Black History Month and Women’s History Month come back to back, and they are some of my favorite months for reading.

While I read in these categories year-round, I love the extra reminder to read in these categories for these two months.

As an aside, I start my Black History Month readings on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day and have for some time. These are the books I read this year.

If it has a * next to the author’s name, that indicates the author is not a Black author. These are generally listed in order read and broken out by category. A ~ in front of the title means I particularly recommend it. Though I enjoyed many more than I put a “~” next to.

ADULT/ESSAYS/LITERARY

~The Fire Next Time by James Baldwin– I really loved this one! Definitely recommend. It’s not overly long, and is pretty easily accessible over audio or written format. It’s also at most libraries. I can see why people say Baldwin is one of the best essayists of all times. I also can see how this inspired the works of many subsequent Black writers and thinkers. It’s pretty apparent.  

The Fire This Time by Jesmyn Ward– This is based off Baldwin’s title. I enjoyed this one. There are essays I liked more than others, but it’s good.  

~Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi– This has been on my list for forever, and I’m glad I finally got to it. I LOVED this one. Very well-written and thought-provoking.

~Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass by Frederick Douglass (reread)- I reread this because it’s been a long time. A classic for a reason.

Trayvon: Ten Years Later: A Mother’s Essay by Sybrina Fulton-This one was a short essay and free, so I picked it up. I’d recommend the other Trayvon book I read over this one, but it was interesting.

Notes of a Native Son by James Baldwin-Part essay, part literary/film analysis. It was intriguing, and I’m glad I read it, but I’d recommend the other one over this one.

Red at The Bone by Jacqueline Woodson-I think she’s written in just about every genre there is. This one wasn’t my favorite of hers, but it was still very good. I am glad I read it. There’s a lot to process and unpack with this one. It’s short and well-written.

YOUNG ADULT

I didn’t read as much in this category this year as I would have liked to, so I’ll have to make up for that in subsequent months.

~Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds-I really enjoyed this one. Reynolds has a unique writing style. He writes for those who don’t like to read he says. It’s a very interesting writing style. I enjoyed this one immensely. He is one of my favorite contemporary Black writers.

~Dear Martin by Nic Stone-This one has also been on my list for forever, so I was glad to get to dive into it. It is interesting and thought-provoking. I’d recommend.

ADULT NONFICTION

~Shirley Chisholm: Champion of Black Feminist Power Politics by Anastasia C. Curwood-I have been searching for a good, in-depth book on Shirley Chisholm for a very long time! I was so excited to read this one. I received a copy for review and voluntarily left a review on this one. It’s a bit long because it’s so comprehensive, but it’s so so good and insightful. Recommend.

Just Pursuit: A Black Prosecutor’s Fight For Fairness by Laura Coates– I didn’t love this one as much as I hoped I would. I had conflicting thoughts on it. I felt the author should have drawn conclusions together a bit more.

Me and White Supremacy by Layla F. Saad (reread)-I reread this one. It’s a list of journal prompts and reflective questions. It’s heavy but very informative.

The History of Politics and Race in the US since 1968 by Candis Smith- Great Lectures compilation. It was informative.

Great Figures of the Civil Rights Movement by Hasan Kwame Jeffries- Great Lectures compilation. I appreciated that the author chose a balanced number of women and men. Some who are more well-known and some who aren’t. It was informative.

The Light We Carry: Overcoming in Uncertain Times by Michelle Obama- I enjoyed this one. I think Becoming is better, but I’m glad I read this one. It was intriguing to delve more into her thoughts.  

After Life: My Journey From Incarceration to Freedom by Alice Marie Johnson- This focuses more on how her faith helped her through her incarceration and what acting out her Christian faith behind bars meant to her than it does on criminal justice or reform (which it didn’t discuss much), but I still enjoyed it.

Our Time is Now by Stacey Abrams- This has also been on my list for a long time. I’ve been curious to read more about her. I enjoyed hearing her thoughts and perspectives.

~Rest in Power: The Enduring Life of Trayvon Martin by Sybrina Fulton and Tracy Martin- This book was very informative and powerful. One of my favorites I’ve read this month.

~Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents by Isabel Wilkerson- This has also been on my list for a long time, so I’m glad I finally got to it. It’s very well researched and well written. I have heard many of these comparisons before, but not all three at once and not this clearly. Definitely recommend.

~~Civil Rights Queen: Constance Baker Motley And the Struggle For Equality by Tomiko Brown-Nagin-If you only read one from any of these, this is the one. The fact that most people don’t know her name or much about her is a travesty. Definitely recommend.

Life in Motion: An Unlikely Ballerina by Misty Copeland-Interesting and well written. I think most would find this enjoyable.

~The Black Cabinet: The Untold Story of African American and Politics During the Age of Roosevelt by Jill Watts*- This one is long and a bit dense, but also surprisingly approachable at the same time. (I know that makes no sense.) I think this is a very important piece of scholarship, and people should know more about this topic, but I know this book won’t be for everyone.

I am a Girl from Africa: A Memoir of Empowerment, Community, and Hope by Elizabeth Nyamayaro- She’s from Zimbabwe for those who want to know more specifically. It’s uplifting and upbeat and easily accessible.

CHILDRENS

Lewis Hamilton by Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara* (received for review)

Henry’s Freedom Box by Ellen Levine*

~Someday is Now: Clara Luper and the 1959 Oklahoma City Sit-ins by Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich (received for review)

~Vanessa Nakate by Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara*(received for review)

Young, Gifted and Black Too: 52 Black Heroes to Celebrate and Discover by Jamie Wilson (received for review)

Excerpt photo courtesy via Unsplash license by The New York Public Library