Hello, listeners.

It's just Said Jones here, and you are listening to a special installment of this year's Hey Sis vibe check, where we highlight and have conversations with amazing black women to celebrate what we call Black Women's History Month.

And today, oh my gosh, I have loved every Hey, sis conversation I've got to do myself and certainly that I've gotten to listen to via Zach and Sam.

But this feels like the point of it all for me. I am so happy to share this conversation with writer, cultural critic, and just frankly, genius, Amani Perry.

On this episode, we're going to discuss Amani's new book, Black and Blues, How a Color

tells the Story of My People. It's the follow-up to her 22 book, South to America,

which won the National Book Award. We get into so much in this conversation

about the cultural and historical relationship between black people, African American people,

and the color blue. But we also talk about the writing life, teaching, spirituality, ancestors.

We get into it all. It is a far-reaching and deep, deep conversation.

And I was just so honored that I was able to spend some time with Imani and her work in conversation.

And I just think, if this is your introduction to her, you're welcome. She is one of our country's foremost writers and thinkers.

And if you were familiar with her work, you know why I'm so excited. So let's go ahead and get into it.

Amani, my love, thank you for joining Vibe Check. It's such a joy.

It is such a joy. Thank you for having me. I'm so delighted.

This is really great. Let's just get into it. I, of course, want to talk to you about your new book, Black and Blues, how a color tells the story of my people. But also, you know, so much of this podcast is

like us trying to process what's happening. You know, we say vibe check is about like news culture

and how it all feels. And so I would love to talk about all of that with you, too.

You know, so black and blues, I don't know if I've ever come across a book like this before.

I've been reading it very slowly because it makes me emotional.

Sometimes I get emotional because of the brilliant precision of your sentences.

Other times I get emotional because you reveal, like when you,

...