While it is absolutely vital to support Black writers and creators throughout the whole year, February is Black History Month! There are tons of great initiatives put on by the Greater Victoria Public Libraries as well as bookstores like Indigo Chapters or Bolen Books for readers looking to find works of all genres by Black creators! But just like book shopping in general, it can be really overwhelming. In the spirit of celebrating the work of Black creators, but also keeping it real, here is a list of amazing works by Black creators that I have actually read (and very much enjoyed!) in two genres: fiction and memoir. I like these genres because they are a great way to read something that doesn’t feel like schoolwork, and you get a more personal or intimate story than nonfiction books or academic works. All the links lead to the Goodreads entries for the books, where you can find plot summaries and other info!
Fiction
Monday’s Not Coming by Tiffany D. Jackson.
This book ripped me apart and made me violently sob. It’s pegged as a young adult book, but the themes it touches on along with the depth of the plot twist at the end provide plenty of reflection on Black life, racism, grief, friendship, girlhood, music and so much more. It’s written as a mystery and features jumps within the timeline, which adds to the suspense and almost thriller-like quality that makes this story so gripping. The author is also a horror filmmaker (which probably explains the suspenseful writing style). If you were a fan of The Hate U Give, by Angie Thomas, this is the read for you!
Every Body Looking by Candice Iloh.
Again another young adult book that is magnificent enough to make it on my list. Written by a queer first generation Nigerian-American author, this is a complicated and deeply vulnerable exploration of growing up and finding yourself. There are pieces of the main character’s struggle and her emotions that everyone can identify with, and I found it really moving. The writing style is also genre-bending withs the entire novel told in verse and no prose. It’s an emotional read, and it can get heavy, but the poetry style means that it’s not too difficult to get through. I love reading novels that are written in a verse style because it allows the writer so much more creative freedom to really experiment with emotion. If you’ve got a long plane ride or a rainy afternoon to spare, this is the read for you.
The Sweetness of Water by Nathan Harris.
For all my historical fiction friends out there, or those just looking for something that isn’t young adult, check out this one! Taking us back to the era of Reconstruction, this novel explores racism, brotherhood, dis/ability, and father-son dynamics among many other themes. The pace is a bit slower, and the writing is more densely descriptive, which can make it more challenging to get through than my previous suggestions. However, for me, it was just as worth it. Despite being Harris’ debut novel, it was featured in Oprah’s Book Club in 2021, so that should tell you something. If you wanna fall into a different era, get lost in another landscape, and get to know deep and complex characters, this is the read for you.
Memoir
Becoming by Michelle Obama.
Even if you are not an Obama fan, this is still worth a read as a stunningly written memoir that tackles race, class, gender, motherhood, and marriage. As we follow the former First Lady growing up, readers can find themselves in the insecurities, vulnerabilities and challenges she experiences a Black woman. I was genuinely surprised at how well this book was written, given that Obama is not an author by craft, and there were parts that even had me teary-eyed. If you feel unsure of yourself, if you feel imperfect, if you feel lonely or if you feel like you need a hug this is the read for you.
Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates.
I listened to this on an audiobook read by the author. While I do think it added to the experience, the prose and composition in this book is masterful. Written as a letter from the author to his teenage son, this memoir is provocative, emotional, raw, and exceptionally well crafted. It bounces around to explore themes of racism, masculinity, violence, collective Black identity, and fatherhood in a way that seamlessly blends the political with the personal. I will be buying this in physical copy at some point, because I need to re-read it and annotate along the way. If you’re looking for something a little more intellectually stimulating, this is the book for you.
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou.
While I haven’t actually acquired a copy of the full book and read it from cover-to-cover, I have read many excerpts from this book over the years. Angelou is a renowned American poet, exploring similar dynamics to Michelle Obama’s memoir but in a much different time period. Written beautifully, this book explores deep, thought-provoking (and sometimes emotionally challenging) themes. I really like how you get to explore a different side to the public version of Angelou, living in a rural small town before she became famous. If you want a historical perspective, but don’t want strict fiction or nonfiction, this is the book for you!
That’s all from me! Happy Black History Month and happy reading.