Must -Read Books by Black Authors
Copied from my previous post, “Must-Read YA Books by Black Authors”:
I am a strong proponent of the idea that if we seek to eliminate our own prejudices and biases, we must learn about the experiences of individuals different from ourselves. As a white woman, the last week of global protests in support of the Black Lives Matter movement has presented a critical opportunity for me to evaluate my own prejudices, whether overt or covert. I believe that no one is free of bias, as we tend to gravitate towards the set of beliefs reflective of the culture in which we were raised.
Everyone has different ways that they demonstrate their solidarity with the Black community (e.g., protesting, donating, social media posts, conversations with family and friends, etc.). Although I’ve donated and signed petitions and had difficult yet important conversations within my home, I believe my main avenue happens to be literature. Simply reading Instagram captions or resharing cute quotes isn’t enough to broaden our cultural understanding, in my opinion, which is why I’ve used this time to increase my support for African American authors and the books they have written about their unique perspectives and experiences. My goal is to cultivate a library that is reflective of a variety of cultures, not only for my own education, but for my children as they grow and increase their cultural competence.
When seeking out literature in an effort to broaden our understanding of a different culture, it is imperative that the content is written by someone of that culture. I have curated this list of nine books by Black authors with short synopses included. Some are personal stories, some are fictitious, and some detail actual events. All provide profound insight into the lives of African Americans, systemic racial injustice, police violence, racial profiling, the Black Lives Matter movement, and much more.
If you wish to purchase any of these books, I suggest clicking HERE to browse an extensive list of Black-owned bookstores in an effort to support small businesses.