The Black Lives Matter movement has been gaining incredible momentum over the past week. Supporters and allies across the nation are showing their support by attending protests, signing petitions, and donating to organizations like the NAACP. But perhaps one of the most important facets of this movement is the increasing motivation of people to become educated on the plight of the black community. In this article, you will find 5 books by Black authors facilitating the spread of this education and awareness that are not only extremely engaging but powerfully enlightening.
Black Girl Unlimited by Echo Brown
Holt/Ottaviano, echobrown.com
This biographical magical realism novel follows a wizard girl from the East Side who transfers to a rich school on the West Side as she slowly comes to terms with what it means to leave a place that made you. While this novel has a fantastical element to it, it doesn't shy away from confronting racism and systematic oppression and has been interpreted as a metaphor for Black resilience.
Say Her Name by Zetta Elliott
Disney Hyperion, Bianca Cordova / Via zettaelliott.com
"Say Her Name" is a collection of 49 powerful poems inspired by the #SayHerName campaign launched by the African American Policy Forum. This emotional and enlightening anthology contains topics such as police brutality, inequality and injustice, and Black empowerment. You're not going to want to miss this one.
Riot Baby by Tochi Onyebuchi
Tor, Christina Orlando / Via tochionyebuchi.com
Set in 1992 Los Angeles, main character Ella has an ability to see things that haven't happened yet--what she calls a "Thing." Ella's older brother Kev wants to protect her from herself, but after he ends up incarcerated, she struggles with her ability to confront the past and the future. Ella knows that change needs to happen, and she has a feeling that a revolution might be the only way toward forward progress.
Fights: One Boy's Triumph Over Violence by Joel Christian Gill
Oni Press, funent.com
If large blocks of text just aren't your thing, try this graphic novel on for size. In this raw and dark memoir, Joel Christian Gill depicts his coming-of-age story as a Black child who resorts to violence to solve his problems. He tells his story through a series of key events that happened in his life and the growth he experiences from it.
Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You by Jason Reynolds, Ibram X. Kendi
Bold Type Books, John Boal / Via slj.com
This reiteration of Dr. Ibram X. Kendi's National Book Award-winning "Stamped from the Beginning" has been adapted by Reynolds in a way that's approachable for young minds. This enlightening book gives a comprehensive discussion of the history of racist ideas in America while also inspiring hope for an anti-racist future.
