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Must-Read Books for Black History Month 2022

by Elif Harris
January 12, 2022
in Books & Reviews

Introduction: Why Black History Month Is Important?

Black History Month is a time dedicated to honoring the accomplishments of African Americans. There are a number of books that highlight the plight and struggle of African Americans in America. All these books have a powerful impact on our lives and help us to understand the challenges they face every day. In this post, I have listed some books for Black History Month that I found really inspiring and hope you find them interesting as well.

The idea of Black History Month was conceived by Carter G. Woodson, a scholar and historian, in 1926. He wanted to create an annual event that would encourage Americans to study black history and recognize African-American achievements.

In 1976, President Gerald R. Ford proclaimed the second week in February as Black History Week, which was later expanded by President Ronald Reagan to include Black History Month in February.

Today, the month is used as a time for people to not only learn about African Americanโ€™s history but also it gives them opportunities to rectify past inequalities and injustices that have been done against African-Americans in Americaโ€™s past.


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  • African American Books That Changed The Game
  • Must-Read Childrenโ€™s Books About Black History
  • Langston Hughesโ€™ Poems For Black History Monthย 

Reading Recommendations for Black History Month: 30 Must-Read Booksย 

The main purpose of Black History Month is to bring attention to the contributions of Black people in American history. Therefore, Iโ€™m sharing a list of some of the best books by African American authors that have shaped both African American culture and African American literature. The list includes titles from the Harlem Renaissance, the Civil Rights Era, and titles from todayโ€™s younger generation of writers who are still grappling with race.ย 

This post can serve as a guide to what books you should read during Black History Month and also provide the reader with a suggested reading list. It features both fiction as well as non-fiction books by Black authors that are must-reads for Black History Month.

1. The Sweetness of Water by Nathan Harrisย 

The-Sweetness-of-Waterone-of-the-best-books-for-black-history-month

Beautiful and lyrical, The Sweetness of Water is an astounding example of historical fiction that rings true with timeless human struggles. Itโ€™s a story about love, trauma, reconciliation and rebellion, set in the midst of a murky and disordered Post Civil War America. The book unfolds an unlikely bond that forms between two African-American freedmen and a white family living on the threshold of a disenfranchised southern community. The plot dips between quiet contemplative moments and huge eventsโ€”itโ€™s thoughtful and meditative, tense and bombastic.ย 

A brooding examination of race-relations and identity politics in the face of seismic, societal change, itโ€™s a must-read!ย 

Add to Cart: Amazon | Bookshop | Audibleย 

2. Skye Falling by Mia McKenzieย 

Skye-Falling-one-of-the-must-read-books-for-Black-history-month

Truly stunning and captivating, Skye Falling celebrates Black, queer joy and pain and emotion and everything in between. The book follows an odd Black woman, Skye, who works out of a suitcase, coming to Philly just between flights around the world. When she was 26 years old, Skye needed cash. Selling her eggs was a lucrative option. Now at 40, she is living her life on her own terms. She has always enjoyed her โ€œdoing as I pleaseโ€ approach to relationships until โ€œher eggโ€, a beautiful young girl named Vicky, shows up claiming to be her biological child.

If youโ€™re looking for a lighthearted (though at times heavy) read with a love story in the background, this book fits the bill perfectly!

Add to Cart: Amazon | Bookshop | Audibleย 

3. Palmares by Gayl Jonesย 

Palmares-one-of-must-read-books-for-black-history-month

Intricate and compelling, Palmares marks the comeback of a great American literary voice. The book tells an ambitious tale of the brutal enslavement of Africans during the Portuguese colonial rule. It reflects their struggle against racism, blending in various aspects of mythology and magical realism. Set in 17th-century Brazil, it recounts the epic journey of a Black woman who escapes to a fugitive slave settlement called Palmares. But freedom comes at a price. Her story brings to life a world highly impacted by conquest and intense, selfish colonial desire.ย 

An amazing book, itโ€™s gripping, multiplicitous, mythic and absolutely one of the worth reading books during Black History Month.ย 

Add to Cart: Amazon | Bookshop | Audibleย 

4. Saving Ruby King by Catherine Adel Westย 

Saving-Ruby-King-one-of-best-books-for-Black-History-Month.

Part mystery, part family drama, Saving Ruby King packs a major punch. The story is a combination of several genresโ€”family saga, literary fiction, and mysteryโ€”and it makes a compelling and unique combination. Ruby Kingโ€™s mother has been murdered. And while some are set to label it as just another South Side of Chicago shooting, those closest to Ruby know that something is amiss. Her best friend Laila is one of those people. She wants to help her friend, especially when it comes to Rubyโ€™s abusive father. But being the pastorโ€™s daughter comes with a certain responsibility. And Lailaโ€™s dad wants her to have nothing to do with the situation.

Itโ€™s a beautiful entanglement of lives, generational curses and secrets that can literally take you to your grave.

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5. Such A Fun Age by Kiley Reidย 

Such-A-Fun-Age-one-of-best-books-for-black-history-month

A thought provoking and interesting read, Such A Fun Age is one of the must-read books for Black History Month. It follows the Chamberlain family and Emira, their babysitter as they work through the unfolding of events after Emira is wrongly accused of kidnapping the Chamberlainโ€™s child, Briar. Each chapter switches between the perspectives of Emira and Alix Chamberlain, providing the reader with two sides to the story. The book takes a dip into the deeper, seemingly hidden layers of racism, navigating adulthood and the heavy weight of transactional relationships.ย 

Empathetic, wise and sharp, itโ€™s essentially a very entertaining, layered, and tidy story about everyday life and social biases.

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6. Black Girls Must Die Exhausted by Jayne Allen

Black-Girls-Must-Die-Exhausted-by-Jayne-Allen

Absolutely brilliant and well-written, Black Girls Must Die Exhausted is a wonderful representation of how hard it is to be a Black woman in the US. Tabitha is in her 30s and is slowly checking everything off her adult checklist. Such as: education, career, down payment for a house and a steady boyfriend. But soon she finds out her biological clock is ticking faster than normal. And now she needs to put her checklist aside and decide what she really wants. Tabbyโ€™s journey entertains the reader with an intimate view of the racial experience, contemporary womanhood, and complicated romance. The book also has an equally amazing sequel, Black Girls Must Be Magic.ย 

A truly contemporary story that doesnโ€™t shy away from touching out both the little as well as big things.

Add to Cart: Amazon | Bookshop | Audibleย 

7. Little & Lion by Brandy Colbert

Little-Lion-one-of-best-books-for-black-history-month

A refreshingly honest YA read, Little & Lion tells an amazing coming of age story, one which explores a multitude of the complexities of life. From love triangles, to the complexities of navigating race, mental health, and sexual orientation while trying to figure out classes and where to apply for university, the book explores the vast complexities of life as a teenager. At the heart of this story though, is the love two step-siblings share for each other. Written in an accessible way that teenagers and adults can both enjoy, the book is full of diversity that feels natural and relatable.ย 

An examination of self-identification, loyalty and trying to fit in while finding love, itโ€™s an incredibly realistic book that is super powerful and a must-read.

Add to Cart: Amazon | Bookshop | Audibleย 

8. Freshwater by Akwaeke Emeziย 

Freshwater-one-of-must-read-books-for-black-history-month

A bewildering and blistering debut, Freshwater is a multilayered novel that deals with sexual trauma, abuse and self-destruction. It tells the story of Ada as she comes of age in Nigeria and later America, whilst navigating prolonged trauma and fragmenting identities of the self. The author has interwoven the novel with themes of Igbo mythology and Ogbanje spirits. Emeziโ€™s examinations of their own experiences with gender dysphoria and the concept of singular identity versus fragmented identity, and the intersections of spirituality in the human psyche. Emeziโ€™s writing is brilliant; at times feverish and out of control, and at others fluid and emotionally powerful.

Unique, dark and forceful; the book feels so different from other stories and we canโ€™t help but be fascinated by it.

Add to Cart: Amazon | Bookshop | Audibleย 

9. The Mothers by Brit Bennettย 

The-Mothers-one-of-best-books-for-black-history-month

Vivid, gripping, and intensely remarkable, The Mothers is a story about young love, a big secret in a small community and the things that ultimately haunt us most. The story begins with a secret between two young adults, and defines three charactersโ€™ lives as they find themselves intertwined for life. Nadia, Aubrey, and Luke are all haunted by their pasts, which influence them on a daily basis. Bennettโ€™s writing style is straightforwardโ€”nothing fancy, nothing unique, but well composed and clear. The book poses so many tough but important questions around family, race, friendship, religion and more.ย 

A must-read book for Black History Month, itโ€™s one to go into with an open mind and one that will definitely stay with you for a long time.

Add to Cart: Amazon | Bookshop | Audibleย 

10. The Underground Railroad by Colson Whiteheadย 

The-Underground-Railroad-by-Colson-Whitehead

Colson Whiteheadโ€™s National Book Award and Pulitzer Prize winning novel, The Underground Railroad is praised by Barack Obama and also an Oprah Book Club Pick. The narration follows Cora, a slave working on a cotton plantation in Georgia. She decides to risk her life and escape through the swamp together with Caesar in order to leave the state with the help of fellow allies and a secret network of tracks and dark tunnels below the surface. We follow her through different states along her desperate struggle to be free and learn about herโ€”mostly traumatizingโ€”experiences of slavery, racism and white supremacy.

A heart wrenching story of unbelievable grief of people who were denied their humanity.ย 

Add to Cart: Amazon | Bookshop | Audibleย 

11. Black Faces, White Spaces by Carolyn Finneyย 

Black-Faces-White-Spaces-one-of-books-for-black-history-month

If you are interested in celebrating Black History Month with a good non-fiction book, do check out Black Faces, White Spaces by Carolyn Finney. This educational book provides insight on the environmental justice movement. It uncovers why African Americans are so underrepresented in nature, environmentalism and outdoor recreation by bridging the fields of environmental history, critical race studies, cultural studies, and geography. Itโ€™s a book that offers a critical analysis of the relationship between race and the environment. It also highlights the complex dynamics that emerge from that unique synthesis.

If youโ€™re a nerdy, outdoorsy person with a heart for equality and change, this is the book for you!

Add to Cart: Amazon | Bookshop | Audibleย 

12. Queen Sugar by Natalie Baszileย 

Queen-Sugar-one-of-must-read-books-for-black-history-month

Daring and unforgettable, Queen Sugar is an intimate story of mother-daughter reinvention, resilience, and hope set against the backdrop of the contemporary South. It narrates the return of Charley Bordelon, an African American single mother who unexpectedly inherits eight hundred acres of sugarcane land in Louisiana. However, she soon learns that cane farming, especially in the Deep South, is white manโ€™s business. Now she must struggle to balance the overwhelming challenges of a farm in decline while maintaining the demands of family and the startling desires of her own heart. The book was also adapted to a Cable series in 2016.

Itโ€™s highly recommended if youโ€™re looking for uplifting yet realistic contemporary books for Black History Month.

Add to Cart: Amazon | Bookshop | Audibleย 

13. Just Mercy by Bryan Stevensonย 

Just-Mercy-one-of-best-books-for-black-history-month

Extremely powerful and intense, Just Mercy is an eye opening account into the problem with Americaโ€™s criminal justice system. Itโ€™s a thought-provoking memoir of a young lawyer, who fights for justice for the wrongly condemned people. The book takes you on the journey with him fighting for justice in the case of Walter McMillian, a young man sentenced to death for a crime he did not commit. Idealistic, brilliant, and compassionate, Stevensonโ€™s book has been likened to โ€œTo Kill a Mockingbird.โ€ Itโ€™s truly a heart wrenching, amazing, powerful and important work of nonfiction.

A must-read book if you want to know more about systemic racism from the perspective of a lawyer.

Add to Cart: Amazon | Bookshop | Audibleย 

14. Rooted In The Earth by Dianne D. Glaveย 

Rooted-In-The-Earth-by-Dianne-D.-Glave.

In Rooted In The Earth, Dianne D. Glaveโ€”an environmental historianโ€”debunks the myth that a strong connection to nature and the outdoors is incompatible with a black identity. Glave employs her storytelling skills to re-create black naturalists from the past, charting the history of African Americansโ€™ engagement with the environment while emphasizing the distinct preservation-conservation aspect of black environmentalism. This book is not only for personal progress, but also for the future of the world. In fact, it is a breakthrough, a significant first step toward getting back into nature.

A brief but in-depth look at African-American environmental history, itโ€™s one of the must-read books for Black History Month.ย 

Add to Cart: Amazon | Bookshop | Audibleย 

15. Backseat Saints by Joshilyn Jacksonย 

Backseat-Saints-one-of-best-books-for-blackhistory-month

Fabulous and enthralling, Backseat Saints is Jacksonโ€™s absorbing and rewarding fourth novel. It features a young woman who has to decide whether to try to make life work with her mercurial, abusive husband or listen to her gut which is telling her that she has got to go. Staying might kill her but leaving means confronting the abusive father she left behind and the mother who abandoned her as a child. Jackson tackles very serious topics with honesty and sensitivity. Her style and southern wit make the book an enjoyable, entertaining read despite some tough subject matter.

This book is highly recommended for fans of contemporary Southern literature, feisty female characters who are still figuring everything out, and those who love a good read with twists and turns.

Add to Cart: Amazon | Bookshop | Audibleย 

16. The Book of Night Women by Marlon Jamesย 

The-Book-of-Night-Women-by-Marlon-James

A true achievement of voice and storytelling, The Book of Night Women resonates with both profound honesty and a uniquely contemporary spirit. Lilith was born into slavery on a sugar plantation in Jamaica around the end of the eighteenth century. Even before she is born, the slave women who surround her sense a terrible force that theyโ€”and sheโ€”will learn to revere and fear. Itโ€™s a book that tackles a lot of issues with slavery, race relations and gender. In fact, every character James has created has a rich internal life and history that has led them to what they are and that is what is so engrossing, despite the horror.

A shocking once in a lifetime read, this book is a complicated triumph. Itโ€™s indeed one of the most recommended books for Black History Months.ย ย 

Add to Cart: Amazon | Bookshop | Audibleย 

17. Black Nature: Four Centuries of African American Poetry by Camille T. Dungyย 

Black-Nature-Four-Centuries-of-African-American-Poetry

A superb anthology, Black Nature is dedicated to African American poetsโ€™ nature writing. To enhance our understanding of nature poetry and African American poetics, Camille T. Dungy has chosen 180 poems from 93 poets that present unique perspectives on American social and literary history. Slave poets, Reconstruction poets, Harlem Renaissance poets, Black Arts Movement poets, and late twentieth-and early twenty-first-century African American lyrical traditions are all represented. The book provides you a better understanding of black peopleโ€™s relationship with the land and what was lost as a result of Jim Crow.

This is more than a collection of poetry; it is the history of a people forced to live in a strange area and the story of their increasing affinity with the land over the generations.

Add to Cart: Amazon | Bookshop | Audibleย 

18. Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichieย 

Half-of-a-Yellow-Sun-by-Chimamanda-Ngozi-Adichie.

A historical fiction set in 1960s Nigeria during the civil war, Half of a Yellow Sun depicts the sad, difficult, uplifting, and, at times, hopeless lives of three primary protagonists: a houseboy, a stunning woman, and a brilliant writer. As they navigate the ever-shifting borders of danger, temptation, and love, their lives become increasingly intertwined, all while their world is ripped apart by the horrors of war and violence that surround them. Each character is uniquely flawed, yet relatable in some way. And although being imaginary, they all elicit the readerโ€™s full sympathy.

Incredibly informative, heart-rendering and beautifully written, itโ€™s truly one of the greatest books for Black History Month.

Add to Cart: Amazon | Bookshop | Audibleย 

19. Salvation by Bell Hooksย 

Salvation-by-Bell-Hooks

A stunning look at the transformative power of love in the lives of African Americans, Salvation is written from both cultural and historical perspectives. Whether itโ€™s the history of slavery, partnerships and marriage in Black life, the prose and poetry of Martin Luther King, Jr., James Baldwin, and Maya Angelou, the liberation movements of the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s, or hip hop and gangsta rap culture, Hooks tells us what love has to do with it all. She successfully combines W.E.B. DuBoisโ€™ passionate politics with fresh, current insights to present new ideas that will heal our countryโ€™s scars from a culture of hate.

An outstanding work of art, it helps us cure and demonstrates how to build cherished American communities.

Add to Cart: Amazon | Bookshop | Audibleย 

20. The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolleย 

The-Power-of-Now-by-Eckhart-Tolle

Simple yet so insanely contemplative, The Power Of Now explores presence, thinking, and spirituality. The book is all about how to live in the present moment, which is essential for anyone. But especially its important for any Black person living in America. Also, itโ€™s about not trying to find happiness in your thoughts, and therefore in the future. About not trying to find who you are in your thoughts, and therefore in the past. Itโ€™s about accepting what the moment gives you and going with the flow. The book is written in a Q&A format, which makes it really easy to comprehend the concepts.

A must-read for those who are looking for peace of mind, self-realization, and spiritual awakening.

Add to Cart: Amazon | Bookshop | Audibleย 

21. The Salt Eaters by Toni Cade Bambaraย 

The-Salt-Eaters-by-Toni-Cade-Bambara

A complex and compelling book, The Salt Eaters is Bambaraโ€™s first novel that won the American Book Award alongside the Langston Hughes Society Award and more. The story follows Velma Henryโ€™s healing ceremonyโ€”conducted by the healer of the district Minnie Ransomโ€”after an attempted suicide. She is resisting the process, too caught up in her past to accept a way forward. Itโ€™s a dense novel over the course of a day with a huge cast of characters inhabiting a single community. The writer has also utilized stream of consciousness technique at some points, successfully blending the external and internal worlds.

One of the best books for Black History Month, it deals a lot with the question of wellness and how we can achieve it.

Add to Cart: Amazon | Bookshop | Audibleย 

22. Sula by Toni Morrisonย 

 Sula-by-Toni-Morrison

Brilliant and lyrical, Sula is a story of friendship between women and social norms. It focuses on the black women of an Ohio neighborhood and their struggles for survival in a hostile society and identity in a racist world. Following the lives of two childhood friends, Toni Morrison takes us to The Bottom, a slice of community carved by Black folk, where Nel and Sula grew up. Loss and death are no strangers to The Bottom, but Nel and Sula get more than they bargained for; while simultaneously navigating the journey from girlhood to womanhood. Sula leaves town and Nel stays. After ten years, Sula returns without the warmest welcome and Nelโ€™s table has been violently shaken.

A quick read, but full of the pain, struggle, and darkness one can expect from Toni Morrison.

Add to Cart: Amazon | Bookshop | Audibleย 

23. The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrisonย 

The-Bluest-Eye-by-Toni-Morrison

Absolutely fantastic and heartwarming, The Bluest Eyes is one of the best books for Black History Month. The standards of beauty set by society makes a child of 11 years, wish for blue eyes just because she wants to be seen, to be visible. This book is extremely heavy and deals with many triggering topics, such as abuse, rape, discrimination, and many more issues. Toniโ€™s writing is beautifully descriptive and keeps you on toes the whole time. She truly captures themes of pain, self-hatred, and the effects of racism and poverty during the โ€˜40s via the viewpoint of the main characters. Her writing is so poetic and fully encompasses every single human emotion.ย 

This book will break your heart but honestly you will be thankful that you came across this gem.

Add to Cart: Amazon | Bookshop | Audibleย 

24. I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelouย 

I-Know-Why-The-Caged-Bird-Sings-by-Maya-Angelou

Eloquent and deeply moving, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings unapologetically unravels the ugliness of class-based, discriminatory societies. Itโ€™s a memoir that follows Mayaโ€™s childhood and upbringing in the South during the time of the Jim Crow laws. She discusses the segregation, general racism that she experienced, and her broken familial structure. Itโ€™s an authentic true story that takes us through the pain and joy of the younger years of Maya Angelou. Her writing is both emotive and precise, wistful and self-aware, gut-wrenching and full of hope.

A must-read book to understand the plight of most African Americans, what theyโ€™ve been and are still going through.

Add to Cart: Amazon | Bookshop | Audibleย 

25. Soul On Ice by Eldridge Cleaverย 

Soul-On-Ice-by-Eldridge-Cleaver

Charismatic, brilliant, and courageous, Soul On Ice is the controversial essay collection from Eldridge Cleaver, civil rights activist and member of the leadership of the Black Panther Party. Though he endured much in his younger yearsโ€”Southern racism, crime, imprisonmentโ€”he was able to educate himself while imprisoned and turn his life around. The bookโ€™s core assumption is the difficulty of identifying as a black soul who has been โ€œcolonizedโ€ by an oppressive white civilization that projects its brief, restricted vision of life as everlasting truth.

This book is an engrossing read. Itโ€™s a mixture of essays and memoir, ranging from the prison system, race relations, sexuality, masculinity, and religion.

Add to Cart: Amazon | Bookshop | Audibleย 

26. The Autobiography of Malcolm X by Alex Haleyย 

The-Autobiography-of-Malcolm-X-by-Alex-Haley.

A crucial read for Black History Month, The Autobiography of Malcolm X confronts the ugly truth about the violence and hatred woven into the very fabric of the United States. The book recounts Malcom Xโ€™s childhood to adulthood chronologically, examining the impacts of education, government interference in his family, and his own spirituality on his values. Haleyโ€™s writing is quick and engaging. And as youโ€™re reading you can almost see Malcolm X pacing around Haley, passionately recounting his life experience. The narrative ends a couple of weeks before his death. Then Haleyโ€™s epilogue picks up where he stops, describing his last days on earth, his assassination, and the consequences for himself and his family.

This book is a must-read for every person who wants to know about the civil rights movement and the slavery.

Add to Cart: Amazon | Bookshop | Audible

27. A Different Drummer by William Melvin Kelley

A-Different-Drummer-one-of-best-books-for-Black-History-Month

Fascinating and intensely powerful, A Different Drummer is set in an imaginary state in the south of the USA, between Mississippi and Alabama. The book traces the narrative from the advent of a boatload of African slaves until a weekend in the 1950s, when one black farmer destroys his land and home, and flees the state. Over the weekend, the stateโ€™s entire black population follows him, making it the only state in the Union without a single black resident. Each chapter is in charge of a different individual. Their struggle to comprehend and articulate what they are seeing really adds to the bookโ€™s impact.

Itโ€™s a brilliantly written book, making the reader want to fly through it, but contains depths beyond even the multiple re-read.

Add to Cart: Amazon | Bookshop | Audible

28. Another Country by James Baldwinย 

Another-Country-by-James-Baldwin

James Baldwinโ€™s extraordinary novel, Another Country is an essential American storyโ€”one that does not shy away from portraying the brutality and hypocrisy of society. The story revolves around a group of individuals whose lives get entangled with each other on account of friendships or sexual relations. It begins with Rufus Scott, a black jazz musician scavenging the streets of New York whilst trying to come to terms with the end of his last relationship. Then, Baldwin takes the reader on a ride through New York in the 50s exploring love, friendship, jealousy, violence. The book explores various themes like interracial relations, queer relations, male violence, etc.

One of the greatest books for Black History Month, it touches on really (then) controversial issues which are still important today.ย ย 

Add to Cart: Amazon | Bookshop | Audible

29. The Outsider by Richard Wrightย 

The-Outsider-one-of-must-read-books-for-black-history-month

Brilliantly envisioned and terrifyingly prescient, The Outsider is an epic investigation of the sad foundations of criminal conduct. It tells a gripping narrative of a black manโ€™s desire to flee his past and build a new life in Harlem. Cross Damon is a man at odds with both society and himself. He is a man who yearns for peace yet carries dread and destruction with him. He abandons concepts and lays his final hope on love, having rejected religion, the past and current order of society, the suggested totalitarian alternative, and the similar unrestrained violence of his own conduct as a โ€œfreeโ€ man.

An essential piece of fiction that portrays racism in America and its tragic repercussions in raw and brutal words.

Add to Cart: Amazon | Bookshop | Audible

30. Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison

 Invisible-Man-one-of-best-books-for-black-history-month

Exciting, frustrating, and appalling, Invisible Man is one of the most important American novels of the twentieth century. The book portrays an unnamed protagonistโ€™s journey from the Deep South to Harlem. Along the way he encounters and witnesses the horrifying effects of racial bigotry. The reader accompanies the narrator throughout his journey and learns what life is like as a Black person in the 1950s United States. Ellison has beautifully crafted the story that continues to be both indicative of reality and quietly hopeful. This is one of those rare novels that have drastically changed the shape of American literature.

Absolutely heartbreaking and classic, itโ€™s definitely one of the must-read books for Black History Month.

Add to Cart: Amazon | Bookshop | Audible

31. The Conjure-Man Dies by Rudolph Fisherย 

The-Conjure-Man-Dies-by-Rudolph-Fisher

Outstanding and intensely intriguing, The Conjure-Man Dies is the first documented mystery to feature a black detective. The story follows one of Harlemโ€™s ten Black police detectives, Perry Dart, as he examines the corpse of African conjure-man, Nโ€™Gana Frimbo. He is determined to solve the intriguing mystery alongside Dr. Archer, a physician from across the street. We also meet Bubber Brown and Jinx Jenkins, two local youngsters who, eager to rid themselves of suspicion of murder, conduct their own investigations. The story feels much like Sherlock, but with a relevant twist. Fisherโ€™s witty novel is a wonderful time capsule of one of the most exciting moments in the history of Black literature, with a thrilling storyline and brilliantly depicted characters.

If youโ€™re a lover of mysteries and African folktales, this book is for you.

Add to Cart: Amazon | Bookshop | Audible

32. The Blacker the Berry by Wallace Thurman

The-Blacker-the-Berry-by-Wallace-Thurman

A quintessential Harlem Renaissance novel, The Blacker the Berry is known for its commentary on colorism. Emma Lou Morgan hates her complexion, not because itโ€™s black, but because itโ€™s too dark. No one in her family, teachers, or friends can console or encourage the loathed and rejected adolescent. Emma Lou, eighteen years old, leaves her home in Idaho in search of love and acceptance on a journey that eventually brings her to the famed Harlem Renaissance neighborhood. The novel was first published in 1929, and almost a century later, the narrative still has a powerful impact. It hits the nail on the head regarding color coding and prejudice prevailing in the Black community.ย 

A classic gem from the Harlem Renaissance, this is one of the most recommended books for Black History Month.ย 

Add to Cart: Amazon | Bookshop | Audible

Conclusion: Wrap-Up of What You Should Read During Black History Month

The purpose of Black History Month is to bring into consideration the achievements of black people in American history. It is also a time to reflect on how far we have come as a society since our ancestors came to America.

However, there are many books that one can read during this time, I highly recommend reading famous classical books by Black authors and some African American books that changed the game. However, if youโ€™re into horror genre, you may enjoy these Southern Gothic novels. You may also check some famous short poems by Langston Hughes.

Tags: African American HistoryAfrican American History MonthBest Black History BooksBlack Author BooksBlack History Books to ReadBlack History MonthFamily Matters in Black CommunityGreat Reads For Black History Month
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