Happy Black History Month! Today I am kicking off February by sharing 10 great books by Black authors that you must read for Black History Month. The first half of the list are books that I’ve read and loved, but the second half consists of books that I want to read this year. Ultimately, I am certain that any of these books will make an excellent addition to your reading list.
Also, please consider purchasing your books from a Black-owned independent bookshop from now on – not just in February. This is a great resource to find Black-owned book stores all over the United States. Now, let’s get into the reading list!
10 Great Books by Black Authors
The Vanishing Half – Brit Bennett
First, we have The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett – one of my favorite books. The story follows Desiree and Stella, twins who run away from their small Southern Black town. After that, they live completely opposite lives. Both girls are white-passing, but while one twin lives her life as a Black woman, the other lives her life as a white woman. This book was beautifully written, and I almost wish it was longer.
How We Fight for Our Lives – Saeed Jones
I just finished How We Fight for Our Lives yesterday and I can’t stop thinking about it. In his memoir, Saeed Jones shares his experience growing up in the South as a Black gay man. Saeed is a remarkable writer and his words will stick with you long after you close the book. One of my favorite quotes: “People don’t just happen. We sacrifice former versions of ourselves. We sacrifice the people who dared to raise us. The ‘I’ it seems doesn’t exist until we are able to say, ‘I am no longer yours.'”
Such a Fun Age – Kiley Reid
Such a Fun Age is also one of my favorite books that I read last year. Emira is a young Black woman who babysits for a white family. The mother, Alix, calls Emira one night and asks to take her daughter to the grocery store during a family crisis. While at the store, a security guard accuses Emira of kidnapping the child. Then, Alix tries to fix the situation, but she completely mishandles it. I could not put this book down and I recommend it to everyone.
Americanah – Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is a fantastic author and I highly recommend reading any of her books, but Americanah is my favorite. I also talked about another one of her books, “The Thing Around Your Neck,” in a blog post last year. Americanah is the story of young sweethearts Ifemelu and Obinze, who leave their home country of Nigeria for the United States. Ifemelu attends college in Philadelphia, but Obinze cannot enter America. In America, Ifemelu discovers what it means to be Black for the first time. This book is so thought-provoking and makes you think about the difference between Black Americans’ and African Americans’ experiences.
Red at the Bone – Jacqueline Woodson
Red at the Bone moves forward and backward in time, starting with the coming-of-age ceremony for 16-year-old Melody. The story follows her family – her parents and her grandparents – and the choices they made that led them to where they are in the present. I love reading books that follow generations of a family, and this book is no exception.
Books on my TBR List
Girl, Woman, Other – Bernardine Evaristo
This book follows the lives and hardships of twelve women – mostly Black British women. This book has been on my TBR list for a while and I cannot wait to read it, but my local library cannot keep it on its shelves!
An American Marriage – Tayari Jones
An American Marriage is about the story of young newlyweds who are ripped apart when the husband is put in prison for a crime he did not commit. I’ve heard so many good things about this book.
The Sun is Also a Star – Nicole Yoon
The Sun is Also a Star is the whirlwind love story of Natasha and Daniel set in New York City. I didn’t realize that this book was also made into a movie! I’ll have to watch it after reading since I always have to read the book before watching the film.
Beloved – Toni Morrison
I know we are all familiar with Toni Morrison and how phenomenal of a writer she was – Beloved is a classic. And I know, I should have read it a long time ago. But I just got this book in the mail the other day, and I can’t wait to start reading it.
Transcendent Kingdom – Yaa Gyasi
I feel like there was a period of time last year when Transcendent Kingdom was the only book that everyone was talking about. And for good reason, I’m sure. Gifty, a neuroscience candidate at the Stanford University School of Medicine, and her family’s struggles with addiction, depression, and grief. Through her research, she tries to find a scientific explanation for their suffering but she longs for her childhood faith.
I hope you found a few additions to your TBR list with my list of 10 great books by Black authors! This is obviously not an exhaustive list, so please leave a comment to add any books by Black authors that you love and think other people should read.
Happy Black History month and thanks for reading!
-KS