Last year, in 2016, I was on a quest to seek out and read as many diverse books – works by people of color, religious minorities, and LGBTQ+ authors – as I could find.  It was a tall order, since publishing has a way to go to catch up to many readers’ demands for more diverse material and voices, and I had my work cut out for me to find as many works as I could to reach my goal of 33% representation by “underrepresented” groups on my reading list.  Comics helped, and so did regular listening to The Book Riot Podcast and All the Books!, two podcasts produced by Book Riot, which makes a point of regularly discussing diversity in publishing and reading.  (I got a lot of recommendations from them last year, so I hope they keep them coming in 2017.)

Part of my effort included an attempt to read all books by African-American writers in February, which is Black History Month here in the United States.  I didn’t quite make that goal last year, because one of the books I read – The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks – was actually written by a white author, even though it was a sensitive and thoughtful discussion of an offense against the body of an African-American woman (the harvesting of cells from cancer patient Henrietta Lacks, without her knowledge or permission) and the results through history.  (Go read it, if you haven’t already.  It was an incredible and important book.)  The rest of my books last February were works by African-American authors, and I ended the month knowing that while I had (still have) much to learn about the African-American experience, I had plenty of new thoughts and ideas thanks to their words.

This February, I’m not going to be able to do all works by African-American authors for Black History Month – much as I’d like to.  The reality of library deadlines (story of my life!) won’t allow it.  But I do plan to actively seek out and read African-American works, particularly classics, this month – and continuing the rest of the year – even if it’s not 100% of my February reading.  The books on my list, to get to this month or soon, include:

• Native Son, by Richard Wright
• I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, by Maya Angelou (a re-read)
• Mom & Me & Mom, by Maya Angelou
• Sag Harbor, by Colson Whitehead
• The Living is Easy, by Dorothy West
• Their Eyes Were Watching God, by Zora Neale Houston
• Beloved, by Toni Morrison
• Parable of the Sower, by Octavia Butler

And more!  That’s just a start, but it does represent some of the books that I’m most looking forward to tracking down and reading this year.  I’m thinking of reading the entire stack of Maya Angelou’s memoirs, re-reading some of her poetry, re-reading some poetry by Langston Hughes…  And of course, if you have any suggestions for me, please let me know.  I’m always on the lookout for more good reads.

Of course, I’m always willing to reciprocate with recommendations of my own!  I spent the last year trying hard to seek out and read books by people of color and other underrepresented voices.  Most of the books I read were big and hyped – I felt as though I was barely scratching the surface of books about the African-American experience – so perhaps none of these recommendations are news at all.  But they were all excellent, so if you are looking for good Black History Month reads and haven’t checked out one or more of the following, do take a look.  (Books are in no particular order.)

• The Fire This Time, edited by Jesmyn Ward – wide range of essays discussing contemporary African-American experience.
• We Should All Be Feminists, by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie – short but stunning essay on intersectional feminism.
• Homegoing, by Yaa Gyasi – multi-generational, multi-continent family saga.
• March, Books 1, 2 & 3, by Representative John Lewis – graphic memoir by Civil Rights Movement icon.

• Between the World and Me, by Ta-Nehisi Coates – if you haven’t heard of this, you’re living under a rock!
• The Underground Railroad, by Colson Whitehead – magical realism slave narrative, worth the hype.
• Americanah, by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie – the experience of an African immigrant in contemporary America.
• Stella by Starlight, by Sharon M. Draper – beautifully written historical YA.

• Brown Girl Dreaming, by Jacqueline Woodson – stunning memoir in verse.
• Kindred, by Octavia Butler – time travel slave narrative by icon of sci-fi.
• The Fifth Season, by N.K. Jemisin – richly symbolic fantasy.
• The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, by Rebecca Skloot – science, ethics and race.

Happy [Black History Month] Reading!