If I could consume books the way I drink water, I’d be happier than a pig in mud—or at least more efficiently hydrated. But here’s the truth: I read too much to pick just a few recommendations.
That said, I believe it’s important to recognize and celebrate our differences. And since Black History Month is still a thing, I’m narrowing in on three books that offer sharp, necessary perspectives on race, resistance, and the policies that shape Black life in America. Whether you want to expand your historical knowledge, challenge what you think you know, or sit with stories that refuse to be sanitized—these books are worth your time. Last, I believe that taking action in the space of civic wellness includes making space to learn, so here we go!
Our Hidden Conversations: What Americans Really Think About Race and Identity
By Michele Norris
Michele Norris, former NPR host and founder of The Race Card Project, compiles years of anonymous confessions about race, identity, and belonging in America. What struck me most about Our Hidden Conversations is how deeply universal these reflections are—regardless of your background.
Whether you’re a white person from rural America, a Black person raised in the suburbs, or a first-generation immigrant navigating American racial politics for the first time, there’s something here that will resonate. The book captures the discomfort, contradictions, and raw honesty that rarely make it into public discourse. It’s not a book that tells you what to think—it’s a book that forces you to confront what you already do.
Read if you:
✔ Want a nuanced, multi-perspective look at race in America.
✔ Appreciate books that lean into complexity instead of easy answers. (my fave)
✔ Enjoy personal narratives woven with social analysis.
We Refuse: A Forceful History of Black Resistance
By Kellie Carter Jackson
I’ve quoted We Refuse multiple times. I’ve recommended it to fellow leaders. And I’ll probably keep talking about it for a really long time.
As someone who is pacifist-light (is that a thing?), violence—whether in imagery or reality—is incredibly uncomfortable for me. Regardless, We Refuse examines the history of Black resistance in America, particularly the ways in which self-defense and armed resistance have shaped civil rights movements.
Too often, we whitewash the legacy of Black leaders, portraying them as peaceful, saint-like figures while erasing the very real tensions, strategies, and choices they faced. What I love about this book is that it restores the full humanity of those who fought for Black liberation. It doesn’t force history into neat narratives; it grapples with the reality that civil rights leaders often worked within a chasm between hope and fear—a tension that Ta-Nehisi Coates also explores in his work.
Read if you:
✔ Want a deeper, unvarnished look at Black resistance.
✔ Are interested in how self-defense and civil rights movements have intersected.
✔ Appreciate history that challenges mainstream narratives.
Plundered: How Racist Policies Undermine Black Homeownership in America
📖 By Bernadette Atuahene
This one just came out in January, and as someone who leads an organization focused on community conversations—including housing policy—I’ve oddly read a lot on this topic. Redlining. Housing discrimination. Segregation. The whole ecosystem of how Black homeownership has been systematically undermined.
Plundered is in the same vein as The Color of Law but with a tighter focus on bureaucracy—the mundane, often invisible policies that either intentionally or unintentionally rob Black communities of generational wealth. What makes this book especially powerful is its deep dive into Detroit—one city, one community, and the cascading effects of policy decisions that reshaped an entire landscape.
Instead of a broad, national overview, Plundered zooms in to show just how these injustices play out in real time, in real neighborhoods, with real families. If you care about housing justice, economic mobility, or how cities either thrive or collapse under policy decisions—this is a must-read.
Read if you:
✔ Want a modern, policy-driven look at housing discrimination.
✔ Are interested in the specific impact of housing laws on Black wealth.
✔ Enjoy books that examine systemic racism through a local lens.
Notable Mentions: More Black History Month Reads
📚 Essays: Sister Outsider: Essays and Speeches – Audre Lorde’s essential writings on feminism, race, and power. A must-read for anyone serious about social justice.
📚 Poetry: Black Girl, Call Home – A beautiful, gut-punching collection by Jasmine Mans. Personal, political, powerful.
📚 Memoir: How to Say Babylon – Safiya Sinclair’s stunning memoir about breaking free from a strict Rastafarian upbringing. I loved reading her book, especially since my parents are also from Jamaica.
Final Thoughts
History—real history—isn’t just about dates and famous speeches. It’s about who gets remembered, whose stories get erased, and what we choose to do with the knowledge we inherit.
These books don’t just tell stories; they challenge myths, expose power structures, and demand we think critically about the world we live in.
Which of these are you adding to your list? And what books have shaped your understanding of Black history? Drop your recs—I’m always looking for more. ♥️
Love + Light,
Sophia
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