Leah Johnson's latest chapter
Indianapolis author, entrepreneur and advocate Leah Johnson is readying for the release of a new book as she gains new information about her bookstore's historic past.
Why it matters: Her work as a writer and the owner of Loudmouth Books is all about offering protection and support to the overlooked and oppressed.
Driving the news: Johnson's next book, " Bree Boyd is a Legend," is set to release on March 4.
The fantasy novel is a follow-up to her 2023 release " Ellie Engle Saves Herself" which puts Ellie's rule-loving BFF in the starring role after she gains superpowers of her own.
Johnson describes the book as "the Akeelah and the Bee meets Matilda (but, like, if Lavender had telekinesis instead) book of my dreams."
State of play: Johnson also recently learned that her independent bookstore on the 200 block of East 16th Street is a former Green Book site, something she was unaware of when she opened Loudmouth in 2023.
"I had no idea that our building was such an integral part of the state's Black history. It makes sense to me now why I was immediately left with a sense of rightness when I saw it for the first time, though," Johnson told Axios. "Maybe something in me just knew that Loudmouth was a part of a continuum of Black history."
Flashback: The "Negro Motorist Green-Book" was a guide printed between 1936 and 1967 that highlighted businesses that were safe for Black travelers during an era of legalized segregation and racial violence.
Believed to be built in 1928, the building operated as the Jacobs Cleaners Building under owner Meyer O. Jacobs when it was listed in the Green Book.
What's she saying: " Loudmouth is in the business of providing a safe haven to marginalized people in the midst of what doesn't always feel like a safe state of political climate, and that mission is in the very bones of the building we occupy," Johnson said. "That's a beautiful thing. And for our business to be Black-owned only makes it even more significant."
What's next: Johnson's book launch event is 6pm March 8 at Loudmouth Books.
Attend for free with an RSVP.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New York Post
an hour ago
- New York Post
Dwayne ‘The Rock' Johnson reveals frustrating gut-health issue that took him years to fix
Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson had a digestive issue that he couldn't kick — and no answers in sight. Johnson, one of WWE and Hollywood's biggest stars, opened up about his health journey during a recent conversation with the man who saw him through to the other side in Dr. Mark Hyman. The 53-year-old, after years of dealing with the gut issue, had a conversation with former agent and longtime business partner Ari Emanuel about it at the end of 2023. Advertisement 3 Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson speaks on his gut-health issues. The Mark Hyman Show/YouTube 'He's like, 'What's going on?' I said, 'I've seen doctors and I can't quite nail it. I can't quite fix it. It's in my digestion,' Johnson said during 'The Mark Hyman Show.' 'I feel great — and that's the odd thing — but I just can't crack it.'' Emanuel, the CEO of Endeavor and WWE's parent company, TKO, mentioned seeing Hyman, who practices functional medicine. Advertisement The two eventually connected for a virtual visit. Johnson admitted he knew nothing about functional medicine, which, according to the Institute for Functional Medicine, provides a framework to systematically identify and address the underlying processes and dysfunctions that are causing imbalance and disease in each individual. 'You said, very succinctly, 'I'm not going to treat your symptoms. I'm going to go deeper than that and treat the root cause of what's going on,'' Johnson said. 'And I said, 'I love that.'' Advertisement The treatment began in early 2024, with Johnson set to begin his 'Final Boss' run to WrestleMania 40 with WWE. Getting to what was holding Johnson back took some heavy digging, Hyman noted. They did blood panels and a stool test, among other things, to get to the source of the problem. Johnson was in for a grueling year with WWE commitments, the release of 'Red One' and 'Moana 2,' and filming for his upcoming movie 'The Smashing Machine.' 3 Dwayne Johnson attends the 'Moana 2' UK Premiere at Cineworld Leicester Square on November 24, 2024 in London, England. Getty Images 'That was at the beginning of 2024, and I was just getting ready to launch into what would become a nine-month workload for me — nonstop work,' Johnson said. 'And I was thinking, 'Holy s–t, how am I going to get through this with my gut issues? I'm not digesting properly.'' Advertisement Luckily, Hyman was able to provide Johnson some relief, finding the issue began after he took multiple rounds of antibiotics, which messed with the bacteria in his gut. He was missing Akkermansia, which coats the lining of the intestine and protects from inflammation and a leaky gut, Hyman said. 3 Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson and John Cena fight during Night 2 at Lincoln Financial Field on April 7, 2024 in Philadelphia. Getty Images 'We basically rehabbed your gut. Gave you probiotics and plant compounds—pomegranate, green tea, cranberry — to help rebuild it,' Hyman said. 'And we made you this amazing gut health shake with 10-plus ingredients personalized for you.' Johnson hasn't wrestled in WWE since, but was the catalyst for John Cena's heel turn earlier this year.
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Celebrating Black Music Month: Kansas City's music history
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — June is Black Music Month throughout the nation, which gives us a chance to highlight some of the Black musical greats right here in Kansas City. Bob Dylan, Carole King, Keith Richards and more celebs react to the death of Brian Wilson Kansas City is hailed as one of the top cities with deep roots connected to Jazz and Blues music with a rich history dating back to the early 1920s. The early emergence of Kansas City Blues and Jazz took place inside local dance halls, cabarets and speakeasies throughout the city. Some of these dance halls and clubs gave a platform to local greats such as saxophonist Charlie Parker and Bennie Moten's Orchestra. LEGOLAND, SEA LIFE to offer free admission to dads on Father's Day Today, jazz and the blues live on throughout Kansas City inside of clubs such as The Blue Room, and inside of historical time capsules such as the . Beyond Jazz and Blues, Kansas City is also home to a number of Black musicians, including some of the following: Janelle Monáe – Singer, Songwriter, Actress Tech N9ne – Hip-Hop Artist Fat Tone – Hip-Hop Artist Bloodstone – Soul & Funk Group Justus West – Guitarist, Producer Titus Johnson – Musician, Songwriter, Producer Blair Bryant – Bassist There are many Black musicians who have called the Kansas City Metro home over the years, and many more new emerging artists to add to the history books. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
4 hours ago
Diddy trial day 25 recap: Prosecutors try to drop a juror over 'lack of candor'
A surprise controversy surrounding a juror erupted Wednesday as the 25th day of Sean Combs' sex trafficking trial opened. U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian told a hushed court that he is considering removing one of the 12 jurors after prosecutors suggested the man demonstrated a "lack of candor" with the court. Neither the judge nor the attorneys in the case detailed the specific issues at work. Defense attorneys, however, took issue with the possibility that Juror No. 6 might be thrown off the panel. Noting that the juror is a middle-aged Black man from the Bronx, Combs' lawyers accused prosecutors of a "thinly veiled effort to dismiss a Black juror." It's not the first time Combs' lawyers have accused federal prosecutors of attempting to unfairly remove Black jurors. During the first week of testimony in the trial, when both sides finalized the jury, defense attorney Marc Agnifilo accused federal prosecutors of bias after most of the government's nine peremptory strikes were used on Black prospective jurors. The judge rejected the defense's challenge, saying the government had provided "race-neutral reasons" to strike the jurors. The judge told Combs and the attorneys that he would decide what to do by Friday and then Combs' lawyers resumed their cross-examination of a woman who accused the rap mogul of coercing her into sex during their three-year relationship. The woman, testifying under the pseudonym "Jane," told jurors during questioning from prosecutors that Combs strung her along for years in what she thought was a loving relationship. In reality, she testified that she was used by Combs to satisfy his extreme sexual appetites that played themselves out through days-long orgies she called "hotel nights." She testified that the drug-fueled sessions allegedly required her to have sex with male prostitutes while Combs watched, directed and masturbated to scenes of his own design. Jane told the jury that Combs threatened to stop paying her rent or to release sexually explicit videos of her if she refused to participate in the sexual escapades. Prosecutors argue that Combs used his wealth, status, and business empire to coerce both Jane and the singer Cassie Ventura -- another ex-girlfriend who was the prosecution's star witness -- into first participating in the sex parties then forcing them into silence. Combs has pleaded not guilty to the charges of sex trafficking, racketeering conspiracy and transportation to engage in prostitution. His lawyers argue that all sexual encounters were consensual and that Combs led a "polyamorous" lifestyle that was strictly legal. Defense attorneys spent most of Wednesday trying to use Jane's own words in text messages to show that she was a willing participant in Combs' sex life, not the victim of force or coercion. Defense attorneys paint Jane as a willing participant Combs' attorney Teny Geragos spent the better part of the day grilling Jane by showing the jury multiple text messages between Jane and Combs that suggested she was initiating sexual conversations. "What are you doing, baby?" Jane wrote to Combs in one message read for the jury. "Horny for me?" In one message, Geragos was able to extract from Jane the testimony that Combs obliged one time when Jane said she did not want to engage in a sex performance with a male prostitute. During another part of her testimony, Jane told the jury about two other instances when she declined to have sex with other escorts because she was not attracted to them. Jane also testified there was a two-month stretch in 2022 when there were no "hotel nights." When they were engaging in the sex parties, she testified she would buy matching shorts for Combs and the escorts to wear as well as erection pills. After Jane complained to Combs about him spending time with another woman, she said Combs invited her to leave the relationship. "It's not right how you're treating me right now and how you're doing me and the last thing I'd expect from you is coming at me sideways about a girl you like," Jane wrote. "You completely had your way with me." The message concluded, "You have me feeling so taken advantage of." Combs' response was not read aloud but Geragos characterized it as, "He was saying if the relationship was as toxic as you say you were welcome to leave, right?" Jane replied, "That's what he was saying." Defense tries to cast doubt on Jane's earlier testimony about "hotel nights" During days of direct examination, prosecutors used Jane's words to try to highlight a pattern when Combs would allegedly host Jane for a romantic weekend -- which she said she believed would not involve having sex with male escorts -- before pressuring her to participate in so-called "hotel nights." She told jurors that she regretted going on a trip in 2023 to Turks and Caicos because Combs pressured her to have sex with a male escort named Paul. On cross examination, defense attorneys introduced evidence showing Jane expressed gratitude for Combs during the trip. "You are truly a blessing in my life. have never had a man take care of me like you," Jane wrote in a text to Combs during the trip. "I feel blessed to have you in my life and I only wish to be a blessing in yours." Jane became emotional and cried as she testified about the text, saying she could not continue reading the entire message. She also testified about being pressured to have sex with three male escorts in Miami after Combs invited her to celebrate her own birthday. "I am given my gift, I'm taking a pill and awaiting an entertainer," Jane said, describing a pattern that she testified defined her relationship. Combs' attorneys, though, seized on a text message Jane sent to Combs on her way home: "Just wanted to say I loved and appreciated every detail you put together for my birthday." "You tell him you love and appreciate every detail, right?" Geragos asked.
