Black Literacy

As a former teacher, I was quite alarmed about how absent our history and voice were in school literature. Unfortunately, it seemed like the only voice we were given was through the lens of a white author writing about a black person… or at least those were the options. To add insult to injury, our representation always seemed to be rooted in misery – slavery, oppression, poverty al while not completely acknowledging the depths of the hatred inflicted on us. As I advanced in my education career and widened my reading scope to find literature that better reflected what I wanted to feel about myself as I read, I became empowered to read more and seek out positive representation, not just for myself, but also for my students. Here is a collection of works I have read that feed my spirit, expand my mind, and ignite my creativity.