Words are a powerful tool that can help us better understand and empathize with others – and when in written form, words transcend beyond the present, ensuring that the stories and experiences of our ancestors are never forgotten.
This year, the theme of Black History Month is “The Black Family: Representation, Identity, and Diversity,” and what better way to celebrate and amplify Black voices than to immerse yourself in the written words of Black authors – both past and present.
To help you make sure BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and people of color) are represented on your bookshelf, our staff has listed their top picks to read this Black History Month and beyond.
- “Beloved” by Toni Morrison
- “If Beale Street Could Talk” by James Baldwin
- “In the Meantime: Finding Yourself and the Love You Want” by Iyanla Vanzant
- “Their Eyes Were Watching God” by Zora Neale Hurston (a Floridian)
- “The Souls of Black Folk: Essays and Sketches” by W.E.B. DuBois
- “The Underground Railroad” by Colson Whitehead
- “The Color Purple” by Alice Walker
- “The Fire Next Time” by James Baldwin
- “Open Season: Legalized Genocide of Colored People” by Ben Crump (a Floridian)
- “The New Jim Crow (Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness)” by Michelle Alexander
- “Becoming” by Michelle Obama
Looking to support Black businesses this month? Here are some Black-owned bookstores, both retail and online, that are based in Florida.
As author Yehuda Berg observed, “Words are singularly the most powerful force available to humanity.”
