* SIU Press…

Pulling off the Sheets tells the previously obscured history of the Second Ku Klux Klan which formed in deep southern Illinois in the early 1920s. Through meticulous research into both public and private records, Darrel Dexter and John A. Beadles recount the Klan’s mythical origins, reemergence, and swift disappearance. This important historical account sets out to expose the lasting impact of the Klan on race relations today.

The ideation of the Klan as a savior of the white race and protector of white womanhood was perpetuated by books, plays, and local news sources of the time. The very real but misplaced fear of Black violence on whites created an environment in which the Second Klan thrived, and recruitment ran rampant in communities such as the Protestant church. Events like the murder of Daisy Wilson intensified the climate of racial segregation and white supremacy in the region, and despite attempts at bringing justice to the perpetrators, most failed. The Second Klan’s presence may have been short-lived, but the violence and fear it inflicted continues to linger.

This disturbing historical account challenges readers to “pull back the sheet” and confront the darkest corners of their past. Dexter and Beadles emphasize the importance of acknowledging the damage that white supremacy and racism cause and how we can move toward healing.

* Block Club Chicago…

After a year of locking herself in her office at night, [Arionne Nettles] emerged with her city tale, “We Are The Culture: Black Chicago’s Influence on Everything” (Lawrence Hill Books). It hits shelves Tuesday.

Nettles’ debut is an ode to the city that raised her, and a history lesson in the culture that molded her and the world, she said.

She explores moments that shaped pop culture worldwide, not just in Chicago, from the “Oprah Winfrey Show” to the founding of “Soul Train” and Drill music. There are sections dedicated to Chicago’s Black Media Powerhouse, fashion and haircare. […]

“As a journalist, you’re always told not to put yourself in the story. But I was connected to a lot of these things, and I think it’s important for people to know why I might have landed on certain themes,” Nettles said. “I’m just a Chicago girl, and I think my experiences I talk about in my essays are very familiar to so many other Chicagoans I know.”

* Hoptown Chronicle…

Kimberly France, the author of “Black Settlements in Southern Illinois,” will discuss her research for the book during a program from 2 to 3 p.m. Saturday, April 27, at the Hopkinsville-Christian County Public Library. The public is invited.

France — a native of Carbondale, Illinois, and a graduate of Howard University and Southern Illinois University — said in a March interview with WPSD television that she wants to encourage others to research Black history in their own communities. […]

The book, from Arcadia Publishing, was released in January.

“Never before has there been a published record that identifies the Black settlements in each of the lower sixteen counties of Southern Illinois,” states a description from Arcadia. “Few are aware of this legacy, which dates back to the early founding of the Illinois territory, but these communities are an essential part of the region’s heritage. Author Kimberly France identifies these historic institutions by the pillars that anchored them. She describes how Black settlement began, how it ended and the untold history that lies between.”

* Greg Pratt sat down with WGN earlier this month to discuss his book “The City Is Up for Grabs.” Click here to check it out.

Do you have any recommendations?