10 Books to Read this Black History Month
Today, February 1, marks the start of Black History Month. Founded in 1915, Black History Month started as just a week to bring awareness to the African American people who had made contributions to society, but had yet to be included in the narrative. This evolved into an annual month-long celebration of achievements by African American and the instrumental role they’ve played in the history of our nation.
We have a lot of avid readers on our team and thought this an appropriate kick off to sharing some book recommendations with our fellow readers. Below are a handful of books to inspire you to reflect on Black history.
The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America’s Great Migration by Isabel Wilkerson
Suzanne recently completed this book that tells the true stories of three Black Americans who, along with nearly 6 million others, migrated from the South between 1915 and 1970 in search of a better live, seeking opportunity and freedom from the Jim Crow laws.
The Help by Kathryn Stockett
One of Carey’s all-time favorite books tells the story of three extraordinary black women whose determination to start of movement of their own forever changes a town and the way women, mothers, daughters, caregivers & friends view one another.
Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston
Fair and long-legged, independent and articulate, Janie Crawford sets out to be her own person -- no mean feat for a black woman in the '30s. Janie's quest for identity takes her through three marriages and into a journey back to her roots.
Born a Crime by Trevor Noah
Trevor Noah’s unlikely path from apartheid South Africa to the desk of The Daily Show began with a criminal act: his birth, the son of a white Swiss father and a black Xhosa mother - a union punishable by 5 years in prison. His memoir recounts coming-of-age during the twilight of apartheid and the tumultuous days of freedom that followed.
The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett
A multigenerational family saga, his historical fiction novel is centered on identical twin sisters, Desiree and Stella. The light-skinned black women run away from Louisiana to New Orleans and proceed to follow very different paths.
Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
This award-winning novel about a young Nigerian woman who immigrates to the United States to attend university is one of Darcy’s favorite reads! Follow the story as it depicts her life in both countries and threads in the love story with her high school classmate.
The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead
Another award-winning novel and book club recommendation follows Cora, a slave working on a cotton plantation in Georgia as she takes a risk and escapes through a swamp. She travels a secret network of tracks and dark tunnels as readers learn about her experiences with slavery, racism and white supremacy.
Salvage the Bones by Jesmyn Ward
With a purposeful vision of bringing the devastation of Hurricane Katrina back to the surface, author Jesmyn Ward (who lived through Katrina), penned this novel. It explores the plight of a working-class African American family in Mississippi as they prepare for the storm and follows them through the aftermath.
Washington Black by Esi Edugyan
Washington Black is an 11-year-old field slave working on a Barbados sugar plantation in the 1830s. After being chosen as a manservant to his master’s eccentric brother, he finds himself teamed up with the man who ultimately helps him escape from slavery.
Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison
Shortly after publication in 1952, this novel was lauded a masterpiece. It tells the story of a young, educated black man struggling to survive and be successful in a racially divided society in the pre-Civil Rights era. Tap into the unparalleled truths about the nature of bigotry and its effects on both victims and perpetrators.