5 BOOKS TO READ DURING BLACK HISTORY MONTH

Happy Black History Month everyone! This month means so much to me and I truly hope you share the same passion of celebration and awareness that I have for this glorious month.  If you have not done so already, I encourage you to get involve, celebrate and check out local events throughout your community!

Each year brings different knowledge and new pride for me;  and as we enter this month all I can do is reflect on different books that either showcase black culture and/or show us as Americans how far we have come and sometimes how far we have to go. Below are a few of my favorites!

---

THE MIS-EDUCATION OF THE NEGRO

AUTHOR CARTER GODWIN WOODSON 

This is a very popular book and I truly believe everyone should read it! The book really preaches that HISTORY IS A WEAPON! The concept of the book is that our education system fails to present true African American history in schools which in essence is brain washing and crippling our culture into believing that African Americans have an inferior role in society.

 

MARTIN’S BIG WORDS: THE LIFE OF DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.

AUTHOR: DOREEN RAPPAPORT

Who isn’t in love with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and all the things he did for America? This book dives into Dr. King’s life journey and all the adversities and wins he faced. What is awesome about this read is that the author writes in “direct language” which reflects a lot of things King really did say. This book is full of inspiration and love and worth looking into.

THEIR EYES WERE WATCHING GOD

AUTHOR: ZORA NEALE HURSTON 

One of my high school favorites, I am a huge fan of “Their Eyes Were Watching God”. This book is set in the 1930s. Readers follow Ms. Janie Crawford through life as she finds her identity and is forced to return back to her roots.  Italo Calvino defines a classic novel as one that technically hasn’t finished saying what it needed to say. With all the craziness that is going on in America with racism, I can no doubt say this novel is truly a classic!

I KNOW WHY THE CAGED BIRD SINGS

AUTHOR MAYA ANGELOU

Mildly obsessed with Maya Angelou, just saying :). This book is Maya Angelou’s autobiography and another favorite that I feel everyone should read at least once. In this book you learn of Angelou’s hard childhood and different things that happen to her throughout her lifetime. You see how she learns how to love, be kind to others, along with gaining a strong mind and spirit and turning into the woman that we all loved and appreciated.

OBAMA’S LEGACY: WHAT HE ACCOMPLISHED AS PRESIDENT

 AUTHOR MICHAEL I. DAYS 

Only because he is one of my favorite humans in the whole world. I feel President Obama deserves a Black History Month shoutout! The book accounts his two terms as president. While I would totally love reading about his full terms in detail, this book aims to showcase just a few of our favorite president’s accomplishments.

Have any of you read any Black History themed books that you really enjoyed? I encourage you to share them in the comments!

Until we meet again! 🙂