Black History Month. The time where we share our history and live unapologetically Black (even though we do this all 12 months anyway). During this time, I decided to expand my knowledge on prominent Black figures and stories. Here are four books I plan to read throughout the month of February.
- Becoming by Michelle Obama
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Becoming is a memoir written by our former first lady, Michelle Obama. This book documents her life from childhood all the way to her time in the White House. I’m thrilled to read this book because I consider Michelle Obama to be a historical figure in Black history, so reading her story is highly important, in my opinion. If you want a glimpse of what is in the book, there’s also a documentary on Netflix titled Becoming.
- The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett
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The Vanishing Half is a story that I’ve actually already started, and I’m hooked. This book is considered historical fiction, and it’s about two light-skinned sisters who are twins. They grew up in a small town and decided to run away for a better life at the age of sixteen. Ten years later, one sister returns home with an African American daughter while the other, who secretly passes for White, lives with a family who knows nothing about her past. This book is amazing so far, and it’s definitely teaching me a great deal.
- Unapologetically Ambitious by Shellye Archambeau
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I received this book through a women’s conference and decided to read it this month because of its significance. It’s written by Shellye Archambeau, one of Silicon Valley’s first female African American CEOs. I’m eager to read this book because, as a woman who will be pursuing a job in the tech industry, it’ll be very inspiring to read how a Black woman balances her career and family while still breaking barriers.
- A Promised Land by Barack Obama
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I felt like this book was a must-have on my list. I received a first edition copy from my parents on Christmas and decided to read it in honor of Black History Month. This memoir, written by former President Barack Obama, documents his time as a young man in college to his tenure in the White House. In this book, he talks about the decisions he made regarding certain political issues and the barriers he had to overcome as the first Black president.
I’m really excited to tackle this reading list and expand my knowledge of the people who’ve opened countless doors for me. I highly recommend taking a look at one of the books on my list, and if you’ve been recommended another book written by a Black author, I definitely suggest taking a look and seeing what it’s about.