February is Black History Month, a time to celebrate and honor the achievements of Black Americans. One meaningful way to observe this month is by exploring powerful stories and perspectives from Black authors. Whether you’re building your own reading list or looking for the perfect gift for a book lover, these 11 books offer compelling narratives, unforgettable characters, and important voices in literature.
š Black Authors You Need to Read
These aren’t just great reads, they’re important voices in American literature and Black culture. From Harlem Renaissance pioneers like Zora Neale Hurston and Langston Hughes who shaped how Black life was portrayed in literature, to contemporary trailblazers like Michelle Obama who redefined what’s possible for Black women in leadership. These authors have championed Black stories, challenged injustice, and created space for future generations of Black writers. Their work has influenced civil rights movements, changed publishing landscapes, and ensured Black experiences are celebrated and remembered.
Ready to dive in? Explore 11 books you need to read in our Best Books By Black Authors gift guide. Add these books to your own Birthday Wishlist to share with family and friends know exactly what you’re hoping to read next!
Book: If I Ruled the World by Amy DuBois Barnett
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
What if you could rewrite the rules of your world? Amy DuBois Barnett’s debut novel follows a cast of dynamic characters navigating love, ambition, and identity in modern-day New York. With sharp wit and heartfelt storytelling, this book celebrates Black excellence while exploring what it means to claim your power.
If I Ruled the World | Amazon, $14.99
Book: Black Girls Must Be Magic: A Novel by Jayne Allen
Genre: Fiction
Tabitha Walker is learning that being a Black woman in the workplace means navigating impossible standards. After discovering she’s pregnant, following news that she may not be able to have biological children, Tabitha throws herself into single motherhood while her boss at the local news station receives complaints about her natural hair.
Black Girls Must Be Magic | Amazon, $10.28 & up
Book: Becoming by Michelle Obama
Genre: Memoir
In this deeply personal memoir, former First Lady Michelle Obama invites readers into her world, sharing stories from her childhood on Chicago’s South Side to her years in the White House. With grace and honesty, she reflects on her experiences as a mother, daughter, and the first Black First Lady of the United States. An inspiring read that offers an intimate look at a trailblazer who redefined what’s possible.
Becoming | Amazon, $17.28
Book: The Color Purple by Alice Walker
Genre: Classic Fiction
Alice Walker’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel broke the silence around abuse, narrating the lives of Black women through their pain and struggle, companionship and growth, resilience and bravery. Deeply compassionate and beautifully imagined, this epic carries readers on a spirit-affirming journey toward redemption and love.
The Color Purple | Amazon, $11.89
Book: Power Moves: Ignite Your Confidence and Become a Force by Sarah Jakes Roberts
Genre: Motivational
Pastor and entrepreneur Sarah Jakes Roberts delivers a powerful guide to finding your voice and owning your story. Drawing from her own journey of overcoming adversity, she offers practical wisdom for breaking free from limitation and stepping into your full potential.
Power Moves | Amazon, $10.24 & up
Book: Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston
Genre: Historical Fiction
A cornerstone of twentieth-century American literature, Zora Neale Hurston’s beloved 1937 classic tells the story of fair-skinned, fiercely independent Janie Crawford and her journey through three marriages, poverty, and self-discovery. Told in the captivating voice of a woman who refuses to live in sorrow or fear, this Southern love story sparkles with wit, beauty, and heartfelt wisdom.
Their Eyes Were Watching God | Amazon, $14.39
Book: I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
Genre: Autobiographical Memoir
Here is a book as joyous and painful, as mysterious and memorable, as childhood itself. Maya Angelou’s debut memoir captures the longing of lonely children and the wonder of words that can make the world right. This modern American classic chronicles her early years facing racism and trauma in the segregated South, and her journey to finding her voice.
I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings | Amazon, $7.79
Book: All About Love by bell hooks
Genre: Feminist Self-Help
Legendary feminist scholar bell hooks examines love in all its formsāromantic, familial, communal, and spiritual. In this groundbreaking work, she argues that love is a choice and practice that requires courage, honesty, and commitment.
All About Love | Amazon, $10.11 & up
Book: Not Without Laughter by Langston Hughes
Genre: Fiction
Harlem Renaissance icon Langston Hughes brings to life the story of Sandy, a young Black boy growing up in Kansas in the early twentieth century. Through Sandy’s eyes, Hughes captures the music, laughter, and resilience of Black communities facing hardship with grace and joy.
Not Without Laughter | Barnes & Noble, $15.95
Book: The Official We Do Not Care Club Handbook by Melani Sanders
Genre: Midlife Self-Help
Fed up with society’s expectations of women, especially Black women who face additional pressure to be strong and selfless, Melani Sanders created the We Do Not Care Clubāa movement for women ready to prioritize their own wellbeing. With humor and hard-won wisdom, this handbook guides readers through the liberating process of setting boundaries and embracing authentic living.
The Official We Do Not Care Club Handbook | Amazon, $16.78
Book: Monday’s Not Coming by Tiffany D. Jackson
Genre: YA Fiction
Monday Charles is missing, and only Claudia seems to notice. Claudia and Monday have always been inseparable, more sisters than friends. But when Monday doesn’t turn up for the first day of school, Claudia’s worried. How can a teenage girl just vanish without anyone noticing that she’s gone?
Monday’s Not Coming | Amazon, $10.99
š Looking for more books you canāt put down?
Want to keep celebrating Black voices beyond February? Check out our Best Books By Black Authors gift guide for even more incredible reads. Or explore all of our book gift guides for popular page-turners across every genre and add ’em to your Wishlist. It’ll help your friends find you the perfect gift for your TBR pile!
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Book Clubs and Reading Groups use Elfster all year long so book lovers can share their passion for reading by exchanging books as gifts. Start your own Elfster Book Exchange with your family and friends to stay connected through the gift of storytelling.
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