Spotlight PR’s Black History Reading List

In honor of Black History Month (BHM), we compiled a list of books we believe everyone should read. In addition to those who illuminate the Black experience, we include writers who detail strategies for caring for our physical and emotional well-being. We give a nod to some of our favorite authors, understanding no reading list is exhaustive.

It is impossible to include every profilic and culture-shifting Black author in a single list. Instead, we hope our list inspires you to think about the writers who have inspired you. As you peruse our recommendations, we hope you’ll listen to this beautiful rendition of Lift Every Voice sung by Ledisi during Super Bowl LIX.

1. Faces at the Bottom of the Well: The Permanence of Racismby Derrick Bell. Originally written in 1992, this book feels as if was written for our current times. It includes a collection of stories that illuminate the reality of racism in the United States. Bell is an authority on the subject. He was a civil rights lawyer and legal scholar who influenced generations of lawyers and academics. He is a pioneering figure in the area of Critical Race Theory, and many understand race and law because of his work.
2. Radical Reparations by Dr. Marcus Anthony Hunter. Dr. Hunter is a sociologist, author and expert on reparative justice. His must-read tome offers an expansion on how many of us come to understand reparations. In addition to financial reparations, Hunter argues that there are six other forms of reparations including, political, intellectual, legal, spatial, social, and spiritual. His book invites, inspires and instills hope for the future.
3. To Be a Problem by Dara Baldwin. In To Be a Problem, Dara Baldwin shares her journey to becoming a disability activist and policy advocate. Her book discusses the reality of erasure for many Black people and people of color in the disability community. She highlights the ways in which many non-Black disabled people center themselves within the movement without doing their own internal work around privilege and power. This book is a must-read for all who wan to understand disability, and the ways in which gender and race impact a person’s experience.
4. The Message by TaNehisi Coates. Coates reminds us of James Baldwin. He is fearless in his advocacy for Black communities and marginalized people everywhere. We argue that he is one of the most important writers and teachers of our times. The Message takes us on a journey Coates visits Senegal, Palestine and South Carolina. Through his eyes, we better understand each of these communities. We think you will close the book feeling determined to do your part to make racial justice real. You will also have a deeper appreciation for his skill as a griot. His words bring clarity and comfort.
5. First and Only: A Black Woman’s Guide to Thriving at Work and in Life by Jennifer R. Farmer. In her sophomore book, Farmer discusses the isolation and joys of being the first or the only at work and in life. She talks about the struggle to break barriers and the truth of how even when we thrive, there appears to be an invisible hand seeking to hold us back. Farmer highlights the challenges Black women face, while sharing the ways in which faith has been an anchor for her and many others.
6. So You Want to Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo. This New York Times bestseller is required reading for persons who want to understand race and racial injustice. The book is readable even as it is painful. If left us with more understanding and greater resolve to work towards racial justice.
7. Rest is Resistance by Tricia Hersey. In a world where Black communities are taught to embrace perpetual labor, Hersey offers a counter-cultural idea: rest. In Rest is Resistance, Hersey teaches us about the liberatory, restorative, and disruptive power of rest. She reminds us that we do not have to work at machine-pace to be valuable. We are valuable because we exist.
8. Set Boundaries, Find Peace: A Guide to Reclaiming Yourself by Nedra Tawwab. Regardless of where you go, you will need to develop and vocalize boundaries. This is critical for everyone, including marginalized groups. Tawwab expertly and effortlessly shows us how.
9. Black Liturgies by Cole Arthur Riley. This book speaks to so many life while offering hope. It is written as though each page were journal entries. You can pick it up and receive sustenance when you need to without feeling as if you must read it from front to back in one or two sittings. It was always going to be an important work. But it is essential in a moment where democracy is challenged by authoritarianism.
10. Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson. Stevenson is a fearless angel. That was the conclusion we drew when we visited his law firm, Equal Justice Initiative (EJI) in 2015. But reading his debut book, Just Mercy, gave us a window into his heart, his work, and his determination. The book is a compelling story about the Equal Justice Initiative, the people they represent, and the importance of confronting injustice. It is no surprise it is a best-seller. We own multiple copies. The book has been adapted into a feature film. We hope you read this and then make a donation to EJI.

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