5 books by black authors that shaped our lives

Over the past year, America has experienced an eruption of pent-up hurt, anger, and frustration over the years of discrimination and violence black men and women have been subjugated to. Systemic and brutal racism has monopolized the fears and histories of millions of black people for hundreds of years.

To support our black community across the world, we must not only support individuals and organizations but bolster black authors, black-owned businesses, entrepreneurs, and activists. These five novels by renowned black authors give first-hand glimpses into the black female experience. They’re eye-opening, devastating, inspirational, and raw and deserve to be on your reading list.

• I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou

In her first autobiography, Maya Angelou, an American poet, author, and Civil Rights activist, vividly describes her childhood in a small southern town. She gives an eloquent first-person narrative on prejudice, sexual assault, and most importantly, finding her voice and her “why” throughout her life experiences. The late poet was featured on Oprah’s Super Soul Conversations podcast where you can hear exactly what inspired us to buy Angelou’s autobiography minutes after listening.

• Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi

Born in Ghana and raised in Alabama, Gyasi’s novel is a heartbreaking and eye-opening read that traces 300 years of black lineage. Two half-sisters are born into different villages in 18th-century Ghana. One is married off to an Englishman while the other is sold into the booming slave trade. The book follows these sisters and their descendants throughout history. Characters experience colonization, slave plantations, the great migration, jazz clubs, and the dope houses of 20th-century Harlem. Truly a brilliant novel with an unforgettable ending, Homegoing is a must for curious and empathetic readers.

• What We’re Told Not to Talk About (But We’re Going to Anyway) by Nimko Ali

A book of female voices and female experiences, Nimko Ali is a British-Somalian FGM activist. Her book explores the topics and questions women have about their bodies and experiences that are seldom brought to the spotlight. Ali interviews women from Ethiopia to London about the messy experience of motherhood, finding a voice in a male-dominated sexual sphere, and her personal experiences with female genital mutilation. A taboo-breaking book that all women, especially those uncomfortable with a sometimes ugly reality, should read.

• Girl, Woman, Other by Bernardine Evaristo

A joint winner of the 2019 Man Booker Prize, Girl, Woman, Other follows the stories of 12 very different black British women. The novel explores the intricacies of black womanhood and through brilliant detail and structure, Evaristo’s book sheds light on the mundane, brilliant, and horrible moments of life.

• We Should All Be Feminists by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Adapted from her much-viewed TEDx talk, We Should All Be Feminists offers readers a unique view of modern-day feminism. The Nigerian-born author shines a light on discrimination, sexual politics, and marginalization, all through a knowing and humorous lens.