By Mrs. McHugh

HHS Librarian

To paraphrase a century-old saying, those who don’t know their history are destined – or doomed – to repeat it. During Black History Month, the HHS library highlights books about the contributions of and challenges faced by people of color throughout American history. From stories of notable people and events to the issues we struggle with today, books can help us understand and learn from the mistakes of our past so we may pave a brighter path forward.

Below are quick reviews of a few titles I recommend not just in February, but throughout the year. To find more, check out the Historical Fiction, Notable Nonfiction and Biography & Memoir genre lists on the library website.

Nonfiction

The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel WIlkerson – Three families flee the South during the Great Migration of African Americans in the decades between the Civil War and Civil Rights Movement. The book highlights the oppression they faced in the South as well as the opportunities – and obstacles – they found in the North. 

Stamped from the Beginning: the definitive history of racist ideas in America by Ibram X. Kendi and Jason Reynolds – This book breaks down the mythology around the people and historical events that history textbooks have simplified, from Frederick Douglass and Martin Luther King Jr. to Reconstruction and the War on Drugs.

The Rebellious Life of Ms. Rosa Parks by Jeanne Theoharis – Often portrayed as a tired old woman arrested in 1955 for not moving to the back of the bus, Rosa Parks really was a tireless activist for Civil Rights – especially against sexual violence toward women.

Just Mercy: Young Readers Edition by Bryan Stevenson –  A young lawyer fighting to overturn the wrongful convictions of African Americans shines a light on the flaws of our justice system.

When They Call You a Terrorist: a Black Lives Matters memoir by Patrisse Khan-Cullors – One of the founders of the movement shares the experiences of her brother, whose mental illness seemed to be criminalized instead of treated in his encounters with police.

Fiction

Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead – Part historical fiction, part fantasy, this story imagines that the famed network to freedom is a literal train running beneath the earth. It follows Cora as she risks everything to flee the brutality of slavery.

All American Boys by Jason Reynolds and Brendan Kiely – An incident of police violence involving a white officer and a Black teen is explored from multiple perspectives.

Dear Martin and Dear Justyce by Nic Stone – These books focus on how two youths from similar circumstances can end up on very different paths, and how the color of their skin can impact their trajectory.

Required Reading for the Disenfranchised Freshman by Kristen Lee – When the statue of her college’s first Black president is vandalized, Savannah is torn between keeping quiet or speaking up and risking her scholarship. 

Monday’s Not Coming by Tiffany D. Jackson – Claudia runs up against apathy and uncertainty when trying to solve the disappearance of her best friend. The story highlights racism, poverty and other social issues that cause people to fall through the cracks. 

Piecing Me Together by Renee Watson – Jade struggles with feeling like an outsider, or someone who needs to be fixed, when she leaves her poor neighborhood to attend a wealthy private school. She turns to art to release her frustrations, and ends up finding her voice.