African American Books You Should Read!
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- čas přidán 26. 07. 2015
- I compiled a list of 2o+ African American literature novels for newbies to the genre or avid bookworms like me. When I first started my journey, I really didn't know what books to start with or any authors for that matter. This is not a complete list but a starting point from which to expand your own horizons. I didn't see many if any youtube videos for guidance in this area so why not make one?
With so many black sisters/brothers not knowing where they come from, these books are a good way to dive into the history and knowledge of "us" in a contemporary way.
Support African American authors!
Any questions, comments, add ons to my list... feel free to comment below! Share this with a friend*
I do not own the rights to the music in the video*
IG: ba_asinine
Check out my dreadlock journey videos too!
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Thanks for the list! I am about to embark on an African American literature journey myself. It's a shame I was forced to read about the history of Caucasians but not encouraged to seek out my own.
I have a page where I teach African American Literature. Look up Black Lit. Black Hist.
Adam Brady u should check out “Penitentiary Rich” by Tyree Camp on Amazon
Black Lit. Black Hist. You should check out “Penitentiary Rich” by Tyree Camp on Amazon
Preach!!! Last year was my first time hearing about Juneteenth n this year was my first time hearing about Tulsa.smh
Facts sis 💯 facts lol.
James Baldwin "Another Country" & "Giovanni's Room", you'll thank me later lol. Great video
Check out Da Bruhs Bookshelf review on Giovanni’s Room
Ok thanks 👍
James Baldwin: The Fire Next Time
As soon as I heard the Earl and Kendrick music, I knew this was gonna be a good ass video.
+Jesse Day LMBO I'm glad the music had it up to your standards :]
There is a book i read in my Intro to Afro-American Studies 101 class called The White Lion by Cudjo Lewis. It gave me a new reality of literature and faith, which are both very significant to me... Thats my suggestion to read! Great video and collection of books!
Thankfully a majority of my teachers from middle school onward were Black. So we read a LOT of Afro diaspora literature, including Afro-latinx/Caribbean/North American and African cultures. I think most of your list we covered in class and a whole lot more I'm so thankful lol
Keep spreading that knowledge for real it's a damn shame black history has been wiped out :/ be blessed!
thanks Twinkie... we have to start putting more readily available info out there that's gonna grow promote our community and our history.
I think what you're doing is wonderful! You know, J. California Cooper is a great black writer and everyone black person should read her books. She's a wonderful author. I'm so glad I came across your video. Just wonderful!!
Terry McMillan's latest, 'I Almost Forgot About You,' is also well worth a read. She does that magical thing where her characters seem more like real people than characters.
book recommendations: (1) One Pale Summer (2) Things I Never Told (3) Bitter With The Sweet .....(by debra phillips)
You should do a updated version of this video.There are so many books. I absolutely loved your video
James Baldwin. Malcolm X.
Love all of these suggestions! Some I've read, many already on my list, and many more I have never heard of. Thank you for making this video.
I read most of those the one you should really read is the Autobiograpy of Fredrick Douglas
I've heard of that book gonna have to add it to my bucket list*
OMG. I love Their Eyes Were Watching God. I read it when I was in my teens, in fact Zora inspired me to become a writer. Perhaps some day one of my 20 novels will make your list. I enjoyed your list and I've read all of the books you've recommended. I've subscribed to your channel.
My number one favorite, Their eyes were watching God!!!!😊😊😊😊
Love Sula, one of my faves. I also took an african american literature myself where I learned so much. The class should be mandatory nowadays.
Like your vibe. Nice video. I have a few of these books. However, you opened my eyes to some new ones. AND NO! I HAD NO IDEA SWEET MOTHER Mya Angelou used to be a PIMP! I can't even imagine and it is absolutely HILARIOUS!
I love a good memoir. I really like learning about people's lives.
I'm sitting in the library now and I was wishing I knew more black authors. I also liked "Walter Mosley", I read most of his fiction books after I saw the movie "Devil in the Blue Dress", that starred Denzel Washington.
If you want a good read Loose Lips by Mack Guinness. It just won the Gold Medal for Urban Fiction category in the 2021 Reader's Favorite International Book Awards Contest
Wow great reviews! I'm happy to say I've read most of those books and I'm reading Corregidora at the moment...
I am re-reading NATIVE SON by Richard Wright. He's fabulous. His writing gives me chills. I feel like i'm in the story! #RichardWright
Omg been trying to find your channel for years so glad I found you again
Recently finished Kindred by Octavia E. Butler, and it was really good.
This vid is amazing definitely going to read some books !
Such a strong list of recommended books for AA. Invisible Man and I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings were personal favs of mine. Thanks for this video! 👏🏾🙌🏾📚👍🏾😄
Very Helpful! Been searching for a good read outside of my course material. Thank You!
Def helped me start my to read list! and you're super pretty too!
+Lynn Leroy Glad you have a mini arsenal of books to check out now :]
I love all of your suggestions! I think you gave me a really good idea of what to get my little sister. Shes a quirky black girl, first year in high school and I'm really trying to give her gifts I didn't get (or ask for) when I was her age! Thanks!
Blackberry Jones Thats so kind of you! She's lucky to have you as a brother
New subbie here, I wrote every one of those books down! I am more of an urban reader, but I plan to learn about our culture. I too shall go on an African American Literature Journey!
+Latesha Jones Glad this video gave you some inspiration and ideas to start up a journey too :] thats awesome*
Hi Tesh, please support me. I am a struggling black author who needs a lot of support. If you can pruchase my book with the link here and spread the word about this book; The Girl Who Shone like A Star, Iw ould totally appreciate this www.amazon.co.uk/Girl-Who-Shone-Like-Star/dp/B084DGX13J/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=The+Girl+Who+Shone+Like+A+Star&qid=1585587005&sr=8-1
Thanks sis. I was looking for some new reads. I've read the 1st 4, however, looking forward to enjoying the others!
+_HEBREWESS_ h-s Think this compilation has something for everyone going into this genre area :] glad it helped.
I've read all these and they are fantastic. Some I think are missing in my humble opinion are They Came Before Colombus, The Black Jacobin, W.E.B Du Bois, History Of The Hanged, Race First: The Ideological and Organizational Struggles of Marcus Garvey and the Universal Negro Improvement Association, When We Ruled: The Ancient and Medieval History of Black Civilisations, Between The World & Me.
You are in the YT algorithm, so I subscribed...thank you for sharing I am looking forward to more content
I subscribed and wrote down every book you mentioned, great stack of books suggested.
Also love,love ,love
Family by J. California Cooper. Thanks for sharing!!!
Love this video. I'm a big Toni Morrison fan and songs of Solomon is one of my favorites by her. I read it twice.
The dedication and mention of Reader's Digest makes me laugh and think of being a small child in my grandparents' home, where my love for reading took root. :)
Thanks for the vid, definitely gonna check these out!!!
Thank you so much. I went to the book store to day and was so frustrated because I had no idea what to get! I am a new sub🤗
I’m reading The Bluest Eye right now for my English class and so far, I’m impressed! 💙📖
You did great. I appreciate your knowledge!!
Great video!! One of my favourite books is The Street by Ann Petry, and recently I read The Darkest Child by Delores Phillips which was amazing!
I've read many of these books! Toni Morrison is one of my fave authors. "The Bluest Eye" is one of my fave books (next to Song of Solomon) by her. It really related to me the first time I read it. I haven't read "Bailey's Café". I have got to check that one out. "Invisible Man" was hard for me to get into at first, but I was able to follow it and get the meat of it. Bebe Moore Campbell is also a fave author of mine, who tackled a lot of current-day issues of urban/suburban African-Americans.
Thank you so so much for this list!
Great list. I am planning making a list myself. Thanks for sharing.
Great video sister. Great to see young black sister encouraging the people to seek knowledge of self. Blessings
thanks for the love fam... lots of intellectual black women out here despite what the media wants to portray about us ya know?
Yes I definitely feel you on that mainstream and social media for the most part.
I enjoyed you novel selections and added two of them in my Amazon cart!
glad I could inspire!
I want to read most of the books on this list so far! Colour Purple i have heard so much about so I guess I'll start with that one
Definitely adding all of these to my TBR
thank you so much for writing them in the video
Thank you for providing this list. As an author and avid reader, I'm excited to read some of these which I haven't. Didn't know that tidbit about Maya Angelou being a pimp. WHAT???
+L.A.'s Books & Things Oh yea..... in "Gather Together in My Name" (her second autobiography) she pimps out women and sadly has a moment where she gives up herself because of some situations... She lived a life full of fulfillment! haha
Please add to your list a few of my favorite books about and by the following: The Souls of Black Folks by WEB Dubois, Up From Slavery and the Atlanta Compromise by Booker T. Washington, Philosophy and Opinions by Marcus Garvey, Another Country, The Fire Next Time, If Beale Street Could Talk and Notes of A Native Son by James Baldwin, Ta-Nehisi Coates. The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot and The Audacity of Hope and Dreams from my Father by Barack Obama. Also, The Spook Who Sat by the Door by Sam Greenlee and Volunteer Slavery by Jill Nelson. Keep reading!
Thank you so much for this video. I will certainly look into many of the books you've mentioned
some true classics in the vid! glad you enjoyed it & got something from it. That's why I made it :]
Thank you for this, definitely going to pick some up.
Why am I just seeing this??? Great selection! Thank you
Hi there, I picked up PUSH by Sapphire and read it in 7 hours. Oh my goodness, it was very eye opening and the book is 10 times better than the movie. I'm following your list and I will check out all of the books you compiled. Thanks
I would love an updated video on what you have been reading
This video was so helpful. Would you mind doing an update on any new must reads by African American authors.
Great collection! I've read most of them myself.
thanks! Great minds know and think alike* :))
As do I. I've read mostly all. NOW I must get my 2 daughter's on this list. They're old enough now. Brilliant video.
im not black (or american) but i love reading african american literature. much blessings & stay strong
Thanks for sharing those titles... gives me some new books to explore... I would also like to recommend a book for you to read... it's called Rocking babies by Linda Raymond... is on Amazon for like 5 bucks... And when I tell you that book is good... girrrrllll!
Great book list... I just picked up the Bluest Eye and can't wait to read it.. you've given me some new books to be on look out for thanks
+DWhite2Dreads Glad I could put some inspiration out there :]
I can’t get over how beautiful you are...Oh and also thanks for compiling this list for us
Still watching in 2022. These are definitely classics that we should read!👍🏽❤️🖤💚📕
This video was great thanks for sharing👍😉
New Sub great book review just what I was looking for when I typed in books to read in my search engine...thanks
Thank you for making this list of books. Some of the books I have read and some I haven't read. I hope that you can make another suggestion to different authors and books to read. Thanks for the sharing the knowledge!
+Victoria clay Thanks for the appreciation. I'm debating doing another one in a few weeks of some other books that I've read since this vid :]
outstanding list, thank you.
+chris brown (poet) Thank you :]
Thank you for these suggestions. I added them all to my Goodreads. Can you do an updated book suggestion?
Girl please please plllleeeaaasssseee come back. I need this wisdom! Hope you're doing ok 😃
Thanks for this video- I was looking for AA books for my teen daughter.
I searched up "books you should read on nutrition and got this video popping up. Lol. Great list of books though I'll have to check these out.
I'm really surprised I didn't see "Jubilee" by Margaret Walker on your list! A must read!
I'm not American let alone African American but this video is a great pointer. Been reading some James Baldwin and Langston Hughes. Finishing of Heron's memoirs which is fantastic.
Really great list! I post videos about books so I would love to see more videos like this. I'm a new subbie & I enjoy your loc videos too.
+FreeFormLady Thanks ma'am. :]
I Really appreaciate this ... im 22 and of course ive been swept by the toxicity of our today generation .. never really cared for my skin color nor our traditions ... i was just living life ... at 20 my third eye opened .. and i started to come to sense of how beautiful it is to be black and a women ... everything that i know now has been self taught .. so now im trying to push towards novels that would potentially add to my knowledge and self worth ... Their eyes were watching god is one of my favorite love stories ever ,,, # seen the movie.. but i just wanted to thank you for this update ... its hard finding things for US By US
The books do be better than movies!!!! Way more details
I loved this. Thanks so much
Sister I love what your doing I read Zora Neale Hurston and Maya Angelou in college and their voices are from the roots of many women in my family. Native Son by Richard Wright is a classic it's long read but the insight of Mr. Wright is on point. Check out Ralph Ellison he is best known for the classic "Invisible Man" it will give you insight on many of the men in your and my family that came before us and what they dealt with back then that resonates today. Much Love & Respect.
Thanks alot for this alot of these books I never heard of
Awesome! I just subscribed! Great Video!
I totally love your content 🖤
Promise that you will sing about me! I already knew this video was going to be good.
Great list of authors.
I love the coldest winter ever by Sister Soulja and big girls don’t cry by Connie Briscoe.
Hi! Thanks for your video; I love it. I've read about half of the books that you've suggested. This is a warning about Song of Solomon: read it on your day off or you might either call in " sick" for work or have to function on very little sleep. The book is magical, poetic, and so powerful . Oh and try to avoid highlighting the whole novel😀
Yvette M. Holland LOL I'll keep ALL that in mind when I get ready to conquer the book :D
+ba_asinine thank you.
Yvette M. Holland what's it about?
L B It`s about a young black man maturing and learning more about himself， his family members， and his culture. The women in his family are captivating， especially his aunt and his cousin. racism is also a theme. the protagonist`s best friend is also one of my favorite characters and ，along with his aunt， is one of my all time favorite characters.
Yvette M. Holland oh OK thanks. I may check it out!
Thank You For This List ☺️ A Book I Would Suggest That You Didn’t Mention Is “the darkest child” By Delores Phillips Is A Very Good Read.. Also, Terry McMillans “who asked you” Was So Good !
I'm starting a new reading journey. on the internet too much....lol but I still need to come here to find things like this....
Great List. I've read most of them, not all though. Kindred by Octavia Butler is also a great read.
Yeah, I hate shameless plugs of books too, but seeing as how you are talking about books by black writers, please check out the following two books: The High Price Of A Good Man (by debra phillips) and Love Trumps Game (by d.y. phillips). Can't wait to read your review. You are good at this. Happy reading!!
Sad to say, i've never been able to finish The Invisible Man. I've never been able to finish a Toni Morrison book either. The Warmest December is outstanding. It jumps back and forth from child to adult perspectives but Ms. McFadden's use of language is beautiful.
Check out Loose Lips by Mack Guinness. You won't be disappointed!
I'm currently reading, Financial Freedom: My Only Hope by Jeremiah Brown. Great read, I read it in a day.
you should start a podcast on African American literature novels. I would love to be a part of it because I read alot and I love discussing that subject with others. Im always asking my coworkers if they read but I rarely find someone to have a conversation with?
dope list gotta get these
Thank god for my AP lit teacher who has had us read most of these
Oh, I'll be sure to include you in the credits in my next book, Jaja...
+Purlyfe Sounds like a chill Idea :] maybe we could converse over it some more. Is it available on Amazon Kindle?
Useful tips for readers to consider.
Yes that is true people didn't know that about "Maya" read all of her books plus her cookbook has stories to.
Great review. Thank you.
I own, and have most on audio or books. Great choices. Herman Hesse Siddhartha on the Buddha.
Oscar Lewis, The Children of Sanchez and La Vida. James Baldwin, Studs Terkel, Amy Tan.
What really matters here is that we teach our children to read. They should love a great book & history of our ancestry & the world. Teach the children well.
Thank you for the list wonderful video
thank you so much for this!.
Believe it or not/ I've been wanting to comment on this video for a minute. Our history is so....untold.
Must Reads:
The Suppression of The African Slave Trade To The United States of America
-W.E.B. Du Bois
My Bondage and My Freedom
-Frederick Douglass
The Quest of the Silver Fleece
-W.E.B. Du Boos
Honestly, I believe these books found me. I downloaded a free app & I realized all it had was extremely old books. I almost deleted it; thank God I didn't ;)
Not "boos" but Bois.