Black History Reading Guide: Non-Fiction

Black Futures is a collection of work--art, photos, essays, memes, dialogues, recipes, tweets, poetry, and more--that tells the story of the world that black artists, high and low, are producing today.

The author reflects on what it means to receive and give love and shares personal stories and observations on such topics as God, self-love, partners, children, family, and community.

Up until 1968, if you suffered a medical crisis, your chances of survival were minimal. That all changed with the Freedom House EMS in Pittsburgh, a group of Black men who became America's first paramedics and set the gold standard for emergency medicine around the world, only to have their legacy erased--until now.

Born to a white Swiss father and a black Xhosa mother at a time when such a union was punishable by five years in prison, this is the story of a mischievous young boy who grows into a restless young man as he struggles to find himself in a world where he was never supposed to exist.

A memoir of Black non-binary writer and activist George M. Johnson's childhood in New Jersey, growing up with their brother and two cousins, all under the supervision of their larger-than-life grandmother.

A collection of humorous essays on what it's like to be unabashedly awkward in a world that regards introverts as hapless misfits, and black as cool ... In this debut collection of essays, ... Rae covers everything from the early days of the Internet to deflecting unsolicited comments on weight gain, from navigating the perils of eating out alone and public displays of affection to learning to accept yourself-natural hair and all.

Executive chef Kwame Onwuachi shares details about his life and career, from his childhood in New York, Nigeria, and Lousiana to his recognition as a top chef, and reflects on African-American and American cooking.

From the renowned Tuskegee Institute of Alabama, founded by Booker T. Washington in 1881, this one-of-a-kind narrative cookbook traces the history and heritage of Tuskegee through reminiscences, vintage photographs, poetry, journal entries and more than 200 recipes that celebrate the diverse and mothering flavors of Southern African American cuisine.

In this bestselling memoir-cookbook by former Kentucky Poet Laureate, Crystal Wilkinson, the reader is invited to taste, smell, listen and reminisce in all the kitchens that shaped Wilkinson’s relationship to family and food. A generous archive of family recipes and a history lesson on Black Appalachian foodways and culture.

Traces the history of the hip-hop culture, discussing how hip-hop came to define a new generation of youth rebellion and expression in North America.

Elizabeth Acevedo embraces all the complexities of Black hair and Afro-Latinidad--the history, pain, pride, and powerful love of that inheritance.

Presents a poem that looks at a journey of an African-American girl from girlhood to womanhood.

"Harold Green III . . . [pays tribute to a diverse assortment of] Black men . . . including Tyler Perry, Barry Jenkins, Billy Porter, Chance the Rapper, LeBron James, Colin Kaepernick, and John Legend--and celebrates their achievements"

Poet Renée Watson looks back at her childhood and urges readers to look forward at their futures with love, understanding, and celebration in this fully illustrated poetry collection.

The presidential inaugural poet--and new voice in American poetry--presents a collection of poems that includes the poem read at the inauguration of the forty-sixth President of the United States.

Presents a poem in which the author inspires kids to dream, even though dreams may take time and involve countless struggles.

Simone takes you through the events, challenges, and trials that carried her from an early childhood in foster care to a coveted spot on the 2016 Olympic team.

Basketball player Kobe Bryant looks back at his career with the Los Angeles Lakers.

An autobiography of the Olympic fencer, Ibthihaj Muhammad,and how she became the first American woman to compete in the Olympics wearing a hijab.

An Empowering and Celebratory Portrait of Black Women-from Josephine Baker to Aunt Viv to Cardi B. In 2013, film and culture critic Zeba Blay was one of the first people to coin the viral term #carefreeblackgirls on Twitter. As she says, it was "a way to carve out a space of celebration and freedom for Black women online." In this collection of essays, Blay expands on this initial idea by delving into the work and lasting achievements of influential Black women in American culture--writers, artists, actresses, dancers, hip-hop stars--whose contributions often come in the face of bigotry, misogyny, and stereotypes.