Black History Month: From a teen's perspective - book recommendations by Black authors
Now that we’re celebrating Black History Month, everyone should make a conscious effort to increase their celebration and knowledge of Black history. Among other things, I have been working to diversify the media I interact with, specifically the books I read. Here are my books recommendations by Black authors for you to do the same, throughout February and beyond, as Black history is something that should be highlighted and Black accomplishments celebrated throughout the year.
The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas This book is probably in my top five favorite books ever, which is saying a lot. The Hate U Give chronicles the journey of a teenager who watched her friend get shot by a police officer and the wave of activism that follows after. This book is so moving, and will definitely inspire you to take a stand for what you believe in.
The Color Purple by Alice Walker Alice Walker uses letters to chronicle a beautiful exploration of sexuality and religion. This book will give you a greater appreciation of nature and family. I highly recommend it.
Dear Martin by Nic Stone Nic Stone and Angie Thomas are good friends, and their books have similar messages. However, Dear Martin is partially written as letters and a script, allowing a nice variety for the reader if you read a lot of traditional prose. Even without this structure, the statements made in this novel are powerful.
Monday’s Not Coming by Tiffany D. Jackson Tiffany D. Jackson is also friends with Stone and Thomas, but this is a different book. A confusing, murder mystery that will have you questioning what you know and what is going on until the very end. I was extremely perplexed while reading this book, but when it all clicked I was amazed by the writing skill of Jackson.
I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou This is a very well-known book, but I had to include it on this list. Angelou is the master of words and is able to convey her personal story in a very breathtaking way. Everyone should read Angelou at some point in their life, and I think that I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings is a great start.
Having Our Say: The Delany Sisters’ First 100 Years by Amy Hill Hearth, Annie Elizabeth Delany, and Sarah Louise Delany I was assigned this book as a seventh grader, but I still think it’s something that flies under the radar for many people when it shouldn’t. This is a biography based on interviews of two women who lived to be more than 100 years old. It takes you through a lot of history from a first person perspective. I read this book as my study of the Harlem Renaissance, and I think it does a good job of talking about that movement as well.
Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson This is another book that I read a long time ago before I was in high school, but I remember it being a wonderful read. Brown Girl Dreaming is written as a collection of poems, and tells the story of Jacqueline Woodson’s childhood. This was on the Battle of the Books list for me, so it is suitable for younger kids to read as well.
These are just some of the many amazing books written by Black authors. This list could be so much longer, but this is just a starting point for you to build or expand your bookshelf. Reading books about a variety of Black experiences, not just struggles, is important, as the more we read the more we know about people. To celebrate Black History Month and beyond, I challenge you to read one of these books in order to start to encompass even more experiences in your reading. This is a developing list, and we all should take the time to be intentional with what we read. Authors, especially autobiographers, are some of the bravest people ever, and we should take the time to read and be moved by their writing.
