Black Voices & Culture: Non-Fiction Books for Adults

Explore our curated list of non-fiction books by Black and African American voices in celebration of Black History Month.

Updated January 10, 2024
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The History of African Art
Blier, Suzanne Preston.
Paper Book
A concise, accessible and up-to-date overview of the arts of Africa from prehistoric times to the present day. This indispensable introductory guide explores the art of the African continent from its early origins over 150,000 years ago to the contemporary, set in the context...
Leslie F*cking Jones: ; A Memoir
Jones, Leslie.
Paper Book
"You are Black; you are female," Leslie Jones' father once said. "But if you work harder and you're better than everybody else, they can't f*cking deny you." Leslie Jones is a warrior. Raised by a tough dad and a loving but often sick mom, her father's military career meant she bounced...
Punished for dreaming : how school reform harms Black children and how we heal
Love, Bettina L.
Paper Book
NOW A NEW YORK TIMES AND A USA TODAY BESTSELLER WINNER, 2024 GODDARD RIVERSIDE STEPHAN RUSSO BOOK PRIZE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE FINALIST, LOS ANGELES TIMES BOOK PRIZE "I am an eighties baby who grew to hate school. I...
Pulling the Chariot of the Sun: A Memoir of a Kidnapping
Mccrae, Shane.
Paper Book
An unforgettable memoir of a mixed-race child kidnapped and raised by his white supremacist grandparents
A long time coming : a lyrical biography of race in America from Ona Judge to Barack Obama
Shepard, Ray Anthony
Paper Book
This YA biography-in-verse of six important Black Americans from different eras, including Ona Judge, Frederick Douglass, Harriet Tubman, Ida B. Wells, Martin Luther King Jr., and Barack Obama, chronicles the diverse ways each fought racism and shows how much-and how little-has changed for Black...
Life On Other Planets: A Memoir Of Finding My Place In The Universe
Shields, Aomawa.
Paper Book
As a child, Aomawa Shield's first great love was the sky - she would bump into things on the ground because her neck was always craned upward - and she longed to become an astronaut. Determined to make her dream a reality, Aomawa applied for and attended an elite high school with an astronomy...
Worthy
Smith, Jada Pinkett
Paper Book
A gripping, painfully honest and ultimately inspirational, New York Times bestselling memoir from global superstar and creator of the Red Table Talk series Jada Pinkett Smith. 'It's a shame that Pinkett Smith's marriage has taken up so much attention because, as Worthy shows, it's far...
Black friend : essays
Ziwe
Paper Book
From a rapidly rising comedy star, a bold, personal, and darkly hilarious takedown and send-up of our culture's (mis)understanding of raceZiwe made a name for herself staring interviewees in the eye and asking, "How many Black friends do you have?" She's an expert at making people squirm, coming...

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