One of our favorite blogs is B&N Reads, a place to find out what’s new in the book world, hear from our favorite authors, and get great recommendations for books that should be on our reading list. For Black History Month we turned to B&N Reads for comprehensive articles about books and authors celebrating Black Voices.
In the blog post Understanding Black History & Recognizing Black Icons the editors at B&N Reads provide twelve book titles that range from activism to sports to music and history. While we recommend visiting the full article here, we’ve selected four of the books we are most excited to read from the list.
My Greatest Save: The Brave, Barrier-Breaking Journey of a World Champion Goalkeeper by Briana Scurry
The Women’s World Cup is this summer and we are so excited to read about the life of one of US Women’s National Team’s greatest players. During her time on the team, Briana won a World Cup and two Olympic gold medals. When a knee to the head left her with severe head trauma, Briana’s life completed shifted. A memoir of startling candor, My Greatest Save is a story of triumph, tragedy, and redemption from a woman who has broken through barriers her entire life.
The Three Mothers: How the Mothers of Martin Luther King, Jr., Malcolm X, and James Baldwin Shaped a Nation by Anna Malaika Tubbs
When thinking about one’s greatest influence, we often think of our mothers. Martin Luther King, Jr., Malcom X, and James Baldwin also considered their mothers to be amongst some of their greatest influences, yet their mothers’ stories were untold. These three mothers taught resistance and a fundamental belief in the worth of Black people to their sons, even when these beliefs flew in the face of America’s racist practices and led to ramifications for all three families’ safety. The fight for equal justice and dignity came above all else for the three mothers. Truly a remarkable book.
The 1619 Project: A New Origin Story created by Nikole Hannah-Jones
The New York Times Magazine’s award-winning “1619 Project” issue reframed our understanding of American history by placing slavery and its continuing legacy at the center of our national narrative. This new book expands on that work, weaving together eighteen essays that explore the legacy of slavery in present-day America with thirty-six poems and works of fiction that illuminate key moments of oppression, struggle, and resistance. Also adapted as a newly launched series on Hulu, The 1619 Project may require a journal to jot down all the quotes, notes, and poems you’ll want to remember.
Jimi by Janie Hendrix, John McDermott
In addition to reading, we absolutely love music and digging into the lives of our favorite artist. JIMI is the ultimate tribute to the greatest guitar player in rock and roll history, celebrating what would have been Jimi Hendrix’s 80th birthday on November 27, 2022. This comprehensive visual celebration is an official collaboration with Jimi’s sister, Janie Hendrix, and John McDermott of Experience Hendrix L.L.C. We’re planning to read this while listening to one of Jimi Hendrix’s LPs.