'The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness' by Michelle Alexander
A vital book in the age of overdue criminal justice reform, this novel has inspired the Marshall Project, the Art for Justice Fund, and a generation of "criminal justice reform activists and organizations motivated by Michelle Alexander's unforgettable argument that 'we have not ended racial caste in America; we have merely redesigned it.'" This book is a must-read in understanding the state of today's criminal justice system and reform movement, as well as the never-ending fight against deep-rooted racism within our government. Visit Amazon (linked above) to read and learn more.
'The Underground Railroad' by Colson Whitehead
Whitehead has created a vividly true story of the past, taking the metaphor of the Underground Railroad and creating an actual railroad that takes readers through the main character Cora's harrowing experiences to illuminate and recreate the strife and terrors of the past while interweaving in today's hypocrisy and need for change. Visit Amazon (linked above) to read and learn more.
'If Beale Street Could Talk' by James Baldwin
In this novel, Baldwin creates a moving story of the uncertainty, injustice, and toils of the Black experience and Black youth, focusing on a love story and the battle against ever-present racial divides and corruption within society and the justice system. Visit Amazon (linked above) to read and learn more.
'Between the World and Me' by Ta-Nehisi Coates
"In a profound work that pivots from the biggest questions about American history and ideals to the most intimate concerns of a father for his son, Ta-Nehisi Coates offers a powerful new framework for understanding our nation's history and current crisis. Americans have built an empire on the idea of 'race,' a falsehood that damages us all but falls most heavily on the bodies of black women and men—bodies exploited through slavery and segregation, and, today, threatened, locked up, and murdered out of all proportion. What is it like to inhabit a black body and find a way to live within it? And how can we all honestly reckon with this fraught history and free ourselves from its burden?" Visit Amazon (linked above) to read and learn more.
'The Hate U Give' by Angie Thomas
This novel follows 16 year old Starr Carter as she battles racial tensions of today's world, presenting the story with a clear juxtaposition between her poor neighborhood and the rich, suburban prep school she attends. Following the fatal shooting of her best friend, today's reality meets this powerfully told story of the truth of the black American experience, the privilege many take advantage of, and the need to understand and learn. Visit Amazon (linked above) to read and learn more.
'Americanah' by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Adichie follows Ifemelu and Obinze in this moving tale of searching for identity and home and learning what it means to be black in a racially-divided America. A somber and thought-provoking must-read for understanding racial tensions when faced with them suddenly and head-on and from the enlightening perspective of an African immigrant. Visit Amazon (linked above) to read and learn more.
'Invisible Man' by Ralph Ellison
This novel follows a nameless narrator as he recounts growing up in a southern black community and the challenges and experiences he faces. It follows him "attending a Negro college from which he is expelled, moving to New York and becoming the chief spokesman of the Harlem branch of "the Brotherhood", and retreating amid violence and confusion to the basement lair of the Invisible Man he imagines himself to be." Visit Amazon (linked above) to read and learn more.
'The Bluest Eye' by Toni Morrison
"Pecola Breedlove, a young black girl, prays every day for beauty. Mocked by other children for the dark skin, curly hair, and brown eyes that set her apart, she yearns for normalcy, for the blond hair and blue eyes that she believes will allow her to finally fit in. Yet as her dream grows more fervent, her life slowly starts to disintegrate in the face of adversity and strife. A powerful examination of our obsession with beauty and conformity, Toni Morrison's virtuosic first novel asks powerful questions about race, class, and gender with the subtlety and grace that have always characterized her writing." Visit Amazon (linked above) to read and learn more.
'Homegoing' by Yaa Gyasi
"The unforgettable New York Times best seller begins with the story of two half-sisters, separated by forces beyond their control: one sold into slavery, the other married to a British slaver. Written with tremendous sweep and power, Homegoing traces the generations of family who follow, as their destinies lead them through two continents and three hundred years of history, each life indeliably drawn, as the legacy of slavery is fully revealed in light of the present day." Visit Amazon (linked above) to read and learn more.
'Not Without Laughter' by Langston Hughes
"This stirring coming-of-age tale unfolds in 1930s rural Kansas. A poignant portrait of African-American family life in the early twentieth century, it follows the story of young Sandy Rogers as he grows from a boy to a man. We meet Sandy's mother, Annjee, who works as a housekeeper for a wealthy white family; his strong-willed grandmother, Hager; Jimboy, Sandy's father, who travels the country looking for work; Aunt Tempy, the social climber; and Aunt Harriet, the blues singer who has turned away from her faith." Hughes' book recounts vivid experiences of growing up in a divided America, a valuable source and a true testament to the Black experience. Visit Amazon (linked above) to read and learn more.
