Liberty Writers AfricaIn this highly informative article, we cover 9 powerful books black people must read, and promote, especially at the celebration of Black history month. Every February of every year, Black people around the world mark Black History Month, a month set aside to celebrate our achievements as a people. And also shed light on our struggles. In as much we do not advise our people to leave the study of our history to just one month in a year, we are proud to celebrate Black History Month every year, and share with you some of the best books to read in your journey of awakening.
A Brief History Of Black History Month
Black History Month as a culture and annual observance, was created by African Americans in the United States and was dedicated to promoting the achievements of Africans in America and others all over the world.
The month of February is now the official month for Black History Month, and the commemoration has been given official recognition from many world governments, such as the United Kingdom, Ireland, Canada, The Netherlands, and of course the United States Of America.
The origins of Black History Month dates back to 1915 when the Association For The Study Of Negro Life And History (ASNLH) was founded by Carter G. Woodson and Jesse E. Moorland.
The ASNLH was passionate and dedicated to the promotion of the achievements of Black Americans and others of African descent around the world. And in 1926, they decided to sponsor a National Negro History Week.
They chose the second week of February to hold Black History Month, as it coincides with the Birthdays of Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln. This inspired schools and communities around the United States Of America to organize local celebrations and gatherings, establish history clubs, and host performances and lectures.
By 1929, there was a huge fanfare about Negro History Week, as thousands trouped out in enthusiasm. The event gained the interest of Black teachers and some other progressive white Americans. Black history clubs were created.
In the years that followed 1929, Mayors of various cities in the U.S started to issue yearly proclamations, acknowledging the Negro History Week.
By the ending of the 1960s, when the civil rights movement was growing the awareness and consciousness of Black Identity, the Negro History Week was changed to “Black History Month“, on many college campuses.
Black History And Consciousness
If there has ever been a time when Black people must come together and defend their race, it is now. The word Black has now been made synonymous with suffering, lack, poor, less-human, and many other unpleasant terms, by other races of the world.
But the truth remains that we are the salt of the earth. We are a blessed people. We have just been in a constant war with the enemy for centuries, and many of us don’t know we are fighting.
The war against the Black man is economic, spiritual, physical, social, mental, and otherwise. And without any doubts in our minds, we strongly believe that the foundation of saving our people from such attacks is a conscious revolution.
Many Black people do not even know that we are at war. They don’t know or understand the level of the psychological warfare being carried out against our race. So it’s important that more and more of us read these books to open our minds to our noble history, our journey, our achievements, the sources of our problems, and how they can be solved.
History still remains an intrinsic part of our gospel of self-awareness and self-consciousness. Our people must know their history – our children, our youths, our communities, our schools, and every arm of the Black society must understand who we are and why we should not be treated the way we are being treated now.
So below we are going to list these books and write little descriptions about them, so you know which ones to get first. Please do your best to get all these books and read them, and then also pass them down to your loved ones and children. We all need this knowledge.
1. The Attack On Critical Race Theory: The Reverse-Racism Attempts By Parts Of White America To Subdue Black Anti-Racism And Block Recounts Of America’s Racist History From Slavery To Date
The teaching of racism against black people in America is now under attack in the guise of a war against critical race theory. Critical Race Theory has recently come under fire as a technique for examining structural racism in American history, the justice system, and other parts of American society. This assault has primarily come from the conservative sector of American politics and society, as well as other white supremacist organizations.
Those who oppose Critical Race Theory believe that it is taught in elementary and secondary schools, that any attempt to revisit America’s history of racism against colored people is divisive, and that it teaches white students that they are essentially evil. Despite the fact that Critical Race Theory is a legal framework that is only taught in law school, critics are attempting to destroy and rebrand the theory by linking it to Marxism and Critical Theory.
But these allegations are incorrect, and this book “The Attack On Critical Race Theory” debunks any claims that Critical Race Theory is taught in K-12 schools or that it is dangerous, as well as exposing the hidden objective of those who oppose it.
2. The African Origin Of Civilization: Myth or Reality, By Cheikh Anta Diop
One of the leading Egyptologists, historians, anthropologists, and physicists in the world, is an African named Cheikh Anta Diop. Through his works and research, he proved beyond reasonable doubt that mankind and human civilization started with Black people. Cheikh Anta Diop was a Senegalese and studied at the University of Paris.
His book puts forward unarguable proofs that ancient Egypt was solely and undoubtedly a Black African race, culture, and civilization in its initial 200 years of existence. His book proves that Black people were the first on the planet and from Black people, all others came.
If not for his finding and superior works, the world would still believe the Euro-centric lies that ancient Egypt was populated and built by white people.
3. Developmental Psychology of the Black Child, By Amos N. Wilson
For every race to survive and do better, the mental growth and mental awareness of their children must be of utmost importance to every member of that race.
Black people should start early to develop their children’s personalities to be strong and dominant, and we can only do that by constantly making them self-aware of who they are – through history and books like this.
This book answers the questions for the development of a child from the Black perspective. It is the first of its series focused on the growth, development, and education of the black child – the future of the Black race.
Every home should have this book, in soft copy or hard copy.
4. The Mis-Education of the Negro, By Carter Godwin Woodson
The major message brought forward in Woodson’s 1933 book is that African- Americans of that time (and even now) were culturally indoctrinated, and not taught the right things, in American schools. The cultural manipulation by schools makes African-Americans become over-dependent, and feel inferior when seeking positions in the larger American society. His book challenges his Black readers to “do for themselves,” no matter what they have been taught.
In his book, he wrote: “History shows that it does not matter who is in power or what revolutionary forces take over the government, those who have not learned to do for themselves and have to depend solely on others never obtain any more rights or privileges in the end than they had in the beginning.”
Every Black person, young and old, should read this. Our time is now.
5. The Autobiography of Malcolm X As Told To Alex Haley
Malcolm X is arguably one of the greatest and most influential Black men in the history of America in the 20th Century. In this captivating account, he tells us of his journey from an American prison cell to Mecca in Saudi Arabia. He also described his transition from a hoodlum to a Muslim minister. The book “The Autobiography of Malcolm X” is a phenomenal piece that has moved Malcolm’s life into an extraordinary legacy. Even after his generation is gone and another has come, the power and strength of his words and ideas have continued to inspire Black people.
Every Black man/woman who is willing to stand up for his race should get this book.
6. PowerNomics By Claud Anderson
For years, Black people have paid more attention to complaining about their problems. This book is the first that seeks to address the solution to Black problems. It is a five-year strategy for changing the Black society into a prosperous and empowered nation that can stand on its own and compete with the world.
Anderson, in this book, breaks down the myths and illusions that Blacks can’t be successful. He put together data and materials from various sources to create a framework of solutions for the problems facing Black people in America. His book offers Black Americans better and efficient ways of dealing with racial issues. Great emphasis was laid on the redesigning of the education, economics, politics, and religion sectors of the Black community.
7. Blueprint For Black Power By Amos Wilson
This book by Wilson draws up a specific and detailed master plan for a power revolution that will support and foster the survival of Black people in the 21st century. He boldly suggests that an African-American – Caribbean – Pan-African economic and political bloc is vital and necessary for the installing and upholding Black power in the United States, to challenge Asian and White power networks.
Power is what the black world needs and this book should be read to as many Black people as possible.
8. The Philosophy And Opinions of Marcus Garvey By Jacques Garvey
Any student of African history and “Black Demand for independence”, who has not read about Marcus Garvey, has skipped the first class. He is as important as learning about the ancient Egyptians. This book is a compilation of his speeches, thoughts, essays, and commentaries.
Marcus Garvey was the first Black leader to unite the Africans back in the motherland with those in Diaspora under one umbrella and towards one goal – African unity and emancipation. This book points to the need for Black people to create their own organizations and institutions, to protect and cater to the interests of Black people, just like other races.
9. The Isis Papers: The Keys to The Colors By Dr. Frances Cress Welsing
In this book, Frances brings together the collection of 20 years of analysis and research gotten from the treatment of Black Americans in her private practice. She delved deeper to understand how white people and their supremacist system applied racism psychologically.
The book reveals fascinating insights on such topics as the relationship between Black children and their parents; AIDS and its threat to Black Americans; and the crisis in Black male and female relationships.
The way she exposed the network of fear embedded in European symbols and practices such as ball games, money, gold, guns, and even the white Christ- figure, will force her readers to examine their own participation in a white system of racial violence and negation.
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