7 Books To Read For Black History Month
October marks Black History Month in Britain, and to celebrate, we’ve put together a list of some essential reading by Black authors. There are books that cover the lives of significant Black historical figures like Maya Angelou and Mary Seacole, as well as novels by Black authors that often draw on their life experiences. If you’re looking for a new read to dive into, here our some great suggestions:
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings
Now a modern classic, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings was first published in 1969 and remains as essential as it was back then. Written by the celebrated American writer and poet Maya Angelou, it’s an autobiography of her life, specifically from a young child to a young woman in her teens. Growing up as a Black girl in the Jim Crow era South, she experienced racism, abuse, and felt inferior. Across the book, she begins to develop a sense of growing confidence and self-respect, as well as a love of literature.
Girl, Woman, Other
A novel by English writer Bernardine Evaristo, Girl, Woman, Other tells the story of 12 different characters, whose lives overlap and intertwine at varying points. The characters, such as Jantelle, Shirley, Yazz and Penelope, to name a few, span generations and backgrounds. They take place in Britain (largely London), dipping in and out of the present and the past. The wide-ranging novel predominantly explores themes of race, as well as sexuality, feminism, gender, and more. It received huge acclaim and shared the Booker Prize with The Testaments by Margaret Atwood.
A novel by English writer Bernardine Evaristo, Girl, Woman, Other tells the story of 12 different characters.
The Lonely Londoners
The Lonely Londoners is another book that has garnered considerable acclaim over the years, first published in 1956. Written by the Trinidadian writer Samuel Selvon, it eschews a normal, traditional plot. Instead, it paints a portrait of Black immigrants in London, specifically the Windrush generation. Excerpts of their lives and experiences unfold across London areas, from Notting Hill to Bayswater, with a particular focus on Moses Aloetta, a jaded war veteran adjusting to his new life. Despite living in London for years, he still feels homesick, with the short novel packing in plenty of emotion and poignancy.
The Wonderful Adventures of Mrs Seacole In Many Lands
Mary Seacole has become one of the most famous historical Black Britons, having been born in Jamaica and later becoming involved in nursing soldiers during the Crimean War. Her autobiography, The Wonderful Adventures of Mrs Seacole in Many Lands, was first published in 1857, and features accounts of her travels and her nursing work. She recounts the first few decades of her life, along with her visits to Central America and Crimea. In addition to her dedication to caring for the British soldiers wounded and sick during the conflict, she also became a businesswoman, running a hotel.
The Color Purple
Adapted twice for cinema, first by Spielberg and later into a musical version, The Color Purple perhaps can’t be beaten in its original novel form. Authored by Alice Walker, it follows the life of Celie, a Black woman in the American South, and is set in the interwar period. She suffers abuse at the hands of her father and experiences poverty and racism. She misses her beloved sister Nettie and sends constant letters to her to keep up correspondence. Eventually, with help from her sister and from singer Shug Avery, Celie begins to form a sense of self-worth and confidence.
Maybe I Don’t Belong Here
A fascinating memoir by British actor David Harewood, Maybe I Don’t Belong Here offers a poignant look at race in Britain, as experienced through a young Black man who would later become a well-known face in film and TV. Harewood, known for shows like Homeland, grew up often experiencing racism and prejudice that would shape the way he viewed himself and the country he lived in. In his early 20s, the young actor began to have a mental health crisis and suffered a mental breakdown, having to build himself back up again gradually.
A fascinating memoir by actor David Harewood, Maybe I Don’t Belong Here, offers a poignant look at race in Britain.
Born A Crime
South African comedian Trevor Noah has a bestselling autobiography with plenty of humorous elements. Noah grew up during the apartheid era of the country’s history, and his parents’ interracial relationship was considered a crime. He describes his upbringing and early years as a biracial child, writing in particular about his mother and her efforts to raise him. He manages to break down some barriers through his charisma and language skills, allowing him to eventually defy the odds and become a major success in both South Africa and America.
