Although Pride month has come to an end, there is no reason to not celebrate the beauty of identity. Self-identity is ours to decide and choose, and it guides how we interact in the world.
As we continue navigating a country that bans books and still seeks to invalidate diverse representations, it is important to uplift bodies of work written by authors who care enough to speak their truths and empower others. Specifically, this responsibility is one that is often carried and brought into fruition by Black authors throughout history.
Check out these five books from exceptional Black authors that honor the many facets of self-identity, and help us attach meaning to ourselves.
Unapologetic: A Black, Queer, and Feminist Mandate for Radical Movements
The U.S. is in need of true liberation, real bad. In this book, Charlene Carruthers invites readers to envision a world in which everyone is genuinely free through the usage of Black queer and feminist ideologies that can be applied to any type of social movement for change.
Unapologetic: A Black, Queer, and Feminist Mandate for Radical Movements
Charlene A. Carruthers
Price: $15
I’m Still Here: Black Dignity in a World Made for Whiteness
Many of us can recall our first experiences with being “othered.” In this memoir, Brown not only shares personal revelations of self-identity, but crafts a blueprint for Black folks to hold on to faith and spirituality while being proud of our heritage.
I’m Still Here: Black Dignity in a World Made for Whiteness
Austin Channing Brown (Convergent Books, 2018)
Price: $12
It’s About Damn Time: How to Turn Being Underestimated into Your Greatest Advantage
When we learn to bet on ourselves, we are able to reach previously unimaginable heights. We then are given the opportunity to lift others up along with us, which is what Arlan Hamilton does in this piece by sharing her greatest tidbits of wisdom.
It’s About Damn Time: How to Turn Being Underestimated into Your Greatest Advantage
Arlan Hamilton (Currency, 2022)
When we learn to bet on ourselves, we are able to reach previously unimaginable heights. Additionally, we then are given the opportunity to lift others up along with us, which is what Arlan Hamilton does in this piece by sharing her greatest tidbits of wisdom,
Price: $15
Fire Shut Up In My Bones: A Memoir
The decision to live life authentically can often make those unacquainted with this practice uncomfortable. Looking back over his life experiences that brought both joy and pain, Blow reckons with how to make sense of his emotions and rise into his own power.
Bad Fat Black Girl: Notes from a Trap Feminist
Body politics and self-love are frequently hard for many to conceptualize due to the way in which our communities have been socialized. In a format that is relatable and thorough to understand, writer and former editor Sesali Bowen centers her viewpoint of Black feminism within her love of hip hop culture, queerness, sex and more.
Bad Fat Black Girl: Notes from a Trap Feminist
Sesali Bowen (Amistad, 2022)
Body politics and self love are frequently hard for many to conceptualize due to the way in which our communities have been socialized. In a format that is relatable and thorough to understand, writer and former editor Sesali Bowen centers her viewpoint of Black feminism within her love of hip hop culture, queerness, sex and more.
Price: $17
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