As The Human Race Theatre Company prepares to bring The Hot Wing King to the stage, we invite audiences to continue the experience beyond the theatre through a specially curated reading list created in partnership with Dayton Metro Library.
The stories, recipes, reflections, and cultural explorations featured in this collection echo the heart of The Hot Wing King: community, Black joy, identity, masculinity, queerness, love, food, and the traditions that bring people together around the table. Whether you are looking to dive deeper into African American culinary history, explore nuanced conversations about Black manhood, or simply enjoy powerful storytelling, this list offers something flavorful for every reader.
May We Suggest Something Flavorful?
These titles are available through Dayton Metro Library or can be reserved online through DaytonMetroLibrary.org.
Food, Culture & Culinary Traditions
- Sweet Home Café Cookbook: A Celebration of African American Cooking by Albert Lukas
- Meals, Music, & Muses: Recipes from My African American Kitchen by Alexander Smalls
- The Cooking Gene: A Journey Through African American Culinary History in the Old South by Michael W. Twitty
- The African-American Heritage Cookbook by Carolyn Quick Tillery
Identity, Love & Community
- All About Love: New Visions by bell hooks
- Patriarchy Blues: Reflections on Manhood by Frederick Joseph
- Rage: On Being Queer, Black, Brilliant…and Completely Over It by Lester Fabian Brathwaite
- Here For It: Or, How to Save Your Soul in America by R. Eric Thomas
Fiction & Powerful Storytelling
- Memorial by Bryan Washington
- Boys Come First by Aaron Foley
- Don’t Cry for Me by Daniel Black
- The Late Americans by Brandon Taylor
At its core, The Hot Wing King is a celebration of connection. A connection between the people we gather with, the meals we prepare, and the truths we learn to share with one another.
We are grateful to Dayton Metro Library for partnering with us to expand this conversation beyond the stage and into the community. Grab a book, reserve a title, and join us as we celebrate stories that nourish both the heart and the spirit.
About the Production
The Hot Wing King runs June 3 through June 14, 2026, at the Loft Theatre. With a runtime of approximately 90 minutes and no intermission, the production promises a powerful and immersive theatrical experience.
Tickets are available by calling 937-228-3630 or clicking below.