Black History Month in Books
Up first, here are a few of my favorite books by Black authors that you should read plus a few articles on marriage and friendship worth checking out.
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This week, I share some of my favorite books by Black Authors and a few articles worth reading.
There's always trying to quiet us down, turn us down. They tell us 'you're too loud' or 'you're too bright.'However, these things are attached to our joy, our very being, and it is how we exist as few humans.
That quote is from this great Vogue article, but yes, it is officially Black History Month. I must say, living through a pandemic, witnessing social and racial unrest, dealing with the snow, and still finding joy is a form of black joy. I know I’m not alone here. This year is different than previous Black History Months. You can’t go to networking events, school presentations, or to happy hours to celebrate - although I’m sure if you’re not experiencing Zoom fatigue, they exist. To celebrate, I’m going to share a few different things throughout the month, and I am first starting with books to read by black authors (and one that isn’t but is focused on a black figure) - please let me know your favorites in the comments.
Books to Read:
Jazz by Toni Morrison: This is the first Toni Morrison book that I read as I used to steal it from my Stepmom’s bookshelf. Reading this book made me a Toni lover forever and is also part of what inspired me to want to be a writer.
NW by Zadie Smith: I have a love-hate thing with Zadie. At times I love her so much, and other times, I find her books to be a snooze festival with no Funnel Cake. However, this book I didn’t really appreciate it until the third time I read it and find that it’s a book I often revisit.
Half a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie: Although Chimamanda got more popular from her book Americanah and featured in Queen Bey’s “Flawless,” this is hands down my favorite book by her. This book is so well written and beautiful to me. I didn’t really enjoy the movie much because I have a thing with Thandie Newton (she acts slinky to me), but it’s not bad either.
Girl. Woman. Other by Bernadine Evaristo: This was my favorite book of 2020. What a beautiful book? Evaristo was the first Black Brit to win a Booker Prize Award.
Salt by Nayyirah Waheed and The Terrible by Yrsa Daley-Ward: If you like poetry, these are two of my favorite books. I’m not much of a poetry girl myself, but I find myself reading these often. I will say too, although a poetry book, “The Terrible,” had so much depth that I found myself often crying while reading.
What We Lose by Zinzi Clemmons: This book is written in prose and makes me cry while reading. Perhaps I am sensitive?
Books on Marvin Gaye: I will always suggest reading books on Marvin Gaye because he’s not only one of my favorite musicians of all time but also one of my favorite figures. What a tragically beautiful life he had. I re-read these books often. Honestly, I read them each, perhaps once per year. The books are: “Divided Soul: The Life of Marvin Gaye” by David Ritz, Marvin’s official biography - the conducted interviews before his death. Also, as a side note, I am inspired to make a David Ritz appreciation newsletter at some point because I love all his books. Also, Michael Eric Dyson’s “Mercy, Mercy Me.” Lastly, I suggest you read the book by Marvin’s wife, Janis, “After The Party: My Life with Marvin,” because there’s drama, tea, and MORE drama. There’s also some interesting stuff about Teddy Pendergrass in there that made me sip more tea.
Here are a few roundups featuring black authors:
Here are a few other things I thought were worth sharing this week:
This was a pretty good read and question: “When Will Black People Get to Stop Being “The First.”
We can learn from these public figures, that when we are able to enter positions of power and have the ability to hire or mentor the next or current generation of Black women and people, we all have to reach back to bring more of us up that ladder. It is essential… That's how we move beyond having an exclusive club of firsts and into a future where we stand together.
I enjoyed this newsletter edition about Chloe Bailey’s Instagram Live from Darian Symoné Harvin
And I'm really happy that I get to share that with you all, and I think it's so important and so special when a Black woman can be strong and stand in her power in every single way.
Alicia Kennedy’s newsletter is one of my favorites, and I really enjoyed reading yesterday’s edition, “On Marriage.”
I don’t feel political conflict because I know what my politics are, and I don’t think getting married should provide us anything but what we decide that means for us.
Lastly, ironically, I’ve been having a lot of conversations with friends about how this article: “The Pandemic Has Erased Entire Categories of Friendship.”
Tools like Zoom and FaceTime, useful for maintaining closer relationships, couldn’t re-create the ease of social serendipity, or bring back the activities that bound us together.
That’s it for now. I’ll holla at you next week!