African American authors
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Black History in Fiction
Each February, many readers come to the library to check out the latest titles on Black history. Don’t read history books? No worries! Whether you enjoy historical or literary fiction, thrillers or fantasy, romance or mysteries, here are some recent books that immerse us in the lived experiences of Black Americans throughout our history. By… Continue reading
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Black History Month reading inspiration: short stories
While February is a short month — too short — I decided to celebrate this Black History Month by reading a short story a day by Black authors. I have been rotating through a variety of anthologies and collections, delighted by the discoveries within: Heads of the Colored People: Stories by Nafissa Thompson-SpiresMy favorite story… Continue reading
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New African American Fiction for Teens
2019 is already shaping up to be an excellent year in African American fiction for youth. Here are a few recent and upcoming titles that are on our radar: Black Enough: Stories of Being Young and Black in America edited by Ibi Zoboi Seventeen different authors explore what it means to be a Black American teenager… Continue reading
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New African American Fiction
February is Black History Month, so the Reader Services department created a list of recently published African American fiction that we are loving — and we think you will, too. Here is a sampling of some of the books on the list which includes general fiction, mystery, fantasy and romance. Definitely something for every reader! Alyssa Cole’s An… Continue reading
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Florynce “Flo” Kennedy: Black Radical Feminist
It’s Black History Month, the perfect time to read about social justice trailblazers both celebrated and forgotten. Margo Jefferson’s wonderful memoir, Negroland, about growing up in a wealthy, elite African American family in the 1940s and ’50s, was my first introduction to Florynce “Flo” Kennedy, an outspoken Black feminist who inspired Jefferson and many others. Continue reading
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Reading Race: Best Fiction of 2015
When it comes to developing a better understanding of race in America, no tweet, speech or blog post can help us to explore complex realities or inspire empathy and understanding with anything like the thoroughness and subtlety of a good novel. 2015 saw the publication of a wealth of fiction exploring racial issues and realities… Continue reading
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Reading Race: Best Non-Fiction of 2015
The books we read reflect the interests and concerns of our times, so it is no surprise that 2015 was an important year for non-fiction that delved into race in America. As we struggle to reach better awareness and deeper understanding, few things are quite so helpful as a good book. Beyond merely informing our views, books provide… Continue reading
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Radical Reading for February
~posted by Diane I’ve always been proud to have been a college student in the 1970’s when the campuses were hotbeds of protest, hippies, and monumental societal change. Those turbulent and triumphant times written about in recent children’s books allow us to relive those moments with awe. Sometimes children’s books are really best appreciated by… Continue reading
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Don’t miss these five novels for Black History Month
The Twelve Tribes of Hattie by Ayana Mathis Personal stories of the Great Migration come alive through the children and grandchildren (the 12 tribes) of Hattie Shepherd, a woman who left the South in 1923 in hopes of finding a better life in Philadelphia. Continue reading