Black History Books by Black Female Writers

Amplifying black history books written by black female writers.

Writing is a form of expression. For some like myself, it’s also a way of escape, an outlet to release, a way to unravel.

For as long as I can remember, I’ve loved literature. Growing up in Africa, we read stories and poems written by African authors. Some of these stories chronicled the experiences of black people, some chronicled the experiences of women. There was a connection when reading these literary pieces as though embarking on a journey with the writer.

A lot of our history is detailed in books, books written by writers, and stories of people – fictional or non-fictional.

Without sounding like a broken record, black history has almost been eradicated but through the stories and writings of some, we are able to preserve and understand our roots. The history taught in schools is sugar-coated and not authentic with several salient aspects removed from history.

Reading is also a form of education. Black history isn’t just folklore, it’s real and it’s important that we educate ourselves and our kids with the correct stories and important lessons.

According to research, only 0.5% of recorded history is about women’s stories. It is therefore important for the advancement of equity and equality in society to amplify history written by women from the perspective of women.

Here are some books on black history and experiences by black female writers.

Hairvolution: Her Hair, Her Story, Our History

By Saskia Calliste (Author), Zainab Raghdo (Author), Stella Dadzie (Author), Kadija Sesay (Author), Cheryl Robson (Editor), Aleea Rae (Illustrator).

Loud Black Girls: 20 Black Women Writers Ask: What’s Next?

By Yomi Adegoke and Elizabeth Uviebinené

100 Great Black Britons 

By Patrick Vernon & Angelina Osborne

The African Lookbook: A Visual History of 100 Years of African Women

By Catherine E. McKinley, Jacqueline Woodson, Edwidge Danticat

Girl, Woman, Other

By Bernardine Evaristo

Women, Race & Class

By Angela Y. Davis

If They Come For Us

By Fatimah Asghar

Heart Of The Race: Black Women’s Lives in Britain (Feminist Classics) 

By Beverley Bryan, Stella Dadzie & Suzanne Scafe

Kwame Brathwaite: Black Is Beautiful

By Tanisha C. Ford, Deborah Willis & Kwame Brathwaite

MANIFESTO: On Never Giving Up

By Bernardine Evaristo

Don’t Touch My Hair

By Emma Dabiri

A Quick Ting On The Black Girl Afro

By Zainab Kwaw-Swanzy

This article has been updated and was originally published on November 2nd 2021.

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