For Black History Month, we are taking a look at books we consider to be “essential reading.” These books are by Black writers and talk about the Black experience. Some of the books discuss misogynoir, while others dive into the intergenerational trauma inherited by many Black Americans. Today and every day, we want to celebrate these books and the people that wrote them. As a reminder, we’ve included our Amazon and Bookshop affiliate links in case you’re interested in monetarily supporting any of these authors. Lastly, here’s a link to the Bookshop list containing all of the books we discuss.
Fiction
The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett
You may remember this as one of our favorite books of 2020. Brit Bennett’s sophomore novel is even better than her debut, The Mothers. Two twin sisters run away from their small town – one passes as white with the family she eventually starts not even knowing the truth. Their lives intertwine in strange ways over the following years. Told from the perspective of both sisters and their daughters, The Vanishing Half is enthralling, taking a hard look at race, family and the ways in which our pasts catch up to us.
Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi
If you haven’t read Gyasi’s debut yet, please come out from the rock you live underneath and read it. Homegoing is a multigenerational tale following two half-sisters whose extremely different upbringings reverberate in their descendants. It is both historical and contemporary fiction with characters that you will think about long after putting the book down. Homegoing takes place in Ghana and the United States, exploring colonialism, slavery and intergenerational trauma.
The Office of Historical Corrections by Danielle Evans
This book was one of our favorites from January 2021 so it had to be added to this list as well! Not to reiterate too much from our previous review but this collection of short stories does not have a bad story in the batch. The titular story was my favorite of the book due to its unique view on a department that corrects historical errors and the intersection between mistakes in our history as a nation and racism.
Deacon King Kong by James McBride
Anytime I tell someone about this book, I describe it as a slapstick comedy set in a housing project in Brooklyn, but that doesn’t even begin to give you the story therein. There is no way to do Deacon King Kong justice in a synopsis. Its main character, known as Sportcoat, has just shot the project’s drug dealer point-blank. From there, the project comes alive with all its residents giving their own perspective. The story has it all: Italian mobsters, religion and neighborhood gossip.
The Death of Vivek Oji by Akwaeke Emezi
The Death of Vivek Oji is a book about a queer young man in Nigeria who struggles to safely be his own unapologetic self. The novel is more about the life that Vivek led than his death, and that’s important. Often, in real life, queer people are given more respect in death than they were ever afforded in life, and The Death of Vivek Oji takes a hard look at that. This story of loss and finding yourself is beautifully interwoven with historical fiction. Akwaeke Emezi is beyond talented, and this is just more proof of that.
The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
“That’s the problem. We let people say stuff, and they say it so much that it becomes okay to them and normal for us. What’s the point of having a voice if you’re gonna be silent in those moments you shouldn’t be?” The Hate U Give is about a sixteen-year-old girl who lives in a poor neighborhood but goes to a college prep school in the suburbs. When her childhood best friend is killed by the police in front of her, the precarious balance she has built between these two worlds crumbles. Thomas discusses quite a few harsh truths in this book, and we think it should be required reading for all. Once you’re done, make sure to pick up its newly released prequel, Concrete Rose.
Dear Martin by Nic Stone
Dear Martin has often been compared with The Hate U Give, but we believe both are important in their own right. The main character, Justyce, struggles with ridicule toward him at his school, after leaving his rough neighborhood behind. He turns to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., writing a journal of letters to him for advice. Then comes the day that Justyce witnesses the fatal shooting of his friend Manny by an off-duty police officer. The aftermath leaves Justyce in the position that many Black teens find themselves in today. After you read this book, grab the next installment that was released in 2020, Dear Justyce.
With the Fire on High by Elizabeth Acevedo
Emoni Santiago has a daughter and grandmother to support. She doesn’t have time for dreams, because reality is ever present in her world. Yet, there is nothing she loves more cooking – it is her escape. At school, she takes a chance on her dreams by enrolling in a culinary arts class that culminates with a week-long apprenticeship in Spain. With the Fire on High is about an Afro-Latinx girl, written by an Afro-Latinx woman, and we love to see the representation.
An American Marriage by Tayari Jones
Celestial and Roy are newlyweds, both at the cusp of successful careers. Their worlds are torn apart when Roy is arrested for a crime that he did not commit and Celestial finds comfort in the arms of a childhood friend, Andre. When Roy’s conviction is overturned, the three are caught in a love triangle. American Marriage explores the process of rebuilding a life after incarceration and shows that there are truly no winners in the American justice system.
Conjure Women by Afia Atakora
Conjure Women follows three women, May Belle, Varina and Rue, before and after the Civil War. May Belle and Rue are “conjure women” who use homeopathic medicines to help people. The story switches between “Slaverytime” and “Freedomtime.” Atakora wrote Conjure Women to tell a story of slavery so that we can learn from our history, and we agree with the sentiment.
Nonfiction
Eloquent Rage by Brittney Cooper
“I loved having you as my professor. Your lectures were filled with rage. But it was, like, the most eloquent rage ever.” That’s what one of Brittney Cooper’s students told her and why Cooper named her book of essays so aptly. Eloquent Rage delves into the politics of being a Black woman, mixed in with Cooper’s family stories. It is a must-read for anyone interested in learning about misogynoir and the Black female experience in the United States.
Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates
Every once in a while you read a book that makes you stop and put it down so that you can think about what you just read. Coates’ lyrical prose made me continually stop to contemplate his words. In letters to his son, the author tries to explain the weight that is carried on and within Black bodies in America. I truly believe that this is one of the best modern books ever written. That sounds pretty bold but give the book a read and come back to that statement. This book has also been made into a documentary special on HBO. In addition, I listened to this book as an audiobook and it is read by Coates’ himself who has a beautiful cadence.
Caste by Isabel Wilkerson
You may recognize the author from her seminal text, The Warmth of Other Suns. Much like her last book, Wilkerson does not disappoint in the immense amount of research that she has poured into Caste. This book details the unspoken caste system that exists in the United States, creating a racial hierarchy. Historical anecdotes are woven through the book that allow for the reader to explore how the American caste system has been built and matured over time. At almost 500 pages, this book is packed with must-read information for all those seeking to understand racism in America.
Mediocre: The Dangerous Legacy of White Male America by Ijeoma Oluo
Oluo’s work So You Want to Talk About Race was featured in just about every “required reading” booklist about race. Her newest work looks at the question that many posed during the summer of 2020: how did we get here? This book answers that question with a look into the history of the United States and makes us realize that the mediocre nature of white male America has always been bubbling under the surface. The toxic form of white supremacy that we see today is simply a reflection of the history that has sustained it throughout time. Oluo offers steps to follow at the end of the book that outline an optimistic future for our nation that feel vital to our current world.
Notes from a Young Black Chef by Kwame Onwuachi
Kwawe was one of my favorite Top Chef contestants of all time so I was excited to hear that he had a memoir coming out. He details his rise as a chef in the culinary world from collecting money for his catering business by selling candy on the subway to eventually cooking at the White House and owning his own restaurant. Onwuachi’s book critically looks at the place that Black Americans have in the world of fine dining and details his own experiences in restaurants. Whether you rooted for him on Top Chef or are interested in the culinary world, this is a must read.
Finna by Nate Marshall
Nate Marshall’s poem collection is a celebration of the Black vernacular and takes the concepts of misogyny, racism, and societal ills. In particular, his first poem which is dedicated to another Nate Marshall in America who is a white supremecist highlights the large swaths of inequality in our country. I enjoyed this book as an audiobook and I would recommend it, as it is performed by the author.
Your Black Friend and Other Strangers by Ben Passmore
This graphic novel is born from an Eisner-nominated short comic also by Passmore, which is a letter to the United States criticizing white privilege. In an extension of the short comic, this graphic novel has a variety of short stories that explore racism, gentrification and societal hypocrisy. All of these important messages are complemented by Passmore’s bright and funky style of drawing.
Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson
The Equal Justice Initiative (EJI) is a nonprofit legal foundation founded by Bryan Stevenson in an effort to provide services to those in Alabama who have been wrongfully accused of a crime. Stevenson’s constant work for racial justice in America through legal assistance to those who have been forgotten and pushed aside by our society is truly inspiring. I listened to this book as an audiobook, which is read by Stevenson, and I would highly recommend it. It has also recently become a movie featuring Michael B. Jordan.
The Fire Next Time by James Baldwin
Published in 1963, James Baldwin’s The Fire Next Time is still sadly relevant to today. The book is composed of two letters examining racism. Baldwin is both frank and direct, and The Fire Next Time is an extremely compelling read for anyone looking for a primer into the history of anti-Blackness in the United States.
Bad Feminist by Roxane Gay
Witty and smart, Bad Feminist is an ode to Roxane Gay’s journey into feminism. The essays are both laugh-out-loud funny and informative. In this accessible book, Roxane Gay delves into misogynoir and the different experiences that Black women have in the United States. Covering a broad swathe of issues, Bad Feminist is a must-read for anyone who wants to learn more about intersectional feminism.
