If you’ve ever wondered about the dedications offered by Black novelists in their books, then guess what? You’re not alone. Dedications, like the table of contents, copyright page, acknowledgements, and book blurbs are thought to be para-texts, that is, items that are a part of the book, but outside the main narrative.
In addition to producing a podcast episode on Black novel dedications, I provided data and Meg Smith adapted a program for highlighting various dedications. See here: Black novel dedications.