The only thing better than getting lost in a good book is getting lost in a good book with a badass Black female protagonist. Whether it’s a memoir about how a Black girl from the South Side of Chicago became the nation’s first Black First Lady or a novel about a single Black woman trying to raise a strong Black man in 1940s Harlem, these inspiring stories prove that when Black women put their mind to it, there’s nothing we can’t do.
Suggested Reading
In honor of Women’s History Month, here are some of our favorite books that feature strong Black women.
“Take My Hand” by Dolen Perkins-Valdez
Set in Alabama in the early 1970s, “Take My Hand” tells the story of Civil Townsend, a Black nurse at a family planning clinic, who exposes harm being done to her parents. This touching novel is inspired by real life events.
“Pride and Protest” by Nikki Payne
“Pride and Protest” is a modern day version of the literary classic “Pride and Prejudice” with a Black twist. Liza is a DJ who goes toe-to-toe with the CEO of a property development company who she thinks is ruining her DC neighborhood with expensive condos. But things get complicated when sparks begin to fly.
“Kindred” by Octavia Butler
“Kindred” tells the story of a young Black woman who, after a series of strange events, is transported between the 1970s and the Los Angeles home she shares with her white husband to the early 19th Century and a slave plantation in Maryland.
“Beloved” by Toni Morrison
Toni Morrison’s bestselling novel “Beloved” tells the story of Sethe, a slave who escapes to Ohio. But while she is physically free from her past, she is haunted by the pain of the life she left behind and the ghost of her baby who is buried with a tombstone engraved with the word “Beloved.”
“The Street” by Ann Petry
At the center of “The Street” is Lutie Johnson, a young Black single mother trying to raise her son in 1940s Harlem against the backdrop of the violence and racism that exists.
“Shadowshaper” by Daniel José Older
In “Shadowshaper,” the protagonist Sierra Santiago discovers shadowshapers – a group of supernatural forces who connect ancestral spirits to art. But when an evil person sets out to kill off the shadowshapers and become the last man standing, she’s forced to look to her own family’s past so she can stop the killer and save shadowshapers forever.
“Finding Me” by Viola Davis
“Finding Me” is the 2022 memoir from EGOT-winning Viola Davis. So much more than a personal account of her journey to becoming an award-winning actress and producer. She also lets readers in on the process she’s gone through to heal from the trauma she experienced after years of being teased and bullied by classmates for the color of her skin.
“Red at the Bone” by Jaqueline Woodson
Jaqueline Woodson’s “Red at the Bone” centers around a 16-year-old Melody who is having a coming-of-age party at her grandparent’s Brooklyn home in 2021 wearing a dress made for her mother to wear to a party that never happened. As the book continues, you learn more about the history of Melody’s family and the struggles and successes they endured for generations.
“Memphis” by Tara M. Stringfellow
“Memphis” tells the story of Joan, a young girl who travels with her mother and younger sister to her mother’s hometown of Memphis to escape her father’s rage. While there, she finds relief in painting and learns more about the rich history of the women in her family.
“Homegoing” by Yaa Gyasi
“Homegoing” follows two half-sisters born into different African villages and their descendants – some who stay in Ghana and some who are sold into slavery.
“Becoming” by Michelle Obama
“Becoming” is the debut memoir from our forever First Lady, Michelle Obama. In the book, she shares the deeply personal and inspiring story of her journey from the South Side of Chicago to becoming the first Black First Lady of the United States.
“Island Queen” by Vanessa Riley
Historical fiction fans will love sinking their teeth into “Island Queen” a novel based on the real-life story of Dorothy Kirwan Thomas, a freed slave who became one of the most successful landowners in the the Caribbean.
“She Who Knows” by Nnedi Okorafor
“She Who Knows” is the first novel in a sci-fi trilogy infused with African culture and spirituality. The coming of age story centers around a young girl and the way everything changes when she leaves her family behind for a whole new world.
“Brown Girl Dreaming” by Jaqueline Woodson
“Brown Girl Dreaming” is Jacqueline Woodson’s National Book Award and Newbery Honor-winning memoir. The book tells the story of Woodson’s childhood, growing up Black in South Carolina and New York the 1960s and 70s through a series of emotional poems. Geared towards young readers ages 9 and up, it is a touching account of Woodson’s self-discovery during a critical time in Black history.
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