I’m not sure who needs to hear this, but it’s okay to read Black books after Black History Month is over. Just as I explained that it’s Black History Month in my house 365 days of the year, I also read books by Black authors even after the last day of February has passed. And so should you. Why? Because Black people write damn good books. Also, because it might just change the world.
Reading Nonfiction Black Books Will Decolonize Your Mind
Reading books by Black authors is good practice for people of all ethnic backgrounds. When it comes to understanding world events, American history, and even technology, it’s important to read books authored by folks other than white men. Sadly, personal bias, racism, and white supremacy frequently stain the accuracy of much of our nonfiction. Case in point, many books about American history written by white men, make little mention of the contributions and input made by Black people, women, and other people of color. Reading books by Black authors can help us all get a better sense of the truth. See the 1619 project for starters.
Reading Fiction By Black Authors Makes Black Lives Matter
Reading Black books doesn’t only mean reading nonfiction titles about America’s racist past and the smog of white supremacy. That wouldn’t be any fun. Black people write delicious novels with topics that range from domestic thrillers to YA romance. And studies show that reading fiction that features Black people doing ordinary things, like raising families, falling in love, traveling the world and making friends with their pets, helps non-Black people better relate to Black people and see them as equals worthy of empathy and respect, instead of viewing them as some sort of distant “other.” (Note: This reading fiction tip works with all POCs and other marginalized groups as well.)
Black History Month is Just too Short to Read all the Black Books
Just as Black History Month offers too little time to really dig into the entire culture of Blackness and celebrate all the magic, twenty-eight days is not enough time to read enough great Black literature. Let’s just say you wanted to read four novels and four books of nonfiction this year by Black authors. Would you really force yourself to pack that all in to February? The shortest month of the year? I hope not. That’s just too much pressure on you and February. And even though the publishing industry traditionally loves to publish all of their big titles written by Black authors in February, sometimes a good book by a Black author good comes out in September. Then what are you going to do?
How to Find Good Black Books
If you’re not already part of a book club like the Well-Read Black Girl and you want to read more books by Black authors, but you don’t know where to start to get good recommendations, here are a few tips.
- Shop at Black-Owned Books Stores: Whether you are shopping online or in person, use independent Black book stores where a human can help you find books to your taste and liking.
- Follow the #BlackBookstagtram hashtag on Instagram for recommendations and reviews of Black books. But be warned, there are so many Black bookstagrammers who are so good at what they do, you will need a second job to buy all the great books they recommend.
- Keep reading this blog and listening to the MAMP podcast. On the podcast, I don’t only recommend Black books, but if you search for books by Black authors on this blog, you will come up with plenty of good suggestions for kids and adults. Also, check out my online bookstore and even the MAMP Pinterest page because I have carefully curated book lists for days that will leave you lit.
What books by Black authors are you reading these days?
