In celebration of Black History Month, the Department of African American Studies is spotlighting influential books that delve into Black history, civil rights, and the African American experience.
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.
Plantains and Our Becoming by Melania Luisa Marte
In "Plantains and Our Becoming," Melania Luisa Marte crafts a stunning poetic journey through the complexities of Afro-Latinx identity, migration, and Black womanhood. With vivid imagery and raw emotion, Marte examines history, resilience, and the deep connections between ancestry and the present. This collection celebrates the beauty, struggle, and power of becoming—of claiming space, honoring roots, and embracing the fullness of one’s identity. A must-read for those looking to explore the intersections of race, culture, and heritage in the Americas.
The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness by Michelle Alexander
In "The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness," Michelle Alexander delivers a powerful analysis of how the U.S. criminal justice system operates as a new form of racial caste. She uncovers how the War on Drugs and harsh sentencing laws disproportionately impact Black communities, echoing the segregation and oppression of the past. Challenging the myth of a post-racial America, Alexander’s work is a call to action against systemic injustice and mass incarceration. A crucial read for understanding the deep roots of racial inequality in today’s legal system.
Rooted by Brea Baker
In "Rooted," Brea Baker blends history, activism, and personal reflection to explore how movements for justice are deeply connected to the past. She challenges readers to embrace radical empathy, acknowledge historical struggles, and take action for a more just future. Drawing on lessons from past freedom fighters, Baker offers a hopeful yet urgent call to stay grounded in our values while pushing for transformative change. A must-read for those committed to racial and social justice.
Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption by Bryan Stevenson
In "Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption," Bryan Stevenson uncovers the historical roots of racial injustice in America’s legal system. Through the wrongful conviction of Walter McMillian and other cases, Stevenson connects mass incarceration and the death penalty to the legacy of slavery, segregation, and systemic racism. His work highlights how Black Americans have been disproportionately criminalized, showing that the fight for justice is deeply tied to Black history. This powerful book reminds us that understanding the past is key to building a more just future.
To 'Joy My Freedom: Southern Black Women's Lives and Labors after the Civil War by Tera W. Hunter
In "To 'Joy My Freedom: Southern Black Women's Lives and Labors after the Civil War," Tera W. Hunter illuminates the overlooked history of Black women’s struggle for independence in the post-emancipation South. Through domestic work, community organizing, and cultural expression, these women carved out spaces of autonomy despite facing racial and gendered oppression. Hunter highlights their resistance to exploitation, their contributions to Black political movements, and their determination to define freedom on their own terms. A vital exploration of how Black women shaped the course of Reconstruction and beyond.
The 1619 Project: A New Origin Story by Nikole Hannah-Jones
In "The 1619 Project: A New Origin Story," Nikole Hannah-Jones and a collective of scholars, journalists, and historians reframe U.S. history by centering the legacy of slavery and Black Americans’ contributions. From economics and democracy to music and resistance, this groundbreaking work exposes how 1619—not 1776—marks the nation's true foundation. By examining the ongoing consequences of racial injustice, The 1619 Project challenges readers to confront history honestly and recognize the resilience, impact, and central role of Black Americans in shaping the United States.
Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave by Frederick Douglass
In "Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave," Frederick Douglass recounts his journey from enslavement to freedom, offering one of the most powerful firsthand accounts of slavery in American history. His story details the cruelty of enslavers, the dehumanization of bondage, and the transformative power of literacy and resistance. More than just a personal memoir, Douglass’s Narrative is a searing indictment of slavery and a foundational text in the fight for Black liberation, proving that the struggle for freedom and dignity has always been at the heart of Black history.