February is Black History Month, which is a time to recognize the historical suffering of Black people in America, and more importantly, celebrate their resilience and accomplishments. Although those who are not Black will never understand the oppression they face, reading someone’s writing is a great way to explore other communities. If you are looking for some great Black stories to read this month, here is a great list.
- Toni Morrison is a classic author that absolutely has to be on this list. She has written a variety of books, such as The Bluest Eye and Beloved. Her books often discuss the Black experience outside of the white gaze.
- Maya Angelou is great if novels aren’t your thing because she is an amazing poet. Her famous works include I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings and the amazing poem And Still I Rise.
- If you are interested in reading novels specifically aimed at teens that still have themes that can teach us all lessons, try Angie Thomas. You probably have read her novel The Hate U Give, but also check out her other books On The Come Up and Concrete Rose.
- If you like graphic novels, try Jerry Craft. He wrote the book New Kid which describes a young kid in an identity conflict between his two worlds.
- Octavia Butler is one of the guiding voices in the world of science fiction. Her book Parable of The Sower is a deeply moving view of a Black girl who is living in the middle of a socioeconomic and climate crisis.
- Trevor Noah’s Born a Crime is an incredible novel. It discusses his experience growing up in South Africa during Apartheid, while also being told from his iconic, humorous voice.
With these novels, we hope you can expand your knowledge about the different experiences of being Black from around the world. It is on all of us to educate ourselves in any way we can to become allies in the fight for social justice.