It all started with a tweet by author LaDarrion Williams “What if Harry Potter went to an HBCU in the South”. Those 11 words sparked a viral conversation on X (formerly Twitter) which led to a short film entitled Blood at the Root (available on YouTube and Prime Video). When Hollywood would not pick up the project for a major motion picture or television show, LaDarrion decided to write the book instead.
Blood at the Root is a love letter to the African-American community. This young adult fantasy book gives the reader all the nostalgia of growing up as a black person in the South. Williams felt the need to tell a different type of young adult fantasy as he visited his local book store and saw no black boys on the cover. Thus, the story of Malik Baron was born.
Malik is a 17 year old young man from Alabama who found himself a foster child when at the age of 7, he caused the disappearance of his mother when his magic manifested while she was being attacked. Ten years later he cares for his foster brother Taye and while on the run from their abusive foster father he is approached by his mother’s family and learns of his origins as a person with magic.
What transpires is a journey to a magical HBCU, Caiman University, where he reunites with his old crush, makes friends and meets his enemies. Malik learns about his heritage and of those like him. He finds something he never had before - community. This book is non-stop action that leaves you on the edge of your seat. Harry Potter eat your heart out.
I spoke with author LaDarrion Williams about his new book and what this story means to him. Check out our exclusive interview below:
