Believe it or not, October is here, and the list of great books by Black authors is coming in hot. Memoir lovers can lose themselves in the story of stylist-to-the-stars Law Roach’s rise to fame, while romance readers are sure to fall in love with a dystopian romance set in the year 2460. And if you need a little inspiration, NBA player Shaquille O’Neal’s mother has her best tips for overcoming adversity.
Suggested Reading
These are just a few of the books by Black authors we have on our radar this month.
“How to Build a Fashion Icon: Notes on Confidence from the World’s Only Image Architect” by Law Roach (October 1)
In “How to Build a Fashion Icon” celebrity stylist Law Roach writes about his journey from the South Side of Chicago to becoming the first celebrity stylist to become a celebrity in his own right. The man who is responsible for dressing some of Hollywood’s hottest red carpet stars, including Zendaya, Kerry Washington and Naomi Campbell, shares his best advice to becoming your most confident self no matter what you’re wearing.
“The Message” by Ta-Nehisi Coates
What started as a book about writing became an exploration of the way the stories we tell reflect and often distort our realities. In “The Message,” Coates writes a series of essays about his trips to Dakar, Senegal, Columbia, South Carolina (a place where his own book, “Between the World and Me” was banned) and Palestine, in an effort to tell the stories that are often left untold in mainstream media.
“When Black Girls Dream Big” by Tanisia Moore (October 15)
“When Black Girls Dream Big” is an empowering children’s picture book that celebrates the amazing achievements of Black women. The story centers around a young girl who meets twelve trailblazing Black heroines that inspire to reach for her goals and change the world. Actress Angela Bassett called the book, “magnificently compelling.”
“Into the Uncut Grass” by Trevor Noah (October 8)
In “Into the Uncut Grass,” comedian and former “The Daily Show” host Trevor Noah tells the story of a young child’s journey into an enchanted realm that reveals the secrets of sharing, connection and love. This beautifully illustrated book will take readers of all ages on a magical journey.
“Curdle Creek” by Yvonne Battle-Felton (October 15)
Set in an all-Black rural American town with rituals that are stuck in the past, “Curdle Creek” is a novel that explores the idea of the true meaning of home. At the center of the story is Osira, a 45-year-old widow who finds herself transported through time to other realms where she’s forced to answer for crimes committed by people from the place she called home.
“Al Roker’s Recipes to Live By: Easy, Memory-Making Family Dishes for Every Occasion: by Al Roker & Courtney Roker Laga (October 15)
Beloved TODAY weatherman Al Roker and his daughter Courtney Roker Laga teamed up to bring us “Al Roker’s Recipes to Live By,” a cookbook full of some their favorite family recipes that have been around for generations. From Shrimp and Grits with Bell Peppers and Bacon to Bourbon Apple Pie Milkshakes, there is something delicious to make for every meal.
“Here: Where the Black Designers Are” by Cheryl D. Holmes-Miller (October 15)
Part memoir, part investigation, in “Where the Black Designers Are,” Cheryl D. Holmes-Miller uses the personal story of her journey to establishing one of the first Black-women-owned design firms in New York City to explore the question of underrepresentation of people of color in design careers.
“Gather Me: A Memoir in Praise of the Books That Saved Me” by Glory Edim (October 29)
In “Gather Me” Glory Edim, founder of the Well-Read Black Girl book club, writes about her love of books, which have helped her find community and a whole world beyond what she was being taught in school. The daughter of Nigerian immigrant parents, Edim writes beautifully about how writers like Toni Morrison and Nikki Giovanni helped her find her voice and love herself.
“While I Have Your Attention” by Dr. Lucille O’Neal (October 1)
“While I Have Your Attention” is an inspiring memoir from Dr. Lucille O’Neal, mom of legendary NBA player Shaquille O’Neal. In the book, she writes about how love and determination helped her overcome her life’s obstacles, including teenage pregnancy, poverty and loss.
“The 1619 Project: A Visual Experience” by Nikole Hannah-Jones (October 22)
In “The 1619 Project: A Visual Experience,” Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist Nikole Hannah-Jones along with editors of The New York Times Magazine have curated a beautifully illustrated edition of the original bestselling book. Using original art by thirteen Black artists that helps make the content more meaningful, this gives readers a whole new perspective on the history of the experience of Blacks in America.
“The Dividing Sky” by Jill Tew (October 8)
Set in the year 2460, “The Dividing Sky” is a dystopian romance. The story follows 18-year-old Liv who is looking for life outside of her lower class reality. With the neurochip in her brain, she sells memories to people willing to pay top dollar, until one customer offers her a large sum of money to take on a dangerous assignment. But when a law enforcement officer tries to track her down, all of her memories are gone. Can she be held accountable for crimes she doesn’t remember?
“Priceless Facts About Money” by Mellody Hobson (October 1)
In “Priceless Facts About Money,” financial expert Mellody Hobson hopes to shed light on the mysteries of money for young readers. From the meaning of the symbols on our currency to the–– origins of credit to where the nickname “cheddar” came from, Hobson hopes her first children’s book will get kids excited about financial literacy and arm them with the tools they need to have a healthy relationship with the all-mighty dollar.
“The Day God Saw Me as Black: The Journey to Liberated Faith” by D. Danyelle Thomas (October 29)
In “The Day God Saw Me as Black,” D. Danyelle Thomas explores the concept of white supremacy in the Black Pentecostal religious experience. The book tackles hypocrisies in the church, including issues of race, gender and class in a new, eye-opening way.
“D. Danyelle Thomas had me dusting off my Bible to read scriptures I’d never seen before and re-reading others in a new, liberatory, revolutionary light. This book is a revelation! “ said Deesha Philyaw, author of “The Secret Lives of Church Ladies.”
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