Literary and Philosophical References

• Hermann Hesse, Steppenwolf ("Source")
• Laura Lederer,Take Back the Night ("Coming Apart: By Way of Introduction to Lorde, Teish and Gardner")
• Audre Lorde ("Coming Apart: By Way of Introduction to Lorde, Teish and Gardner")
• William Styron, The Confessions of Nat Turner ("Source")
• Luisah Teish ("Coming Apart: By Way of Introduction to Lorde, Teish and Gardner")
• Ida B. Wells and her autobiography ("Advancing Luna—and Ida B. Wells")
• White feminism ("Coming Apart: By Way of Introduction to Lorde, Teish and Gardner")
• Leonard Woolf ("Laurel")
• Richard Wright, Black Boy ("A Sudden Trip Home in the Spring")

Historical References

• Black Power ("Coming Apart: By Way of Introduction to Lorde, Teish and Gardner," "Advancing Luna—and Ida B. Wells")
• The Civil Rights Movement (throughout)
• Eldridge Cleaver ("Advancing Luna—and Ida B. Wells")
• Kathleen Cleaver ("Source")
• Jim Crow ("How Did I Get Away with Killing One of the Biggest Lawyers in the State? It Was Easy.")
• Alberto Giacometti ("Trip")
• John F. Kennedy ("Nineteen Fifty-Five," "Advancing Luna—and Ida B. Wells")
• Robert F. Kennedy ("Advancing Luna—and Ida B. Wells")
• Alberta Williams King ("Advancing Luna—and Ida B. Wells")
• Malcolm X ("Nineteen Fifty-Five," "Advancing Luna—and Ida B. Wells")
• Sharecroppers ("How Did I Get Away with Killing One of the Biggest Lawyers in the State? It Was Easy.")
• Gloria Steinem ("Coming Apart: By Way of Introduction to Lorde, Teish and Gardner")

Pop Culture References

• Anna Lucasta ("Source")
• The Birth of a Nation ("Source")
• Faye Dunaway ("Source")
• "Eleanor Rigby" ("Source")
• Flower children ("Source")
• The Johnny Carson Show ("Nineteen Fifty-Five")
• Ma Rainey (Dedication)
• Rice-A-Roni ("Source")
• Bessie Smith ("Nineteen Fifty-Five")
• Willa Mae "Big Mama" Thornton ("Nineteen Fifty-Five")
• Three Sixes (666 Cold Preparation) ("A Sudden Trip Home in the Spring")
• Thunderbird ("Elethia")