The Hoodie & The Tux is literary journalism, essays, and reflections on sports, music, history, politics, and American life. It is written by Javonte Anderson, a former investigative reporter for USA Today and reporter for the Chicago Tribune.

This space bypasses reactionary hot takes and algorithmic clickbait. Instead, it offers honest, raw, and thoughtful writing.

The Duality

I take pride in being a boy from Gary, Indiana, a hardened environment that shaped my grit and perspective. That’s the hoodie. But I also value my journey through academia and my rise through corporate journalism newsrooms. That’s the tux. Having interviewed everyone from killers to presidents, I bring that total perspective to the page.

In a world where short-term video entertainment fuels shrinking attention spans and less desire for nuance, we are building something different. Will it be intellectual? Sure. Complex? At times. Occasionally funny? I hope so. But above all, it will always be a good read.

I am on a mission to prove reading is cool. Subscribe free to get a taste. Go paid to get everything.

Paid Subscribers ($6/month or $50/year) get:

• Subscriber-only essays and exclusive photo dispatches.

• Curated reading lists, deep music reviews, and community comment threads.

• Full archive access to every piece of work.

• Direct sponsorship of a mission to promote cultural literacy.

Why subscribe?

Subscribe to get full access to the newsletter and publication archives.

Stay up-to-date

Never miss an update—every new post is sent directly to your email inbox. For a spam-free, ad-free reading experience, plus audio and community features, get the Substack app.

Join the crew

Be part of a community of people who share your interests. Participate in the comments section, or support this work with a subscription.

To learn more about the tech platform that powers this publication, visit Substack.com.