Episode 103 -Antonio Michael Downing, Saga Boy and Black Cherokee

From Black Market Reads by The Givens Foundation for African American Literature

March 10, 2026 · 46 min · Season 11 · Episode 3

About this episode

Antonio Michael Downing discusses his memoir 'Saga Boy' and debut novel 'Black Cherokee', exploring themes of Blackness and lineage.

Antonio Michael Downing is an author, speaker, and musical artist. His memoir Saga Boy was called "singularly dazzling" by Kiese Laymon and "the triumph of Blackness everywhere" by Scotiabank Giller Prize–winner Ian Williams. He is also the author of the children's picture book Stars in My Crown and his debut novel, Black Cherokee . He writes and performs music as John Orpheus. In this Episode Lissa and Antonio travel the world in their far reaching conversation from Trinidad, to Canada, to Brooklyn, to the Cherokee Nation- discussing his memoir Saga Boy: My Life of Blackness and Becoming , his debut novel Black Cherokee , and a broader conversation about lineage and inherited systems. For GO DEEPER content visit www.BlackMarketReads.com Black Market Reads is produced by the Givens Foundation for African American Literature in partnership with iDream.tv. Our production team for this episode includes co-producers Lissa Jones and Edie French, technical director Paul Auguston, the voice Yo Derek, and our artist of inspiration Ta-coumba T. Aiken.

People in this episode

Hosts: Lissa Jones, Lissa

Guest: Antonio Michael Downing

Topics covered

memoir
Blackness
lineage
inherited systems
music

Keywords

Saga Boy
Black Cherokee
John Orpheus
children's picture book
Stars in My Crown

Mentioned in this episode

Products: Saga Boy, Black Cherokee, Stars in My Crown

Books & works: Saga Boy, Black Cherokee, Scotiabank Giller Prize, Stars in My Crown, Saga Boy: My Life of Blackness and Becoming, Black Market Reads

Places: Trinidad, Canada, Brooklyn, the Cherokee Nation-