These works provide valuable insights into America’s rich and complex history. This campaign features titles by AAS faculty and other prominent authors. While we acknowledge that it is impossible to capture every essential work, this list serves as a starting point. Join us in honoring the contributions and resilience of Black Americans through these significant literary works.

The Souls of Black Folk by W.E.B. Du Bois

W.E.B. Du Bois' The Souls of Black Folk is a cornerstone of Black American literature and thought. Through essays and personal narratives, Du Bois delves into the "double consciousness" of being Black in America, the legacy of slavery, and the unyielding fight for equality and dignity. A profound exploration of history, identity, and resilience, this work continues to inspire and challenge us to reflect on the past while striving for a more just future.

Where Do We Go from Here: Chaos or Community? by Martin Luther King Jr. 

In "Where Do We Go from Here: Chaos or Community?" Martin Luther King Jr. offers a powerful vision for a more equitable and compassionate society. Written during the height of the Civil Rights Movement, King examines the deep-rooted inequalities plaguing America and urges a path forward built on justice, economic equity, and nonviolence. This profound work reminds us that the fight for freedom is ongoing and challenges us to choose community over chaos as we shape the future.

Race for Profit: How Banks and the Real Estate Industry Undermined Black Homeownership by Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor

 In “Race for Profit: How Banks and the Real Estate Industry Undermined Black Homeownership”, Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor examines the historical forces that shaped racial inequality in the housing market. Through a critical lens, Taylor details how banks and the real estate industry exploited Black Americans in the wake of Civil Rights-era reforms, turning promises of progress into cycles of discrimination and financial burden. This groundbreaking work uncovers the legacy of systemic racism in housing, urging reflection on the past to inform the fight for justice today.

Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates

In "Between the World and Me," Ta-Nehisi Coates offers a powerful and intimate reflection on race in America. Written as a letter to his son, Coates delves into the history of racial injustice and the physical and emotional toll it has taken on Black Americans. With deep insight and vulnerability, he explores the challenges of living in a world shaped by systemic racism while exploring identity, survival, and hope for future generations.

The Color of Money: Black Banks and the Racial Wealth Gap by Mehrsa Baradaran

 In "The Color of Money: Black Banks and the Racial Wealth Gap," Mehrsa Baradaran explores the history of Black banks and their critical role in efforts to bridge the racial wealth gap. Baradaran traces the challenges these institutions faced, from exploitation and discrimination to the deep-rooted obstacles in the financial system that hindered economic mobility for Black Americans. This insightful work sheds light on the enduring struggle for financial equality and the persistent forces that have shaped the wealth disparities we continue to confront today.

The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America's Great Migration by Isabel Wilkerson

 In The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America's Great Migration, Isabel Wilkerson chronicles the transformative movement of Black Americans from the South to the North and West in search of better opportunities and freedom from racial oppression. Through the stories of three individuals who made this journey, Wilkerson paints a vivid picture of the courage, hardships, and hopes that defined the Great Migration. This compelling narrative reveals how this pivotal moment in American history reshaped the country's cultural, social, and political landscape.

Democracy in Black: How Race Still Enslaves the American Soul by Eddie S. Glaude Jr.

In Democracy in Black: How Race Still Enslaves the American Soul, Eddie S. Glaude Jr. delves into the enduring legacy of racial inequality in the United States. Glaude argues that the promises of American democracy are deeply intertwined with the oppression of Black Americans and that the nation's moral and political soul remains enslaved by systemic racism at its core. Through this thought-provoking work, Glaude calls for a reckoning with America's history of race and a transformation toward true justice and equality.

The Fire Next Time by James Baldwin

In "The Fire Next Time," James Baldwin delivers a powerful and impassioned critique of the racial injustices that have shaped America. Through two compelling essays, Baldwin reflects on the complexities of race, religion, and identity in the United States. He explores the challenges facing Black Americans, urging the nation to confront its history of oppression and calling for love and reconciliation as the path toward true equality. Baldwin's work remains a timeless exploration of race, faith, and the fight for justice in America.

2025 AAS Black History Month Book List - Week 2

2025 AAS Black History Month Book List - Week 3