our favourite reads to celebrate black history month

The Thought:

We celebrate Black History Month every year to honor the triumphs and struggles of the black community throughout history. We also recognize the contribution and achievements of those with African and Caribbean heritage. As avid readers ourselves, we wanted to highlight some of our favourite books by black authors. See below for our recommends. 

The Feeling:

Informed. These are some of the best books ever written (in our opinion), so put your feet up, kick back with a cup of tea, and enjoy. 

The Books: 

for the environmentalist:
  

Consumed: The need for collective change; colonialism, climate change & consumerism - Aja Barber

A powerful book that speaks truth to power. An essential read for anyone who wants to truly understand the impact of consumerist culture and do their bit to make a change.

the one you've always been meaning to read:
  

Americanah - Chmimanda Ngozi Adiche


White Teeth - Zadie Smith

If you haven’t read White Teeth, where have you been? A compelling, epic, and intimate tale of how history can come back to haunt you. Pick it up if you haven’t yet.

For the classics lover:
 

Giovanni's Room - Baldwin


A tale of young male morality, set in a contemporary Paris of American expatraites, liasons, and violence. A ground breaking, darkly devastating read. 

Beloved - Toni Morrison

An incredibly powerful description of slavery’s destruction of identity. Beloved explores the physical, emotional, and spiritual devastation wrought by slavery, a devastation that continues to haunt former slaves even in freedom.

For the history buff:
 

Homegoing - Yaa Gyasi


A breath-taking read with deep emotional power that traces three hundred years in Ghana. Beautifully written, Homegoing shows how colonization and slavery bring harm to everyone involved. 

The Confessions of Frannie Langton - Sara Collins

An evocative read with vivid characterisation. This book is a bold and timely reinvention of the classic gothic novel. We loved it.

The Secret lives of church ladies - Deesha Philyaw


An intimate look at the lives of Black women, at queerness, at earnest desires and a tender message to love oneself. This collection of stories really sticks with you, in the best possible way. 

Milk Blood Heat - Dantiel W. Moniz

Each story in Milk Blood Heat delves into the ordinary worlds of young girls, women, and men who find themselves confronted by extraordinary moments of personal reckoning. Intimate portraits of people and relationships  explore family, faith, forgiveness, consumption, and what we may, or may not, owe one another. 

Photo Credit = @classic_novel_lover  and @lurvelybooksandcrafts