It’s Time For Me to Do Better
This past week has been, well, I’m not sure which word to settle on because it’s been a lot of words. It’s been heartbreaking, and eye opening, and tensions have been high and it’s made recognize one very important fact. I, like many other people, need to do better. Black Lives Matter is not someone else’s fight, it is everyone’s fight and it is not enough anymore to simply be “an ally”. The injustices that have been going on in America towards black people is everyone’s problem.
When I look at my bookshelves, and I reflect upon on the books I’ve been reading this year, the vast majority are not diverse books. I would say probably 25% of the books on my shelves are diverse in some way, whether they’re LGBTQIA+ or written by a BIPOC. The fact is, for the majority of my life my reading has not been diverse. It was really until University that I was exposed to books with different view points from mine, books written by authors who have different life experiences from me. And while I thought my reading had gotten more diverse, when I took a really hard look at my shelves and it has not. For me, that’s a problem and I need to do better.
Books are such an important tool in life to present people with new information and new view points that readers can learn from. I think it’s really important to seek out books and media that represent view points that are different from your own. I’m making it a point in my life to actively seek out books that are diverse, own voices, and written by people of colour because if my small blog can even reach one person then that’s one more person who can be exposed to diverse media. I want to make sure that when people ask me for book recommendations I’m being diverse in my recommendations and amplifying BIPOC voices, own voices, and LGBTQIA+ voices.
This is a very small list of books I’m planning on reading throughout the rest of this year written by black authors. This list is in no way complete and I will be adding to it throughout the rest of this year and for the rest of my life. These are mainly YA and Fantasy books, because that is what I read the most however, I am making it point to read more nonfiction books throughout the rest of this year as well. I’m linking a Goodreads list of nonfiction books about race, written by black authors here. This is 2020, there is literally no excuse for not reading and actively promoting books written by people of colour, and written in own voices. I am going to do better.
- With the Fire on High – By: Elizabeth Acevedo. The Poet X was one of my top 10 books that read last year, quite possibly ever, so I know I’m going to love one just as much. It follows the story of young Emoni Santiago who is balancing being a young mother, going to high school, and her love of cooking. (I have to add, because I just found out, by Acevedo just released a new book on May 5th called Clap When You Land and I’m reading that one right after I finish With the Fire on High!!)
- The Belles – By: Dhonielle Clayton. Court intrigue, magic, and a girl faced with a tough decision. I mean really, who can ask for more from a fantasy book?? I’m fully expecting lush ballgowns and fights to the death. And can we talk about that beautiful cover?!
- Bad Feminist – By: Roxane Gay. I was first introduced to Gay’s writting in University when I read Hunger for one of my literature classes, and OMG was that book amazing. It opened my eyes to some many things I hadn’t thought of before and I love it for that. Bad Feminist is a collection of essays written by Gay that follow her own journey through life as it means to be a woman of colour and what feminism means to her. I’m really looking forward to what I can learn from this book.
- Scythe – By: Neal Schusterman. This book is much loved in the YA community that follows two young teenagers who become appearances to the Scythes, the only people who control death. Basically, they have to learn to become death. I don;t know much more about the book, but sometimes it’s nice to go into a series without knowing to much.
- Stealing Snow – By: Danielle Paige. This is the only Danielle Paige book I haven’t read so I am for sure making it a priority this year because Danielle Paige knows hows to write a retelling!! This is a retelling of the white queen that, from the synonymous, gives me twisted Wonderland vibes.
- A Phoenix First Must Burn – By: Patrice Caldwell (Editor). I don’t normally pick up anthology books (I think University ruined the anthology for me) but I feel like this is going to a really important book to read. It’s a collection of 16 short stories that tell of the black experience through fantasy. I think the thing that most excites me about this book is that it’s a small exposure to a bunch of black female authors that I haven’t read from yet but that will all be on my “Want to Read” list very soon.
- Kingdom of Souls – By: Rena Barron. This is the story of a young girl who’s entire family are powerful witchdoctors with incredible magic, and Arrah has none. So she ends up trading years of her life for magic and then the children of her village start to go missing. I’m excited about the magic in the book because I love a good book about magic.
Let me know if you’ve read any of these books or are planning to soon!
xoxo Juju
