Highlighting Black Authors: 5 Books to Read
One of the best ways to understand a community—emotionally as well as intellectually—is by reading the literature they produce. The following books cover a wide variety of Black perspectives, ranging in their time period, cultural perspective, and setting. Read up!
Chinua Achebe — Things Fall Apart (1958)
Nigerian novelist Chinua Achebe has been considered the “patriarch of the African novel” for the role he played in bringing African literature to global attention. He studied English at University of Ibadan in Nigeria before pursuing careers in broadcasting and writing. In 1958, Achebe published Things Fall Apart, his first novel, which depicts the European invasion of Nigeria in the late 19th century. The book centers around Okonkwo, an Igbo man and respected member of the fictional village, Umuofia. Although set in a fictional location, the events of Things Fall Apart parallel the actual colonization of Africa. Apart from racism, Things Fall Apart analyzes themes such as masculinity, tradition, and generational divides.
Toni Morrison — The Bluest Eye (1970)
Pulitzer Prize-winner Toni Morrison is among the most celebrated authors in the world. Born in Ohio in 1931, Morrison grew up in the midst of racial segregation and discrimination. She is known for examining the Black female experience in her books, and The Bluest Eye is no different. It follows Pecola Breedlove, a young Black girl growing up in Ohio in the 1940s. Pecola’s community deems her “ugly” because of her dark skin, causing her to struggle with self-hatred and internalized racism. The Bluest Eye is a raw, heart-wrenching look at the consequences racism can have on young people, particularly women, and explores the history of racism in America.
Jason Reynolds & Brendan Kiely — All-American Boys (2015)
Black author Jason Reynolds and white author Brendan Kiely join forces on All American Boys, a book that discusses police brutality and its implications in both Black and white communities. All American Boys follows Rashad (written by Reynolds), a Black teenager accused of stealing from a local store and brutally attacked by the police, and Quinn (written by Kiely), a white teen and family friend of the officer who witnessed the attack. This act of violence spurs a social justice movement in Rashad and Quinn’s community, denoted by #RashadIsAbsentAgainToday on social media. All American Boys examines the ways Black youth are threatened by the police system and how young people can create change.
Trevor Noah — Born a Crime: Stories From a South African Childhood (2016)
Comedian and late-night television host Trevor Noah reflects on his upbringing as a mixed kid in South Africa at a time where interracial relationships were illegal, hence the name Born a Crime. Growing up in South Africa during Apartheid, Noah struggled with fitting in, never feeling entirely white or Black. His memoir also closely follows Noah’s mother, Patricia, and her courage in raising a mixed son as a Black single mother. Born a Crime provides insight into South Africa’s history of segregation and racism, as well as Noah’s own experience coming into his own at the end of apartheid.
Elizabeth Acevedo — The Poet X
Award-winning slam poet Elizabeth Acevedo was born to Dominican immigrants in New York, growing up in a devout Catholic household. Her debut novel, The Poet X, centers around Xiomara Batista, a young Afro-Latina woman living in Harlem. Xiomara’s story mirrors much of Acevedo’s upbringing; Xiomara discovers her love for poetry in high school and rebels against her religious mother. The Poet X also explores Xiomara’s struggles with her sexuality and body, particularly as a curvy girl who has struggled with being objectified by the people around her. The Poet X is written in verse, making it a quick read that examines the issues of religion, sexuality, and growing up.
