7 Reads by Contemporary Black Authors You Should Know
What did you learn during Black History Month? One thing we discussed as a team was making an effort to check out Black authors this year who we might have previously missed.
“Something old, something new. Something borrowed, something blue.” This timeless adage doesn’t just apply to a wedding day but to our bookshelves, too. We love classic authors, and we love adding a new name to our must-read list. We took a few notes from friends (and may have borrowed a few of the titles below from them, too) because these are too good not to share!
In honor of celebrating Black History Month year round, here are seven contemporary authors to add to your reading queue for the coming months.
1. “Sing, Unburied, Sing: A Novel” by Jesmyn Ward
A National Book Award Winner and a New York Times Bestseller, “Sing, Unburied, Sing” is a contemporary novel bound to become a classic. Author Jesmyn Ward explores themes of coming of age, fatherhood, race, and family.
The storyline takes you through past and present-day Mississippi as 13-year-old Jojo tries to discover what it means to be a man amidst the absence of his own father, who is in jail. Jojo’s mother deals with a drug addiction, internal conflict about her relationship with a white man (Jojo’s father), and her own imperfections, which cause her to struggle to be a mother to Jojo and his toddler sister.
2. “The Vanishing Half: A Novel” by Brit Bennett
Another New York Times Bestseller, “The Vanishing Half” tells the story of twin sisters growing up in a Black community in the South. At the age of 16, they run away. Although inseparable as children, adulthood finds them living in different worlds, one white and the other black. One sister returns back to the Black community where they’re from to raise her daughter. The other sister passes as white and lives miles away with her white husband who is unaware of her past and her true identity.
The story takes you from the South to California and from the Civil Rights era of the 50s through the 90s. It weaves together themes of family, identity, and the reasons why someone might live as something other than what they truly are.
3. “Big Friendship: How We Keep Each Other Close” by Aminatou Sow and Ann Friedman
Author and friends Aminatou Sow and Ann Friedman explore what it takes for a friendship to last for the long haul in their insightful read “Big Friendship.” Most people only talk about the sweet side of friendship, but these two friends hold nothing back as they explore the messiness, the conflict, and the sometimes uncomfortable moments that “big friendship” requires.
The two define “big friendship” as friendship that transcends transitions of any kind: life stages, location changes, and emotional shifts. The book explores how deep bonds are formed, tested, and preserved, and invites readers to actively choose and fight for friendship.
4. “The Hate U Give” by Angie Thomas
This New York Times Bestseller and Coretta Scott King Honor Book recipient was transformed into a 2018 box office hit that sold more than $34 million in ticket sales. The storyline follows Starr, an ordinary 16-year-old caught between two worlds: her suburban prep school and the Black neighborhood where she lives with her family. Her life takes a turn when she witnesses the shooting of her childhood best friend by a police officer. Her friend, Khalil, was unarmed at the scene.
Now with protests erupting and calls for justice, as the only witness, Starr must take the stand in court to share what happened on that fateful day. The novel explores friendship, racial injustice, and the courage to speak up.
5. “How We Fight for Our Lives: A Memoir” by Saeed Jones
Formerly best known for his prolific poetry career, Saeed Jones is now an award-winning author and a soon-to-be household name. His 2019 novel “How We Fight for Our Lives” catapulted him to fame. It was named one of the best books of the year by The New York Times, The Washington Post, NPR, Time, and The New Yorker, just to name a few. The memoir tells the story of a gay Black man in the South who is searching for identity and a sense of belonging in his family, his home, and his country. It is a relatable story about relationships, identity, grief, and vulnerability.
6. “The Art of Showing Up: How to Be There For Yourself and Your People” by Rachel Wilkerson Miller
In the age of social media and digital communication, flakiness is not uncommon. Author Rachel Wilkerson Miller is taking flakiness by the collar and sharing how to build authentic relationships with yourself and other people. One part proclamation, the other part guide, her book gives you practical advice on how to connect in the modern age. Learn how to set boundaries, end toxic friendships, define your needs, and make time for yourself.
7. “Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man” by Emmanuel Acho
Named after the hit YouTube series, “Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man” is authored by former NFL linebacker Emmanuel Acho. He unpacks layered topics such as white privilege, cultural appropriation, and “reverse racism” under the foundational premise that “You cannot fix a problem you do not know you have.”
He leads conversations with celebrities, authors, and thought leaders alike as a means of uncovering systemic racism. The goal behind the book and the YouTube series is to provide a safe and compassionate place for white Americans to learn and ask questions — the small, the large, and the taboo — in order to move from information to empathy and action in the fight against racism.
