Black and Abroad's Black History Month Reading List

By Motse Ntloedibe–Kuswani, President of Black and Abroad

1. Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison: This novel, published in 1952, explores the experiences of an unnamed Black narrator as he navigates racism and identity in mid–20th century America. It is a groundbreaking work of African American literature that explores themes of invisibility and racism, and the struggle for selfhood and individuality.
2. Beloved by Toni Morrison: Beloved is a powerful novel that tells the story of a former slave named Sethe who has escaped slavery but is haunted by the past, including the death of one of her children. The book explores themes of slavery and motherhood, and the lasting effects of trauma. It won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1988 and is considered a classic of African American literature.
3. Four Hundred Souls by Ibram Kendi and Keisha Blain: This is a groundbreaking anthology that brings together 90 Black writers, each of whom contribute a short essay about a specific year in Black history in America. The book covers 400 years, from 1619 to 2019, and offers a wide-ranging and comprehensive view of the Black experience in America.
4. The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison: This novel, published in 1970, is a searing examination of the effects of racism and colorism on a young Black girl named Pecola Breedlove. The book explores themes of beauty and self-worth, and the damaging effects of internalized racism. It is considered a classic of African American literature and helped establish Toni Morrison as one of the most important writers of her generation.
5. Heavy: An American Memoir by Kiese Laymon: Heavy is a powerful and moving memoir that explores the author's experiences growing up Black in the American South, including his struggles with addiction, family and racism. The book is a meditation on the weight of history and the legacy of trauma that has been passed down through generations of Black Americans.
6. Dear Martin by Nic Stone: This young adult novel tells the story of a high school student named Justyce McAllister, who is trying to navigate the challenges of being a young Black man in contemporary America. The book explores themes of racism and police brutality, and the complex issues facing young Black people in America today.
7. The New Jim Crow by Michelle Alexander: This book is a searing indictment of the American criminal justice system and its disproportionate impact on people of color, particularly Black people. The book argues that the criminal justice system has become a new form of racial control, perpetuating the legacy of Jim Crow laws in a new and insidious way.
8. Another Country by James Baldwin: This novel, published in 1962, is a powerful exploration of race, sexuality and identity in mid–20th century America. The book follows a diverse group of characters, including Black and white artists and musicians, as they navigate the complexities of life in New York City. The novel is a seminal work of African American literature and helped establish Baldwin as one of the most important writers of his generation.
9. The Color Purple by Alice Walker: This novel, published in 1982, is a moving and powerful exploration of the lives of Black women in the American South. The book tells the story of Celie, a young Black woman who has suffered abuse and trauma throughout her life. The book is a celebration of the strength and resilience of Black women and is considered a classic of African American literature.
10. The Blacker the Berry by Wallace Thurman: This novel, published in 1929, is an exploration of colorism within the Black community. The book follows the story of a dark-skinned Black woman named Emma Lou who struggles with feelings of inferiority due to her skin color. The novel was groundbreaking in its exploration of colorism and its impact on Black self-worth and, like others on this list, is considered an important work of African American literature.
11. Native Son by Richard Wright: Published in 1940, Native Son is a powerful novel that explores the experiences of a young Black man named Bigger Thomas, who is caught in a spiral of poverty and violence in Depression-era Chicago. The book explores themes of racism and poverty, as well as the limits of individual agency in the face of systemic oppression. It is considered a classic of African American literature and helped establish Richard Wright as one of the most important writers of his generation.
12. Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe: Published in 1958, Things Fall Apart is a seminal work of African literature that explores the experiences of an Igbo man named Okonkwo, who is struggling to maintain his cultural traditions in the face of colonialism and the influence of Western culture. The book is a powerful exploration of the clash between cultures and the devastating impact of colonialism on African societies. It is considered a classic of African literature and helped establish Chinua Achebe as one of the most important African writers of the 20th century.

For more information about Black and Abroad, visit their AUP Engage page.