The following content was researched and compiled by JMRL-NAACP Intern Casey Alexander. You can view a related presentation that she created here.
The books listed below are Young Adult & Adult pieces of literature meant to educate, empower, and motivate women, specifically women of color. All of these works are sure to leave a positive impact on their readers, while opening the door to a world that may not be familiar to some. These books include rich language, excellent storytelling, personal freedom, and depict some of the struggles women of color face throughout their life. Whether you are looking for a quick read or something deep in description and complexity, you are sure to find it in one of the following books. Disclaimer: All books are based on and written by women of color.
Age Level: 14+
Books Owned By JMRL Available to Checkout
Training School For Negro Girls – Camille Acker
Letter to My Daughter – Maya Angelou
The Toni Morrison Book Club – Juda Bennett
A Black Women’s History Of the United States – Diana Ramey Berry
Black Girls Rock!: Owning Our Magic, Rocking Our Truth – Beverly Bond
Eloquent Rage: A Black Feminist Discovers Her Superpower – Brittney Cooper
Twisted: The Tangled History of Black Hair Culture – Emma Dabiri
Well-Read Black Girl: Finding Our Stories, Discovering Ourselves – Glory Edim
Why I am No Longer Talking to White People About Race – Reni Eddo- Lodge
Badass Black Girl: Questions, Quotes,and Affirmations for Teens – M.J. Fievre
Ordinary Hazards – Nikki Grimes
The Sisters Are Alright – Tamara Winfrey Harris
This Will Be My Undoing: Living At the Intersection of Black, Female, and Feminist in (White) America – Morgan Jerkins
Hood Feminism – Mikki Kendall
Becoming– Michelle Obama
So You Want To Talk About Race – Ijeoma Oluo
Small Doses: Potent Truths for Everyday Use – Amanda Seales
More Than Enough: Claiming Space for Who You Are (No Matter What They Say) – Elaine Welteroth
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