Amos Paul Kennedy Jr Citizen Printer

Discover the extraordinary career of Detroit letterpress legend Amos Paul Kennedy Jr. in Citizen Printer, the definitive monograph on one of America’s most celebrated contemporary Black artists and printmakers. Self-described as a “humble negro printer,” Kennedy is internationally recognized for his type-driven messages of social justice, equality, and Black power; bold, colorful, hand-inked posters that borrow the words of civil rights icons like Rosa Parks, Frederick Douglass, Sojourner Truth, and Fannie Lou Hamer. This letterpress printing book collects more than 800 vibrant reproductions of Kennedy’s posters, handbills, and rarely seen artist’s books, alongside striking portraiture that captures the artist at his press. Whether you’re a graphic design enthusiast, letterpress collector, or student of Black American history and protest art, this book offers an unmatched visual archive of activist typography and printmaking craft.

Beyond its stunning visuals, Citizen Printer is a powerful storytelling achievement, featuring a foreword by beloved author and artist Austin Kleon, along with contextual essays from scholars Kelly Walters and Myron M. Beasley that trace Kennedy’s work through the entwined histories of Black printing and Black protest. Readers and reviewers consistently praise the book as “extraordinary,” “magnificent,” and “inspiring,” calling it essential reading for printers, designers, and anyone drawn to the intersection of art and activism. Recognized on the Library of Michigan’s 2025 Notable Books list, this hardcover art book doubles as both a museum-quality keepsake and a call to action — inviting readers to find their own voice through Kennedy’s rallying cry to “agitate, agitate, agitate.” A must-have addition to any collection of graphic design books, social justice art, or letterpress printing history.