Books to check out in honor of Black History Month 2019
Every year for Black History Month, I make a list of books by black authors, old or new, to read in honor of the month. As the month comes to an end, here are some books that I have read or plan on reading in celebration of 2019’s Black History Month.
“Giovanni’s Room” by James Baldwin – James Baldwin is widely regarded as one of the greatest black writers of his time. What is unique about Baldwin is that unlike many of his contemporaries, Baldwin was openly gay and one of the first writers to cover themes not just regarding racism, but also sexuality. This book follows the story of an American man in France exploring his sexuality while his fiance is away.
“Invisible Life” by E. Lynn Harris – This book, along with its author was practically considered the James Baldwin and “Giovanni’s Room” of the nineties. This book follows the story of a black football player as he struggles with his sexuality and tries to come to terms with it. Harris was one of the most prolific gay and black writers of his time and is credited with further addressing homosexuality in the black community.
“Their Eyes Were Watching God” by Zora Neale Hurston – A classic of literature, this book is one that initially received mixed reviews upon release but has now come to be regarded as one of Hurston’s greatest works. While some may find the colloquial southern ebonics to be hard to read at first, it is sure to give into the mind of growing up as a young black woman in the South during one of America’s darkest times.
“The Mis-education of the Negro” by Carter G. Woodson – Carter G. Woodson is regarded as the father of black history. As the man who created what would become Black History Month, this book shows
Woodson’s passion for uncovering the history that for so long was kept from black Americans. In it, Woodson encourages black Americans to do their own research into their history, as it is clear that the history being taught at their schools was biased and filled with eurocentric thought.
“World’s Great Men of Color” by J.A. Rogers – J.A. Rogers was and is one of the most prominent historians of black history, with his life work being dedicated to showing the unacknowledged contributions of Africans throughout history. This book is the first volume in a two-part series that explores some of those less known contributions.
“The Autobiography of Malcolm X” by Malcolm X and Alex Haley – One of the most prolific autobiographies of its time, Malcolm X’s raw and powerful testimony of his life is a testament to how one of the most notorious black Americans of the Civil rights era became the radical individual he was.
“Message to the Black Man of America” by Elijah Muhammad – One of the more controversial books on this list, this book by Elijah Muhammad is a layout of the beliefs that shaped Elijah Muhammad’s group The Nation of Islam, a black religious and political group formed in the 1930s that recruited and converted the likes of prominent black men like Malcolm X and Muhammad Ali. The group has been heavily criticized for being black supremacists and hateful, and if that is so, this book is a representation of how racism bred certain ideologies, in effect showing the hate that hate produced.
“We The Black Jews” by Yosef Ben-Jochannan – This book is another example of efforts by prominent black historians to retrace and address contributions of blacks throughout history. In this case, this book seeks to dispel the racism experienced by blacks of the Jewish faith by non-black Jews. With the controversial groups like the Black Hebrew Israelites and Hoteps making more and more headlines, this books gives a good view of some of the history books that have filled their ideals and dogma
“Dreams of My Father” by Barack Obama – Before he was the first black president, Barack Obama was a notable senator and Harvard graduate who was well respected among his peers, with this book being held by Time magazine as possibly the best memoir published by a politician. Disregarding however one might feel about him politically, Dreams of My Father is a work that tells a unique tale of prosperity and is some of the best insight given into the mind of one of the 21st century’s most notable politicians.
“Becoming” by Michelle Obama – A book that is sure to be on almost any book list this year, this highly anticipated can easily be seen as Michelle Obama’s version of Dreams of My Father, but one will quickly realize that Mrs. Obama has written a book of its own caliber and recognition, ensuring she will continue to be one of history’s most discussed First Ladies.
“Decoded” by Shawn “Jay-Z” – I have always been interested in the story of Jay-Z. His story of seemingly endless hustling as he would call it that led to him becoming one of America’s richest figures has led many to consider him a true example of the American dream. In this memoir, Jay-Z gives insight into his life growing up while also providing annotations on lyrics of some of his most well-known songs. Such a book really shows how and why this was someone who was able to get out of his neighborhood and become such a notable figure in music and business.
“In Search of Black America” by David J. Dent – This book by noted journalist and professor David J. Dent covers hisfive-yearr journey in which he traveled across America examining and exploring various stereotypes across the black community. In a day and age in which stereotypes are constantly being fought and debated, this is a book sure to be as relevant as it was more than a decade ago.
