Charles M. Blow

Charles M. Blow is a widely respected journalist, commentator, and Op-Ed columnist for The New York Times. He is the author of the memoir Fire Shut Up in My Bones, which was adapted into a historic opera that opened the Metropolitan Opera’s 2021-22 season—the first by a Black composer. Blow’s writing is known for its lyrical intensity and its unsparing examination of race, sexuality, and justice in America. He tackles the most difficult subjects of our time with a voice that is both intellectual and deeply personal.\n\nIn his book The Devil You Know: A Black Power Manifesto, Blow argues for a "reverse Great Migration," urging Black Americans to return to the South to build political power. This bold proposition highlights his role as a provocateur and a strategist for social change. Blow frequently appears on television networks like CNN, where he provides analysis on politics and culture. He is not just a pundit; he is a storyteller who uses his own life experiences—growing up in Louisiana, navigating his bisexuality, and raising children in a polarized country—to illuminate broader societal truths. Blow’s work challenges the reader to confront uncomfortable realities, making him one of the most vital moral voices in modern journalism.