The revolution will be literary: 5 books from Black authors to read in July
Standing in front of the Rochester Ladies’ Society in July 1852, Frederick Douglass spoke about Black Americans’ complicated feelings about celebrating his country’s independence.
“What, to the American slave, is the Fourth of July? I answer, a day that reveals to him, more than all other days in the year, the gross injustice and cruelty to which he is the constant victim,” Douglass said.
For many Americans, July Fourth is viewed as a time to celebrate freedom and rejoice on the anniversary of our country’s founding.
However, as Douglass pointed out nearly 300 years ago, for Black folks, the relationship is complex when it comes to being liberated and operating in a country that prides its democratic foundation.
Whether it’s exploring family history or navigating systemic discrimination in the modern day, we’ve got some titles from authors using storytelling to explore past, present and future implications of being Black in America.
Whereas, if your preferred form of activism is more of a literary escape, we have options for that, too.
Here’s our monthly roundup of books you might’ve missed, others that just released and sneak peeks at upcoming drops.
“Firstborn Girls” by Bernice L. McFadden
Fiction writer Bernice L. McFadden connects her ancestral history to the present as she embraces those who came before. The writer bridges her Southern heritage — McFadden’s maternal family took part in the Great Migration from Georgia — and her father’s Barbadian roots to describe growing up in 1970s New York City.
“Black in America feels like a phonograph needle caught in the dead black wax of a spinning vinyl record,” McFadden writes.
Grappling with systemic racism, her father’s excessive alcoholism and domestic violence, McFadden finds her voice by resurrecting her love for writing and books.
“Freedom Season: How 1963 Transformed America’s Civil Rights Revolution” by Peniel E. Joseph
Peniel E. Joseph’s book is a series of historical accounts of the political organizing, boycotts and protests of 1963. From James Baldwin and Lorraine Hansberry to Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X and Medgar Evers, the book goes into detail about how these activists and creatives worked with one another to bring national change.
“Aging While Black” by Raymond A. Jetson
In Raymond A. Jetson’s sociological book, he makes a call to action for Black communities to embrace the wisdom of older generations who have survived systemic racism.
Jetson explains that despite the perseverance of elders — who the author considers to be cultural warriors — Black folks must continue to help them navigate discrimination by way of food deserts, housing inequality and other racial gaps impacting older populations.
“The Best Man: Unfinished Business” by Malcolm D. Lee & Jayne Allen
The crew from “The Best Man” movies and television miniseries is back! But this time, the characters are hitting book covers as they try to navigate the new chapters in their lives. The book is part of a trilogy, so expect more adventures to come.
“Coded Justice: A Thriller (Avery Keene)” by Stacey Abrams
Yes, the former gubernatorial candidate is also a big science fiction fan, so it makes sense that the latest addition to her thriller trilogy series delves into the topic.
In the final installment, main character Avery Keene maneuvers through a world where artificial intelligence becomes a beacon in the medical industry. Let’s just say the intersection of these two industries takes more than an eerie turn.
Well, maybe that’s not that much of a real-world escape, but at least it’s fiction for now.
About the Author
Brooke Leigh Howard is a reporter for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution's Black culture team, UATL.
