Recommended reading relating to black history or books by black authors

Hello everyone! To understand and educate yourselves as to why #blacklivesmatter I have made some book recommendations from amazing authors that I have either read, currently reading, on my reading list or I have heard of.

'The Lies We Tell Ourselves' By Robin Talley

Set in 1959, Sarah and 9 other black students step into an all-white school for the first time. Talley explores segregation in schools and the relationship between a black girl and a white girl.

I am currently reading this book and, personally, I am emotionally attached to the plot due to the first person narrative. This book explores the experience of severe treatment from white students, teachers and governors, and the fear of expressing your sexuality.

'Why I'm no longer talking to White People about Race' By Reni Eddo-Lodge

This book has been highly acclaimed since its release and I am hoping to read it soon. It is essential reading for anyone who cares about social justice, other people, and the state of our society. Lodge also explores the history of racism in Britain, and powerful chapters exploring white privilege, along with feminism, class and more.

'Letter from Birmingham Jail' By Martin Luther King

'Engage nonviolent direct action'...'Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere'... 'In any nonviolent campaign there are 4 basic steps: Collection of the facts to determine whether injustices exist; negotiation; self-purification; and direct action'.

King's letter from Birmingham Jail is importance to consider when looking at methods for justice. Nonviolence is vital.

'Me and White Supremacy' by Layla F. Saad

Me and White Supremacy' teaches readers how to dismantle the privilege within themselves so that they can stop (often unconsciously) inflicting damage on people of colour. Saad's book takes readers on a 28 day journey, complete with journal prompts, to do the necessary and vital work that can ultimately lead to improving race relations.

'Uncle Tom's Cabin' By Harriet Beecher Stowe

This novel was written by one of the leading female abolitionists in the 1850s against the Fugitive Slave Law of 1850 where escaped slaves in the North would be taken back to their slaveholders (many of them weren't slaves in the first place). Stowe includes a lot of biblical imagery to capture the eyes of the middle class women who read the novel. Her novel dramatises why the whole of America is implicated in and responsible for the sin of slavery. It resoundingly concludes that only 'repentance, justice and mercy' will prevent the onset of 'the wrath of the almighty God'.

'Black Tudors' by Miranda Kaufmann

'Black Tudors tell the stories of 10 Africans, tracing their paths in the Tudor and Stuarts eras. Kaufmann uncovers details about their daily lives and how they were treated. This is a non-fiction book that I would like to read as we have never been taught black history during the Tudors and Stuarts.

'Noughts and Crosses' by Malorie Blackman

I heard that this was a popular book in fiction by one of the highly acclaimed black authors, Malorie Blackman. The novel is set in a dystopian London. There are strong themes about racism where the people with brown skin are the ones who are the ruling classes (Crosses) and pale skin people who are working classes (Noughts) and those who are less, Blankers. The book is thought provoking and explores how young people of opposite classes have tried to overcome the prejudices.

'Othello' by William Shakespeare

I studied this play from A-level English Literature and found the context around Othello interesting. It is useful to explore racial prejudice during the Shakespearean period as it can reflect the play itself. This is a tragedy of sexual jealousy and exploration of racial prejudice in Venice and Cyprus. Although Othello is socially powerful as an African general, he is surrounded by white men and the only black man presented in the play. In addition, it is interesting to explore and compare 'Othello' and 'The Tempest' due to the fact that they both present main characters as black men.

'Twelve Years a Slave' by Solomon Northup

This is based on the autobiography of Soloman Northup who was a free African-American in the North who was kidnapped and sold as a slave. The book is a memoir of his kidnapping. This is in relation to the Fugitive Slave Law. I read this book last year and, personally, it was such an emotional experience when you follow Northup's journey.

I will consider reviewing these books individually and many other books by incredible black authors. It is important to educate yourselves and use your knowledge and research to gather evidence of racism.

Liv