In Sky Full of Elephants, a year has passed since “The Event,” where, without warning or known cause, every white person stopped what they were doing, walked to the nearest body of water, and drowned themselves. Charlie Brunton is a Black man rebuilding his life after spending years in prison for a crime he was wrongfully accused of. One day, he receives a phone call from a person whom he has never known existed, his biracial daughter, Sidney.

Cebo Campbell’s unforgettable debut novel beckons readers to embrace its beautiful premise of defiance, and imagine a life where whiteness is no longer the background against which Black people are subjected. In this week’s episode, we are joined in conversation with Cebo Campbell to discuss the conception of his remarkable story, and the importance of taking up space while acknowledging one’s right to experience all things wild and free. Sky Full of Elephants is out in paperback on September 16.