Black History Month Book Recommendations
As we slowly wrap up the US Black History Month, we believe it’s never too late to give book recommendations, especially when the books are as awesome as the ones on this list. This list serves to encourage us to read more books, especially those on history and by black authors.
1. Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi
This beautiful story follows the descendants of an Asante woman in the 1700s named Maame. In this book, we see not just fictional narratives but the infusion of varying amounts of important history, such as the end of slavery, the great migration, the civil war, amongst others.
2. Unbowed by Wangari Maathai
Wangari Maathai is the first African woman, and the first environmentalist, to win the Nobel Peace Prize, which she won in 2004. This book, her memoir, talks about her growth from a young girl in British Kenya to a political activist, feminist, environmentalist and divorced mother of three, fighting to save her country from a dictator and his corruption.
3. Kindred by Octavia E. Butler
It is often referred to as the first science fiction written by a black woman. Kindred has become a cornerstone of black American literature and is a novel quite rich in literary complexity with a combination of slave memoir, fantasy, and historical fiction.
4. And Still I Rise: Black America Since MLK by Henry Louis Gates Jr. and Kevin M. Burke
It is the companion book to Henry Louis Gates, Jr.’s PBS series, And Still I Rise — a timeline and chronicle of the past fifty years of black history in the U.S. in more than 350 photos. This book surveys the political and social evolution of black America and still does not forget to celebrate the accomplishments of black artists, musicians, writers, comedians, and thinkers who have helped to define American popular culture and change our world.
5. Beloved by Toni Morrison
Winner of the 1988 Pulitzer Prize for fiction, this beautiful book, that contains more of memories and nightmares, talks about the destructive legacy of slavery from the POV of a Black woman named Sethe.
6. The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
Angie Thomas’s debut book was a groundbreaker. Inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement, this wonderful book sees things from the POV of a young girl, Start Carter, who witnesses the fatal shooting of her childhood best friend, Khalil, at the hands of a police officer. She is made to make several decisions as she seeks justice for her friend.
7. Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
If you haven’t read Americanah, it definitely isn’t too late to join the train. It chronicles the lives and relationships of two young Nigerians named Ifemelu and Obinze, and explores the culture of the United States from an African perspective. The novel considers issues of race and the complexities of love, family, friendship, and romantic relationships in the United States.
8. Another Country by James Baldwin
This 1962 novel by James Baldwin, primarily set in Greenwich and Harlem, portrays themes like bisexuality, interracial couples and extramarital affairs, themes which were taboo at the time. It is a novel about a diverse group of idealistic, but often troubled, individuals in New York City. The novel is unified by the character of Rufus, a young black musician who commits suicide early in the novel but remains a vital presence in the awareness and memories of others.
9. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
This book, an autobiography describing the early years of American writer and poet, Maya Angelou, is the first in a seven-volume series. It illustrates how strength of character and a love of literature can help overcome racism and trauma.
10. Counting Descent by Clint Smith
What is a Black History Month Book Recommendation List without a little poetry? This is a powerful poetry collection by Clint Smith that explores black culture as vividly as possible. It fluidly spans personal and political histories while also reflecting on the social construction of our lived experiences.
