Kwanzaa Reading List
Habari Gani! What’s the news!
Today is the first day of Kwanzaa, a cultural celebration of African American heritage that lasts from December 26th until January 1st.
There are seven principles of Kwanzaa, and being the literacy advocate that I am, I have a book recommendation for each day!
Surely, I don’t expect anyone to read each book each day, but then again… why not!
“Homegoing” by Yaa Gyasi is a deeply moving tale that begins in an African village prior to colonialism. The first 2 chapters center on half sisters who never met; never knew of each other. One left home to be the bed wench of a slaver. While she enjoyed some semblance of luxury, her sister was in the dungeon below, awaiting the voyage through the middle passage. Each chapter after that tells of one of their descendants and weaves together tales of resilience, pain, love, joy. This book is a painfully beautiful story of culture that makes it a great backdrop for Umoja.
Everyone knows the rules of the hood: no crying, no snitching, and if one of yours is killed, you retaliate. When 15 year-old Will loses his big brother to murder, he knows he has to follow the rules. When he gets on that elevator, headed to avenge his brother’s death, he has to ask himself if he’s strong enough to not follow the rules. Written in verse, this novel, by one of my favorite authors, will leave you in quiet contemplation. Someone you know personally or through viral news will come to mind. You will find yourself thinking about the impact of community in shaping who we are and how we define ourselves—Kujichagulia.
“Please try to remember that what they believe, as well as what they do and cause you to endure does not testify to your inferiority but to their inhumanity.” Written as a letter to his nephew about the ills and beauty of being black in America, this book feels like the deeply personal declaration of blackness that is so timeless that it serves as the playbook for “us.” Baldwin’s commitment to the culture is his legacy, and this work is the epitome of Ujima.
William Kamkwamba lived in Malawi, a small farming village in southeastern Africa. When a drought ruined his family’s crops, it also killed their livelihood, forcing him to drop out of school. As we know, necessity is the mother of invention, and William borrowed books, gathered spare parts and scrap, and built a windmill to bring electricity to his home and village. He went on to become a TED fellow and gained attention and donations to further his project. This is the perfect story of Ujamaa for people of all ages to enjoy.
Sometimes, you have to leave home to find your purpose; Nia. The Great Migration was a period of American history from about 1916 until 1970 whereby many Black people left the south, headed north and west in search of a better life for themselves and for their families. This immensely impactful book tells the story of Ida Mae, who left Mississippi for Chicago with her sharecropping husband, George, who escaped attempts on his life in Florida for the safety of Harlem, and Robert, who went to California from Louisiana in order to practice medicine with dignity. The author weaves in historical stories of race, race relations, and racism to paint a vivid picture of a little known but extremely important period in our country’s history.
Not since the brilliance of Octavia Butler have we seen a black woman so beautifully engage readers in world building. Author Tomi Adeyemi has created this world where people with magic, known by their white hair, were free to practice their talents, until a ruthless king killed all of the maji…so he thought. It’s still not safe, but Zellie is destined to bring magic back to Orisha, but it won’t be easy. This book is amazing and the creativity—Kuumba—will inspire you!
In Haiti, if someone wants to tell a story, they ask “Krik?” If someone wants to hear the story, they respond with “Krak!” Edwidge Danticat’s collection of short stories are set in her homeland of Haiti. If you know anything about Haiti, you know that pain is as prominent as resilience, and it is the people’s faith in God and themselves that allows them to endure, a theme you will see throughout each story. And if you’re a deep reader, you will find the connection between each person.
Hopefully, you’re inspired to read (or re-read) at least one of these books. And the power of literature is magnified by sharing, so tell a friend! HAPPY KWANZAA!
