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Add these great Black culture books to your May reading list

Here’s a suggested reading list of books being released in May.
Four books to inspire and educate, perfect for summertime reading.

Four books to inspire and educate, perfect for summertime reading.
May 1, 2025

As the weather heats up and long weekends become more frequent, reading recommendations become all the more important.

Warmer months are perfect for diving into good book, as they’re great companions during vacation trips, beach days and nature excursions. Then again, taking a chill day at home with a book rather than venturing out into Georgia’s unpredictable late-spring weather is also a good option.

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“The Gathering Table” by Antwan Eady

Cover art for "The Gathering Table" by Antwan Eady and London Ladd.

Credit: Courtesy of Knopf Books for Young Readers

Cover art for "The Gathering Table" by Antwan Eady and London Ladd.

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“This is Your Mother” by Erika J. Simpson

"This is Your Mother" by Erika J. Simpson
Courtesy of Scribner

Credit: Scribner

"This is Your Mother" by Erika J. Simpson Courtesy of Scribner

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“The Battle for the Black Mind” by Karida L. Brown

Cover art for "The Battle for the Black Mind" by Karida L. Brown.

Credit: Courtesy of Legacy Lit

Cover art for "The Battle for the Black Mind" by Karida L. Brown.

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“Naturally Me at the Confidence Salon” by Gabby Goodwin

Cover art for "Naturally Me at the Confidence Salon" by Gabby Godwin.

Credit: Courtesy of Tommy Nelson

Cover art for "Naturally Me at the Confidence Salon" by Gabby Godwin.

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About the Author

Brooke Leigh Howard is a reporter for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution's Black culture team, UATL.