I view books as a weapon. The places that a book can take you are mind-blowing. This gun is legal, and you don’t need to hold a permit to carry it. I believe all people, especially the young, should make an effort to open up their mind to more literature. In this post, I will display the books that have to enlighten me in ways I never thought were possible. From autobiographies to books of essays, I've listed the books I feel every hungry mind should read.
"The Autobiography of Malcolm X" as told by Alex Haley
“The Autobiography of Malcolm X,” this book spoke to me. Before I read the novel Alex Haley had written, I was fascinated by the life of Malcolm X. This book takes you in a time machine through the Minister's life. The further I read, I began to understand why he spoke the way he spoke and carried himself the way he did. While reading, I felt as if I were having a conversation with the Harlem Minister. Before I began studying Mr. X, I was ignorant to his ideas and his thinking patterns. The stereotypical notions that I received in grade school made it difficult for me to want to expand my knowledge of him. Putting all of this aside I decided to do my research, and this book was the core of that. If you have a passion for the movement of the sixties I recommend this book for you. If you’re one that wants to enlighten yourself on Malcolm X’s movement I recommend this book for you. This book will illuminate the mind, body, and soul.
Rating: ★★★★★ / 5.0
"To Die for the People"
Written by: Huey Newton
You begin to understand who the founder of the Black Panther Party Huey Newton is as a person. To Die for the People is a timeless classic filled with inserts of his essays that take you to a very critical time in our history. With rare and persuasive honestly, this books records the internal struggles, rivalries, and contradictions that this young revolutionary group experienced while dealing with America’s injustice and cruel system. To Die for the People represents one of the most important analyses of the politics of race, black radicalism, and democracy written during the black-power era of America. The militant persona that the Black Panther Party displayed feared many across the country, but for some it was necessary. Black Americans around this time in history were in desperate need of voice, Newton was that voice. Newton's impact continues to run deep within those who understood him.
Rating: ★★★★ / 4.0
"Breaking the Curse of Willie Lynch: The Science of Slave Psychology"
Written by: Alvin Morrow
There is a belief that Willie Lynch was not a real person. However, historians still make time and effort to discover whether the existence of Lynch were fictional lies and propaganda. Whether he was real or not, the ideas that he points out in his writings continue to exist today. Lynch made it clear in his writings, a master and those after will be able to control the mental capacity of a slave. There was a time in history where slaves were not only shackled physically but also mentally. Mr. Lynches ideas were to divide the African-American community ultimately within the home, with their color, and also their physical makeup. Not only what Lynch said in his speech was unwelcoming to those who discovered it, but it’s an actual reality. What Alvin Morrow does in his debut novel Breaking the Curse of Willie Lynch promotes his ideas and solutions of how we can break the cycle that Lynch created. This book penetrates the heart of the divisions that exist among black men and women today. In explicit detail, this books describes the brutal mental conditioning methods used on the African during North American slavery, and the psychological aftershock that still wreaks havoc within our men and women in today’s 21st century. In vivid detail, this book describes why we still suffer.
Rating: ★★★★ / 4.0
"Nigger"
Written by: Randall Kennedy
Nigger- (n) 3: A member of a socially disadvantaged class of persons. In Webster’s dictionary, this is the definition of a word that we have grown accustomed. Although the urban culture has taken this name and used it as a term of endearment and affection, it’s still a word that is used excessively within our community. The reason for this word being used so out of context is because we lack the fundamental knowledge of its meaning. Randall Kennedy’s novel Nigger goes in depth of what this word means and how these six letters hold so much negative context. Should blacks be able to use this word in ways forbidden to others? Should it cost a person his or her job? In this piece, Kennedy takes on not just a word, but our laws, attitudes, and culture with bracing courage and intelligence. If we begin to understand more of what this word means, we’ll make a determined effort to dispose of it from our well-being.
Rating: ★★★★ / 4.0
"The New Jim Crow"
Written by: Michelle Alexander
Growing up, my parents pushed the importance of conducting myself a certain way withing the presence of police officers and other law enforcement authority. I always wondered why my mother would worry so much about me when I'm out with friends on a Friday night. For one, she was concerned about my safety from not only the streets but from police. With the recent killings of Alton Sterling and other blacks who were killed by the hands of law enforcement agencies, I decided to head to the campus bookstore and purchase this gem. Michelle Alexander did a great good breaking down every aspect of the criminal justice system and how unjust and unfair it is for not only African-Americans but for Hispanics as well. Alexander does a phenomenal job researching every aspect of the criminal justice system. From the rebirth of the Jim Crow Era, the War on Drugs, the inhumane conditions in within the prison facilities and the ways that we can get involved has a community. We all have been affected by this cruel system whether we know it or not.
Rating: ★★★★ / 4.0
"Black Economics"
Written by: Dr. Jawanza Kunjufu
One of the vital hinders within the black community is the inability to produce wealth and maintain wealth. Collectively as a community, we aren't taught to develop economic freedom and establish businesses. Dr. Jawanza Kunjufu, who is the author of many award-winning black self-improvements novels did a tremendous job generating economic concepts throughout this piece. Kunjufu expresses his love for the black community as he goes into depth of what we need need to accomplish to develop economic independence. I began to read this book, and within the first few chapters, I gained a clearer understanding of how important it is to create an economy for your community. Being that African-Americans are the number one consumers in the country, I can only imagine how our neighborhoods, schools, and business would look if we design a formula to generate wealth into the black community.
Rating: ★★★★★ / 5.0
"The Art of War"
Written by: Sun Tzu
“So in war, the way is to avoid what is strong and to strike at what is weak.”
This book was given to me by a professor who taught my Political Ideologies class. I’ve always wanted to own this book but never found the version that fits me best (being that there are many translated versions). From the opening introduction, you’re granted with an insight of the strategic mind of Sun Tzu. Honestly, this book changed my life. You can connect all of his war methods for everyday life. Whether it be within your company, relationships or athletic playing field. This book will change the way you approach various task and obstacles in your life.
Rating: ★★★★★ / 5.0
"The New Underground Railroad"
Written by: Robert Henderson, Jr.
Being that I am one to push the idea of black business and black economics, this book was the perfect read for me. Born into a single parent household, the knowledge of owning and becoming an entrepreneur were the least of our concerns. Living and surviving was the ultimate way of life. This easy read that Henderson produced broke down the structure of economic capitalism and how to get ahead of the competition. In this read, Henderson promotes the value of stocks and bonds, mutual funds, the importances of healthy investments, credit card slavery and saving for the future. Many of the economic ideas that are promoted throughout this books have given me the better understanding to not only pursue financial freedom for the present but to maintain it in the future.
As Henderson states, “you never know what that future holds.”
Rating: ★★★★ / 4.0
"Mastery"
Written by: Robert Greene
With huge success from his most famous self-motivating novel “The 48 Laws of Power,” Robert Green gained nothing short of victory with his most recent piece. If you’ve read Greene’s books you know the way in which Greene approaches his novels. His historical references and reversal effects prove that his laws may not only work to your advantage, but they'll also have reverse effects if not practiced correctly. With Mastery he connects all of his laws and ideas to creates the ultimate formula on the way to becoming a master at whatever your craft may be.
Rating: ★★★★ / 4.0
