Celebrating Black Voices: A Spotlight on Black Authors for Black History Month

Black History Month is a time to honor and celebrate the rich history, culture, and contributions of the Black community. One powerful way to do this is through literature, where Black authors have consistently offered profound insights, vibrant storytelling, and diverse perspectives. Their works invite us to explore the complexities of history, identity, love, struggle, and triumph through their unique voices.

Reading books by Black authors goes beyond mere entertainment. It is an act of engagement with narratives that often challenge mainstream histories and amplify underrepresented voices. Through their stories, we gain a deeper understanding of the Black experience and contribute to a broader conversation about equity, justice, and cultural appreciation.

While Black History Month offers a dedicated time for these explorations, supporting Black authors year-round is essential. Consider joining book clubs, supporting Black-owned bookstores, and sharing your favorite reads by Black writers with your community. Celebrating Black History Month through literature is a meaningful way to connect with history and culture while broadening our understanding of the world. This month, let’s honor the contributions of Black authors and ensure their stories continue to resonate far beyond February.

While I tried my hardest to focus on Black authors, Libby has a mind of its own and simultaneously gives me access to books that I have been waiting several weeks or months for! I can say that a majority of my books were by Black authors.

My favorite fiction book was The Poisons We Drink. As soon as I heard the dedication, I knew I would love the book, and I was right! The dedication in question:

"I dedicate this book to all my haters. I only got this far outta spite."

 The book is an INDIE Young Adult (YA) fantasy book by Bethany Baptiste. Venus, a teenage girl, navigates a world filled with magic, secrets, and danger. She creates love potions to earn money to take care of her family. When her mother is killed, she takes on the responsibility of caring for her rebellious younger sister, Janus. Venus is approached by the Grand Witcher to avenge her mother's killer, but at a cost. As she goes deeper into the political corruption that has plagued her city,  she needs to figure out who she can trust, including herself. Some of the themes the book explores are identity, power, and resilience. 

My favorite non-fiction book was Walking in My Joy: In These Streets by Jennifer Lewis. Many of you may know her from The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and Black-ish. This book is essentially an elaboration of some of the events from her first memoir, The Black Mother of Hollywood. I don't think I have ever laughed so much while listening to an audiobook. The best part is that Jennifer Lewis is also the narrator of her memoir. Her cadence is pure perfection. She drops the n word (with an "a"), bitch, and muthafucka consistently throughout the book as only Jennifer Lewis can. Each chapter starts off with a poem or music. And as someone who aligns with the same political views as her, she calls out Felon47 during his first term. 

I shared a few resources with students who didn't know where to start to engaging with Black authors and/or movies/documentaries in a multicultural class I supported that just ended. If anyone is interested, here you go:

Non-Fiction Books (in no particular order):

1. The New Jim Crow – Michelle Alexander
2. Bad Feminist – Roxane Gay
3. We Should All Be Feminists - Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
4. Feminism is for Everybody – bell hooks
5. All About Love – bell hooks
6. Between the World and Me – Ta-Nehisi Coates
7. Abolition. Feminism. Now - Erica Meiners, Gina Dent, Beth Richie, Angela Y. Davis
8. The Will to Change: Men, Masculinity, and Love – bell hooks
9. Hood Feminism: Notes from the Women That a Movement Forgot – Mikka Kendall
10. Unbound: My Story of Liberation and the Birth of the Me Too Movement – Tarana Burke (the creator of the Me Too Movement)
11. Misogynior Transformed: Black Women’s Digital Resistance – Maya Bailey
12. Medical Bondage: Race, Gender, and the Origins of American Gynecology – Deidre Cooper Owens
13. Twice as Hard: The Stories of Black Women Who Fought to Become Physicians, from the Civil War to the Twenty-First Century – Jasmine Brown
14. Are Prisons Obsolete – Angela Y. Davis
15. All Boys Aren’t Blue – George M. Johnson
16. It's Not You, It's Capitalism: Why It's Time to Break Up and How to Move On – Malaika Jabali
17. Freedom is a Constant Struggle – Angela Y. Davis
18. The Sisters Are Alright: Changing the Broken Narrative of Black Women in America – Tamara Winfrey Harris
19. Lead from the Outside: How to Build Your Future and Make Real Change – Stacey Abrams
20. Silent Justice – The Struggle for American Americans Voting Rights – Lawrence Goldstone

Fiction Books (Authors):

1. Fantasy

• Tracy Deonn

2. Contemporary

• Tiffany D. Jackson (writes a lot of YA centric books)
• Dhonielle Clayton

3. Dystopian

• Octavia Butler (among other genres)

4. Suspense/Thriller

• a. Stacy Abrams (also writes under pen name - Selena Montgomery)
• b. Rachel Howzell Hall
• c. Sharona Williams
• d. S. A. Crosby
• e. Kellye Garrett
• f. Jumata Emill
• g. L. S. Stratton
• h. Joelle Wellington
• i. Nicola Yoon
• j. Dalila Harris
• k. Vanessa Walters

5. Romance

• Kennedy Ryan
• Jasmine Guillory
• Denise Willaims
• Michelle Stimpson
• Krystal Marquis
• Taj McCoy
• Brenda Jackson
• Talia Hibbert

6. Horror

• Lisa Springer
•  Erin E. Adams
• Jamison Shea
• Jessica Lewis

Documentaries & Movies:

1. PBS

• Black Migrations: A People on the Move
• American Coup: Wilmington 1898
• Zora Neale Hurston: Claiming A Space

2. YouTube

• Lemonade: The Visual Album

3. Disney+

• Black Is King (2020)

4. Netflix

• 13th (2016)
•  Becoming (2020)
• Homecoming: A Film by Beyonce (2019)
• Amend: The Fight for America (2021)
• For Our Children (2022)
• Black Barbie (2023)
• Rustin (2023)
• Stamped from the Beginning (2023) – based on Ibram X. Kendi’s best-selling book of the same name
• The Black Godfather (2019)

5. Hulu

• Aftershock (2022)
• Toni Morrison: The Pieces I Am (2019)

6. Amazon Prime

• One Night in Miami (2021)
• I Am Not Your Negro (2017)

7. HBO Max

• Black Art: In the Absence of Light (2021)
• Bessie (2015)
• Straight Out of Compton (2015)
• Paris is Burning (1991)
• Good Hair (2009)

8. Apple TV+

• The Banker

9. Hoopla

• Dark Girls (2011)

10. Kanopy

• Ailey (2021)
• John Lewis: Good Trouble (2020
• Maya Angelou: And Still I Rise (2016)

What have you read, listened, and/or watched that you would recommend? I would love to add to my never-ending TBR!

Until next time...

Sharon

My Year of Reading: 2024 Stats, Highlights, and Takeaways

When I started 2024, I never imagined I’d end the year with 402 books under my belt. What began as a casual challenge turned into an unforgettable literary adventure that shaped my days and expanded my worldview. As an avid reader, who found her love for reading again at the end of 2023, 2024 has been a remarkable reading journey is all about expanding horizons and deepening connections. Last year, I aimed to prioritize books by BIPOC authors, diving into diverse narratives that reflect unique cultural experiences and voices. With a busy schedule, audiobooks continued to be my go-to for staying on track. I made it a point to include more South Asian and BIPOC authors in my fun reads. Seeing my culture reflected in characters’ lives or exploring narratives I hadn’t experienced before brought a sense of connection and joy that was uniquely fulfilling, following stories that delved into the complexities of identity, culture, and belonging. From gripping novels to thought-provoking memoirs, books have become a bridge to understanding the myriad human experiences that shape us.

I started the year off with a South Asian author, and it is only right that I ended the year on the same note! Without even trying, I balanced non-fiction with my fiction books, 1 out of four. While I love my fiction books, I am a lifelong learner and constantly looking for ways to educate and improve myself. For me, the magic lies in the balance. Some days, I crave the comfort of a cozy read. Other days, I’m eager to dive into something thought-provoking and educational. The key is variety. Alternating between genres, topics, and tones keeps my reading life dynamic and fulfilling. Reading for fun brings me joy; reading for education fuels my growth. Together, they create a rich, rewarding experience that goes beyond turning pages. They help me stay curious, connected, and engaged with the world around me. 

Some amazing authors that I happen upon or found on social media (in no particular order) and their genres:

• Sajni Patel - South Asian - Contemporary Romance
• Tiffany Jackson - African American - YA, Thriller, Mystery
• Angeline Boulley - Native American - YA, Thriller, Mystery
• Tracey Deonn - African American - YA, Fantasy
• V. Castro - Mexican American - Horror
• R. F. Kuang - Chinese American - Fantasy
• Nisha Sharma - South Asian - Contemporary Romance, YA
• Claire M. Andrews - White - YA, Fantasy, Greek Mythology Retelling
• Freida McFadden - White - Thriller, Mystery
• Stacey Abrams (Selena Montgomery) - African American - Crime Thrillers

My favorite reads (again, in no particular order)!

Here are some of my reading stats (all metrics through StoryGraph):

As I plan my 2025 reading goals, I’m committed to continuing this balance. I’ll keep discovering books that make me laugh, cry, and think. And I’ll remember that no matter what I pick up next, there’s always something to gain—whether it’s a smile or a new perspective.

I have also chosen not to read/listen to books be Colleen Hoover and Sarah J. Maas. Seeing all the discourse and negativity surrounding Justin Baldoni trying to make a movie about DV and the author/Blake Lively, and the rest of the cast bullying and getting him booted off his passion project that he has been working on for the past 5 years. I've read three of her books and that was enough for me to know she's not my cup of tea. In regards to Sarah J. Maas, I have no desire to read ACOTAR due to her incorporation of Breonna Taylor's murder on the cover release of A Court of Silver Flames, as well as her lackluster inclusion of BIPOC and queer representation in her books. 

How do you approach your reading life? Do you lean toward fun or educational reads, or do you try to mix both like I do? Share your thoughts—I’d love to hear about your favorite books and what they’ve taught you!

Here’s to a new year of growth, discovery, and unforgettable stories!

Until next time...

Sharon