People are reading about racism and anti-racism more than ever before. Books like How to Be An Anti-Racist, A People's History of the United States, and Between the World and Me have been repeatedly selling out at bookstores. And that's great, it really is. But a lot of the information we consume about Blackness is about suffering. It's about overcoming adversity. It's about violence. But that is not the definition of Blackness. There are endless reasons to celebrate and to honor Black culture and Black people, and that is why we need to intentionally expand our idea of Blackness by consuming media (whether that's books, films, social media accounts, etc.) that centers Black joy. I found this lovely curated collection of books that will help you and I diverge from our narrow vision of Blackness. The list was put together by Refinery29, and the graphics were designed by Bitter Blush (two accounts you should follow on Instagram!). I'm going to start with Pride, because it's a remix of my favorite Jane Austen novel. The other there titles are to be published this spring: pre-order and be the first to get your hands on these reads! Click on each graphic for an online retailer with these books in stock.
