Breaking News: The notion that all books celebrating the vibrancy and vastness of Black History are too boring and only of the textbook variety is long gone. There were a plethora of Black History books released recently covering everything from pioneering musicians to iconic wordsmiths to a captivating read about Juneteenth.
Get ready to learn, be inspired by, and yes, even entertained, by some of our generation’s most treasured creatives such as award-winning scribe and scholar, Imani Perry. There’s also a release unpacking all things Toni Morrison for those who revere the prolific author. There is even an unexpected poetry offering. Know that there is something for everyone’s taste, comfort and even age (there are a couple of children’s book selections in the mix too).
The best part? While we specifically recognize the value of these recent releases as a nod to Black History Month, all of these bold books are enlightening reads any month of the year!
From radical 1926 beginnings as “Negro History Week” to its current role in American and global culture, this book draws on archival research, personal stories and the wisdom of Black educators, to recover founder Carter G. Woodson’s legacy.
Available at HarperCollins
Told through the voice of the Alabama River, this picture book (ages 4-8) recounts the heartfelt history of Black citizens in 1965 Selma.
Available at Bloomsbury
Black history is often discovered through the lens of Black arts in the present and Uganda born poet and acclaimed multilingual writer Suubi demonstrates this in this beautiful book of poetry inspired by Lucille Clifton.
Available at HarperCollins
An award-winning novelist and Harvard University professor delivers an illuminating exploration of the work of our beloved and brilliant Toni Morrison.
Available at Penguin Random House
This biography celebrates prolific songwriter Sylvia Moy, a creative mastermind who was quietly Motown’s first certified female in-house producer and penned some of your favorite R&B classics.
Available at Barnes & Noble
Known as the Grandmother of Juneteenth, activist Opal Lee’s incredible life journey is brought to life in this biographical graphic novel.
Available at Simon & Schuster
Black to the future? Holmes tackles class, family and racial tensions in pre-apocalyptic Chicago in this gripping novel and reimagines the ways Black History can be unpacked in modern literature.
Available at Barnes & Noble
Pulitzer Prize–winning former Washington Post columnist Robinson tells our nation’s painful racial history through his own family’s powerful story, starting with his great-great-grandfather’s freedom from slavery.
Available at Barnes & Noble
Drawing from nearly five thousand archival letters and such, this book shares the riveting stories of formerly enslaved mothers, fathers, siblings and spouses who published ‘last seen’ advertisements in search of loved ones stolen away during slavery.
Available at Simon & Schuster
An intentionally illustrated biography for young readers (ages 7–12) that chronicles Tubman’s life via hip-hop style poetry from enslavement to her legendary roles as the fearless leader of The Underground Railroad.
Available at Barnes & Noble