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Givens Foundation | Black Market Reads

Episode 101 - C.J. Farley - Who Knows You By Heart

Black Market Reads is a menu for Black literary consumption and all of its spin-offs. Featuring Black artists who love to read and write and engage in arts and culture.

To listen to episodes and find great additional content about our authors and their work, visit our website (https://blackmarketreads.com/).

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PRODUCER: The Givens Foundation for African American Literature
PRODUCTION SERVICES: iDream.tv

SEASON TWO - FOUR: Hosted by Lissa Jones

SEASON ONE: BMR was originated by Tana Hargest on behalf of The Givens Foundation, HOSTED BY Erin Sharkey and Junauda Petrus of Free Black Dirt, and other guest hosts as introduced, MUSIC: Sarah White - Through People [M¥K Remix]

Black Market Reads is made possible through the generous support of our individual donors, Target Foundation, and the voters of Minnesota, through a Minnesota State Arts Board Operating Support grant thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.

For more information about the Givens Foundation, visit their website. (http://www.givens.org)

Episode 101 - C.J. Farley - Who Knows You By Heart

Feb 10, 2026

Kicking off Season 11 and Black History Month- This conversation could not be more timely.

Part social thriller, part modern love story, Who Knows You by Heart by CJ Farley is a sly, witty, and endlessly discussable tale of Big Tech, new money, relationships, race, and discovering what’s real in an age of artificial intelligence.

C.J. (Christopher John) Farley is a Jamaican-born author, journalist, and editor known for works spanning fiction, YA, and biography, including Before the Legend: The Rise of Bob Marley and Aaliyah: More Than a Woman. A Harvard graduate and former Time and Wall Street Journal editor, his novels often explore race, technology, and culture, such as Game World and Who Knows You By Heart.

Key Details and Accomplishments:

Background: Born in Kingston, Jamaica, and raised in Brockport, New York. He is a Harvard University graduate and former editor of the Harvard Lampoon.
Literary Work:
- Novels: Game World (fantasy adventure), Around Harvard Square (NAACP Image Award winner), Zero O'Clock (pandemic-themed YA), Kingston By Starlight, and My Favorite War.
- Non-Fiction/Biographies: Before the Legend: The Rise of Bob Marley (Hurston/Wright Legacy Award finalist) and Aaliyah: More Than a Woman.
- Latest Work: Who Knows You By Heart (2025/2026), a novel exploring AI, race, and relationships.
Journalism & Editorial Career: Worked as a music critic for Time magazine, senior editor for The Wall Street Journal, and executive editor at Audible. He has interviewed artists like Beyoncé, Prince, and Taylor Swift.
Other Roles: Currently serves in leadership for arts programming and development at PBS and was a consulting producer on the HBO documentary Mr. Dynamite: The Rise of James Brown.