Black history and culture books
Black history and culture books to start from. Open one to see books like it, or tell BookSense what you loved for four picks made for you.
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New to the genre? These 5 are the books to read first.
Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave
Frederick DouglassA formerly enslaved man's account of his escape, which also argues against slavery.
Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl
Harriet A. JacobsA woman's account of enslavement, sexual coercion and hiding, published under the pseudonym Linda Brent.
The Souls of Black Folk
W. E. B. Du BoisEssays on Black life after emancipation, introducing the idea of double consciousness.
The Mis-education of the Negro
Carter Godwin WoodsonAn early critique of how schools taught Black students and of the omissions in their curricula.
From Slavery to Freedom
John Hope FranklinA widely used survey of African American history from African origins to the mid-twentieth century.
Chosen and described with AI from our notes on the genre.
More black history and culture books
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- Black Boy
Black BoyRichard Wright - Before the Mayflower
Before the MayflowerLerone Bennett,Jr. - Reconstruction
ReconstructionEric Foner - Women, Race & Class
Women, Race & ClassAngela Y. Davis - Playing in the Dark
Playing in the DarkToni Morrison - The Warmth of Other Suns
The Warmth of Other SunsIsabel Wilkerson - The New Jim Crow
The New Jim CrowMichelle Alexander - South to America
South to AmericaImani Perry - The Autobiography of Malcolm X
The Autobiography of Malcolm XAlex Haley1965 - The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks
The Immortal Life of Henrietta LacksRebecca Skloot2009 - The Fire Next Time
The Fire Next TimeJames Baldwin1962 - The 50th law
The 50th lawRobert Greene2009