20 Essential Books on Black History Everyone Needs to Read

You know how the saying goes: Those who forget history are doomed to repeat it. But when we still haven't emerged from the ongoing effects of our past, taking the time to learn about where those forces originated and how we got where we are today becomes even more important. Reading books written by Black authors can help add important context to the world we're living in, as well as shed light on systemic racism and discrimination for those who are privileged enough to not experience their impact firsthand. Literature is a powerful force. It can help further our own antiracist education, lift up voices that have been historically left out of the conversation, and take the emotional burden off Black friends and colleagues to educate others too. Reading doesn't absolve us of taking meaningful action against injustice, but it's a start.

When most of us went through school, we learned history from a largely white-centric point of view. African history, and the history of Black lives in the United States, didn't feature heavily (if at all) in most of those conversations. But there's no time like the present to fill in the gaps. Here are a few of our favorite Black history books to add to your TBR list.