Get smarter with this back-to-school reading list for September

Education is swinging back in as the fall season inches closer.

Usually, this means that kids are in preparation to head back to school, but they’re not the only ones looking to learn something new.

As children are stuffing their backpacks with highly anticipated school supplies, the rest of us may be looking for material to dive a little deeper into education as an institution and the systemic structures of the Black community.

Then again, others may already be overwhelmed with their fall syllabus and need some sort of literary distraction.

Either way, we’re here to provide options for your back-to-school reading list.

‘Peril and Promise: College Leadership in Turbulent Times’ by Beverly Daniel Tatum

"Peril and Promise: College Leadership in Turbulent Times," by Beverly Daniel Tatum. (Courtesy of Hatchette Book Group)

Former Spelman president Beverly Daniel Tatum is back with another nonfiction book about recent issues that have been targeting institutions of higher education.

This time, the writer behind “Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria?” tackles the mood surrounding colleges and universities in the midst of political and social turmoil. She pulls from her experience at Spelman and as an interim president at Mount Holyoke College to assess the 2025 educational zeitgeist at public and private institutions.

Releases Tuesday at hatchettebookgroup.com

‘The New Book: Poems, Letters, Blurbs, and Things’ by Nikki Giovanni

“The New Book: Poems, Letters, Blurbs, and Things,” by Nikki Giovanni (Courtesy of Harper Collins)

Though we lost talented poet Nikki Giovanni in December, the activist and literary giant will have a new book in September. The posthumous release will feature a collection of poems, personal letters and prose as an ode to the current political climate.

According to publisher Harper Collins, the collection “is a towering work of protest against the divisions of our time, leavened with moments of joy and reflection about her indelible legacy, her family history, and the small pleasures of her richly lived life.”

Less than a year after Giovanni’s death, the book echoes her notorious revolutionary spirit.

Releases Tuesday at harpercollins.com

‘Our Vodou: A Vodou Bedtime Tale’ & ‘Our Vodou: My Coloring Book’ by Malou Beauvoir

“Our Vodou My Coloring Book,” by Malou Beauvoir. (Courtesy)

For folks who are interested in sharing a bit of African history with their children, Haitian American performing artist Malou Beauvoir shares an entry to learn about Vodou, derived from West African practices. Vodou, a Haitian spiritual practice, honors ancestral lineage and respect for nature, debut author Beauvoir said.

Along with a coloring book to extend children’s educational experience, Beauvoir said the pair of books is an aid for children of the African diaspora to learn and understand heritage and tradition.

Releases Saturday at maloubeauvoir.com

‘The Student Debt Crisis: America’s Moral Urgency’ by Jamal Eric Watson

“The Student Debt Crisis: America’s Moral Urgency,” by Jamal Eric Watson. (Courtesy of Broadleaf Books)

Since we’re on the subject of education, we can’t ignore the financial obligations it entails.

Journalist Jamal Eric Watson explores the inequities and inequalities of who has the privilege of going to college. He examines how students of color and women are particularly vulnerable with student debt, furthering an economic gap between race/ethnicity and gender.

Interviewing lawmakers, students and educators, Watson illustrates that education is not only a privilege, but a gamble that many aspiring learners are unable to make.

Releases Sept. 16 at broadleafbooks.com

‘André Leon Talley: Style is Forever’ by Paula Wallace, Rafael Gomes and Antoine Gregory

“André Leon Talley: Style is Forever,” by Paula Wallace, Rafael Gomes and Antoine Gregory. (Courtesy of Rizzoli USA)

Just as New York Fashion Week comes to an end, Black culture enthusiasts will have the chance to get their hands on a biography of fashion god André Leon Talley.

Part lookbook, “André Leon Talley: Style is Forever” will feature stories and essays from people who encountered Talley at his height within the fashion industry. From working at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and acting as the creative director for “Vogue” magazine, Talley was an infamous force within the arts community. He was a trailblazer who paved the way for Black people in high fashion.

Compiled by Savannah College of Art & Design president and founder Paula Wallace, the visual autobiography will show just how Black culture has impacted global fashion trends through Talley’s leadership.