of grief, family, and the American way. This nonfiction debut is a braided story of the author’s return from the cliff edge of a harrowing depression and his determination to retrace the hustle of a white-passing grandfather to the Mississippi town from which he was driven amid threats of tar and feather. He envisions his fight to stay alive through a striking medley of media, ranging from Into the Spiderverse and Jordan Peele movies, to BoJack Horseman and the music of Odd Future. Called “clear eyed and utterly absorbing” by Aimee Nezhukumatathil, The Dead Don’t Need Reminding is Randall’s journey to get his ghost story back.