6 Essential Books by Black Authors!
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Posted By: Maya Lewis on July 30, 2020 The power of black books can never be overstated. They tell our stories accurately and ensure our legacies are never erased — but instead cemented. They are tools to educate, entertain, and empower! With that in mind, here are 6 essential books by black authors to read right now: 1. THEIR EYES WERE WATCHING GOD by Zora Neale Hurston One of the most important and enduring books of the 20th century, THEIR EYES WERE WATCHING GOD brings to life a Southern love story with the wit and pathos found only in the writing of Zora Neale Hurston. Out of print for almost thirty years—due largely to initial audiences’ rejection of its strong black female protagonist—Hurston’s classic has since its 1978 reissue become perhaps the most widely read and highly acclaimed novel in the canon of African-American literature. 2. DEFINING MOMENTS IN BLACK HISTORY by Dick Gregory With his trademark acerbic wit, incisive humor, and infectious paranoia, one of our foremost comedians and most politically engaged civil rights activists looks back at 100 key events from the complicated history of black America. 3. MY VANISHING COUNTRY by Bakari Sellers CNN analyst and one of the youngest state representatives in South Carolina history Bakari Sellers illuminates the lives of America’s forgotten black working-class men and women in the rural south. Part memoir, part historical and cultural analysis, MY VANISHING COUNTRY is an eye-opening journey through the South's past, present, and future. 4. OPEN SEASON by Ben Crump Award-winning attorney Ben Crump exposes a heinous truth in OPEN SEASON: Whether with a bullet or a lengthy prison sentence, America is killing black people and justifying it legally. It's more than Crump’s incredible mission to preserve justice, it is a call to action for Americans to begin living up to the promise to protect the rights of its citizens equally and without question. 5. THE SECRET WOMEN by Sheila Williams The author of DANCING ON THE EDGE OF THE ROOF, now a Netflix film starring Alfre Woodard, returns with a riveting, emotionally rich, novel that explores the complex relationship between mothers and daughters in a fresh, vibrant way—a stunning page-turner for fans of Terry McMillan, Tayari Jones, and Kimberla Lawson Roby. 6. SAT IT LOUDER!: Black Voices, White Narratives and Saving Our Democracy by Tiffany D. Cross Clark Atlanta University alumni and breakout political analyst, Tiffany Cross delivers a sweeping snapshot of American Democracy and the role that African Americans have played in its shaping while offering concrete information to help harness the electoral power of the country’s rising majority and exposing political forces aligned to subvert and suppress Black voters. Check out these titles and more at the link: https://bit.ly/3jYg7MA If you enjoyed this article, Join HBCU CONNECT today for similar content and opportunities via email! |
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Maya Lewis
From Brooklyn, NY St. John`s Univ, Jamaica NY class of 2014 Member Since July 2020 |
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