Literature for Black History Month

Much of the world is shaped by the fact that I’m an English major, from how I think and view life to how I interact with others. While it’s easy to cast aside literature as “unimportant,” we cannot ignore that literature is rooted in humanity and opens our eyes to people and stories that we would otherwise never learn about. As a white woman, I obviously don’t know what it’s like to be a Black individual in America. I do not know what it’s like to be a Black woman in America. And I do not know the generational trauma that comes from decades and centuries of mistreatment and racism. What I do know, however, is how important education is, and I’ve found such education through literature. In honor of Black History Month, I wanted to share a list of books written by and about people of color that have opened my eyes to others’ lives and experiences. The texts range from essays to poems to picture books and are organized by the year they were published. The texts highlight very real issues of race and identity and are wonderful for educating and sharing the stories of and by people of color.

Passing - 1923

Written by Nella Larsen, Passing focuses on the reuniting of childhood friends in 1920s Harlem. Both women are “passing,” meaning they could “pass” as being white women. One of the women has decided to identify as a Black woman, while her childhood friend actively tries to “pass” as a white woman. Recently adapted into a film, Passing addresses and highlights the complexity of identity and racial binaries.

Their Eyes Were Watching God - 1937

I’ve now read Zora Neale Hurston’s most popular work about 3 or 4 times, both in high school and now in college. Hurston was an anthropologist throughout the 1920s and 30s and her work is woven with her interest in folk and rural culture of the American South. Their Eyes Were Watching God is full of amazing, beautiful imagery (I will always love Hurston’s description of a pear tree), but also emphasizes life of Black Americans in the 20th-century, specifically Black American women. I’m also currently listening to episodes of the podcast “Close Reads” where the hosts read through Their Eyes for the first time— I highly recommend!

A Raisin in the Sun - 1959

Inspired by Langston Hughes’ poem “Harlem,” Lorraine Hansbury’s play focuses on the lives of a Black family living in Chicago. The family struggles with what it means to be a Black man or woman in America, as well as the differences between American and African culture.

Sula - 1973

Sula was a book that I could not put down and was also one of the many books that sparked an interest in the American kitchen space and women (but more on that another time). Toni Morrison’s work emphasize reading and understanding as a writer, but I highly recommend Sula even if you’re not an avid writer. Another book about the reuniting of childhood friends, Morrison’s novel examines families, especially families raised and headed by women.

In Search of Our Mothers’ Gardens - 1983

I always enjoy reading Alice Walker’s works because of her ability to effortlessly bring sources together and take readers on a journey through her words. Her essay “In Search of Our Mothers’ Gardens” presents Black American women as artists— forgotten artists. She weaves together stories of unknown women of the 1800s creating intricate quilts that now hang in museums with the very personal story of the garden her own mother created. It’s a text that I would suggest reading before any of these other works.

Firebird - 2014

Yes, this is a picture book. Yes, it’s for kids. But Misty Copeland, the American Ballet Theatre’s first African American principal dancer, wrote a lovely story where her character (based on her role as “Firebird”) shows dancers of color that they too can achieve their dreams. Ballet’s roots are in Europe and has historically been seen as a genre for only white dancers (even seen in the fact that pointe shoes are historically white or pale pink for white dancers). Dance is for anyone and everyone. Misty Copeland’s book is a beautiful lesson for all readers of how barriers are still being overcome.

Homegoing - 2016

I just recently read Yaa Gyasi’s short story cycle Homegoing and absolutely loved it. Gyasi, originally from Ghana, explores a family tree separated by colonization and enslavement. The stories alternate from taking place in America and Africa, but all emphasize the issues of identity and what that means from culture to culture.

The Tradition - 2019

Written by Jericho Brown, The Tradition is a collection of poems that exclusively focus on racial identity and what it means to be a Black American. Throughout the horrors of the summer of 2020, I was constantly reminded of Brown’s poem “Bullet Points” and how we still see the realities and brutalities of racism in modern America.

All of these texts emphasize racism and identity through beautiful, haunting words and images. I cannot say this enough, but I highly encourage you to look into these texts and/or authors to celebrate Black History Month and Black authors!