The Black August Bookshelf — 10 Powerful Reads That Honor Our Stories, Our Struggles & Our Genius

Welp, good people, Black August is here. For those of you who are unfamiliar with Black August — including our white and eternally fragile brethren who are now rolling their eyes, saying, “OMG, not another Black month, as if Black History Month wasn’t enough” — the Center for Constitutional Rights defines it as a month designated to honor “the freedom fighters, especially those inside the walls of our sprawling prison-industrial complex, who, with their vision, tenacity, and deep love for our communities, are leading us toward the horizon of abolition.” As we explained previously, Black August was “born on the unforgiving grounds of California’s San Quentin Prison,” and commemorates the lives and deaths of Black political prisoners.

Anyway, now that you’re all caught up, I’m going to do my part in celebrating this month by offering you a list of Blackity-Black books by Blackity-Black authors, because, seriously — what has been more vital to Black liberation than Black literacy? That should be celebrated.

So, whether you’re an avid reader, someone who reads sometimes, or someone who can read but knows they should be reading more and would like to support Black authors and their work, it’s time to lock in.

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