Celebrate Black History Month!

February is Black History Month and we’ve put together this special reading list to celebrate and honor the contributions of Black writers throughout history.

This is by no means intended to be a comprehensive Black History Month reading list, as there are far too many significant books and writers for one list.

Updated January 24, 2024
S
St. Lucie County Library System
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The Black history book
Blyden, Nemata Amelia, 1964- author.
Paper Book
Which were the most powerful African empires? Who were the pioneers of jazz? What sparked the Black Lives Matter movement? This book answers these questions and many more, exploring the rich history of the peoples of Africa and the African diaspora, and the struggles...
The fire next time
Baldwin, James, 1924-1987.
Paper Book
'A seminal meditation on race by one of our greatest writers' Barack Obama 'We, the black and the white, deeply need each other here if we are really to become a nation' James Baldwin's impassioned plea to 'end the racial nightmare' in America was a bestseller...
Passing
Larsen, Nella
Ebook
"Absolutely absorbing, fascinating, and indispensable." -- Alice Walker "A work so fine, sensitive, and distinguished that it rises above race categories and becomes that rare object, a good novel." -- The Saturday Review of LiteratureMarried to a successful physician and...
A raisin in the sun
Hansberry, Lorraine, 1930-1965.
Paper Book
'In south side Chicago, Walter Lee, a black chauffeur, dreams of a better life, and hopes to use his father''s life insurance money to open a liquor store. His mother, who rejects the liquor business, uses some of the money to secure a proper house for the family. Mr Lindner, a representative of the...
The Underground Railroad a novel
Whitehead, Colson, 1969- author.
Paper Book
WINNER OF THE PULITZER PRIZE FOR FICTION 2017 WINNER OF THE ARTHUR C. CLARKE AWARD 2017 LONGLISTED FOR THE MAN BOOKER PRIZE 2017 NATIONAL BOOK AWARD WINNER 2016 AMAZON.COM #1 BOOK OF THE YEAR 2016 ...
The vanishing half
Bennett, Brit
Paper Book
THE SUNDAY TIMES TOP BESTSELLER #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER SHORTLISTED FOR THE WOMEN'S PRIZE LONGLISTED FOR THE ORWELL PRIZE 'An utterly mesmerising novel..I absolutely loved this book' Bernardine Evaristo, winner...
An American marriage
Jones, Tayari
Paper Book
    'A moving portrayal of the effects of a wrongful conviction on a young African-American couple.' - Barack Obama Newlyweds Celestial and Roy are the embodiment of the American Dream. He is a young executive, and she is an artist on the brink of an exciting...

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