"Farah Jasmine Griffin is one of the few great intellectuals in our time! This wise and powerful memoir is a masterpiece. She beautifully weaves her profound devotion to the life of the mind with her deep and abiding love of Black people and culture. Griffin’s magical words enchant and empower us like those of her towering heroes—Toni Morrison, Billie Holiday, James Baldwin and Wilhelmena Griffin!" - Cornel West

"Farrah Griffin’s vivid, passionate, and powerful tribute to the great gifts of Black culture offers a deep dive into such fundamental human themes as freedom, justice, rage, death, beauty, and love, as lived and celebrated through her own experience, music, and creative art, and that of countless others in the community she embraces, from the legacy of Black history to her own family, her wide explorations of literature and art, and her close friendship with many artists and writers." - Elaine Pagels

"Read Until You Understand gives us Dr. Farah Jasmine Griffin in full and mighty sail. Keen cultural analysis, storytelling, and gorgeous lyricism combine in this book that makes a genre of its own. In recollection is profound insight here; we have a portrait of a rich black community in place and time and the teachers Griffin finds in neighborhood, family, books, and music. The sounds, words, and wisdom black folks make also make us, and no one understands that better, nor expresses it with more beauty and power, than Griffin. This book is a talking book, a teaching book, and a treasure. I will read it again and again." - Elizabeth Alexander