The Wonderful World of Minotaur

Black History Month is celebrated every October across the UK & Ireland. Over the course of the month, people have the opportunity to celebrate and learn about black heritage and culture. 

I’ve put together a list of books I think everyone should discover and read to celebrate Black History Month. In no particular order:

1. Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi

Set between Ghana and the US, Homegoing takes the reader on an emotional journey through history. It follows a number of characters over different generations spanning from the same family tree. With key historical touchpoints such as colonialism and slavery, this novel educates the reader on the rich and tragic history of black people on the continent and in the diaspora. 

Other books by Yaa Gyasi: Transcendent Kingdom 

2. Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

One of my favourite books ever, Half of a Yellow Sun is a fictional novel about the Biafran war from the viewpoint of three protagonists. Adichie’s ability to weave the love stories of the three protagonists into tragedy is an art form. Although it is fictional, the details of the war included are based on factual accounts, including some disturbing and shocking. 

Other books by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie: Americanah, Purple Hibiscus

3. There Was a Country by Chinua Achebe

This book is a personal history of Biafra, as told by Chinua Achebe, an African literary legend. Widely considered one of the defining works of modern African non-fiction, There Was a Country combines vivid first-hand accounts with in-depth research of the historical context in which the events leading up to, during and following the Biafran war took place. 

Other books by Chinua Achebe: Things Fall Apart, Arrow of God, No Longer at Ease 

4. Born a Crime by Trevor Noah

The former host of The Daily Show penned this heartfelt and humorous memoir about his childhood growing up in apartheid South Africa. He writes about learning about race and identity, and all the stories that shaped him into the man he is today. 

5. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou 

The first of seven books in an autobiographical series, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings is a coming-of-age story based on the life of Maya Angelou. The book follows her from ages 3 to 16, growing up in the Jim Crow era, contending with the struggles of racism and self-affirmation. 

Other books by Maya Angelou: And Still I Rise, Letter To My Daughter, Mom & Me & Mom