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Black Authors February 2023
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We need new names : a novel
by NoViolet Bulawayo
Follows 10-year-old Zimbabwe native, Darling, as she escapes the closed schools and paramilitary police control of her homeland in search of opportunity and freedom with an aunt in America.
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32 candles : a novel
by Ernessa T. Carter
Teenage ugly duckling, Davie, runs away to Los Angeles after a particularly cruel high school prank, where she eventually transforms herself into a beautiful, successful lounge singer, and meets up with her former football-player crush who doesn't recognize her.
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Americanah
by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Separated by respective ambitions after falling in love in occupied Nigeria, beautiful Ifemelu experiences triumph and defeat in America while exploring new concepts of race, while Obinze endures an undocumented status in London until the pair is reunited in their homeland 15 years later, where they face the toughest decisions of their lives. By the award-winning author of Half of a Yellow Sun.
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The water dancer : a novel
by Ta-Nehisi Coates
A Virginia slave narrowly escapes a drowning death through the intervention of a mysterious force that compels his escape and personal underground war against slavery. By the National Book Award-winning author of Between the World and Me. (historical fiction).
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The complete stories
by Zora Neale Hurston
A complete collection of the great African-American author's short works includes "John Redding Goes to Sea," "Spunk," "The Gilded Six Bits," "The Conscience of the Court," "Possum or Pig," "Cock Robin Beale Street," and "Book of Harlem."
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Red at the bone
by Jacqueline Woodson
As Melody celebrates a coming of age ceremony at her grandparents house in 2001 Brooklyn, her family remembers 1985, when Melodys own mother prepared for a similar party that never took place in this novel about different social classes.
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The nickel boys : a novel
by Colson Whitehead
A follow-up to the Pulitzer Prize- and National Book Award-winning, The Underground Railroad, follows the harrowing experiences of two African-American teens at an abusive reform school in Jim Crow-era Florida.
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The Underground Railroad : a novel
by Colson Whitehead
After Cora, a slave in pre-Civil War Georgia, escapes with another slave, Caesar, they seek the help of the Underground Railroad as they flee from state to state and try to evade a slave catcher, Ridgeway, who is determined to return them to the South
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Native son
by Richard Wright
Traces the fall of a young black man in 1930s Chicago as his life loses all hope of redemption after he kills a white woman
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The emperor of Ocean Park
by Stephen L. Carter
After the death of his father, the accomplished, flamboyant, and controversial Judge Oliver Garland, his son Talcott, a law professor, must unravel the truth about his father's life, a quest that brings him face to face with old scandals, family secrets, and justice gone wrong. By the author of The Culture of Disbelief. A first novel. .
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This Close to Okay : A Novel
by Leesa Cross-Smith
A recently divorced therapist spots a man standing on the edge of a bridge and convinces him to join her for coffee instead of jumping and the pair spend a cathartic weekend sharing secrets and angst.
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D'Vaughn and Kris plan a wedding
by Chencia C. Higgins
To elevate her brand, a closeted social media influencer goes on a reality tv show where she must convince her family and friends shes getting married to the love of her life in 6 weeks. .
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What the fireflies knew : a novel
by Kai Harris
Told from the perspective of almost 11-year-old Kenyatta Bernice (KB), this coming-of-age novel follows KB as she is sent to live with her estranged grandfather where she, as everything and everyone changes around her, is forced to carve out a different identity for herself and find her own voice.
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Something so sweet
by Joy Avery
In Honey Hill, North Carolina, mayor Lunden Pierce finds her historical town threatened by the arrival of her childhood sweetheart who plans to sell the inn hes inherited, along with the honeybees living in its yard, and will do anything in her power to change his mind..
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Redwood and wildfire
by Andrea Hairston
At the turn of the 20th century, gifted performers and hoodoo conjurors, Redwood, an African American woman, and Aidan, a Seminole Irish man, journey from haunted swampland to Chicago where their power and talent are torment and joy.
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Digging up love
by Chandra Blumberg
A young woman working in her grandfathers restaurant in rural Illinois who dreams of opening up a cookie shop in Chicago falls for a big-city academic paleontologist when a rare dinosaur bone turns up in her grandparents back yard. Original.
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And they lived happily ever after
by Therese Beharrie
"Romance author Gaia Anders has a secret: anything she dreams at night is magically written into her bestselling novels...[H]er dream life is the only one she trusts...Workaholic businessman Jacob Scott has had a crush on his brother's best friend, Gaia,since forever-but he never expected to literally share her dreams...But Gaia has secrets from her past she won't reveal. And Jacob's attempts to keep the peace in his own fractured family puts him up against her deepest fears"
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Lakewood : a novel
by Megan Giddings
Forced to drop out of school to help support her family, Lena takes a lucrative job as a secret laboratory subject before devastating side effects make her question how much she can sacrifice. A first novel..
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The care and feeding of ravenously hungry girls
by Anissa Gray
When their formidably strong-willed eldest sister is arrested, abruptly transitioning their family from respectability to disgrace, two younger sisters confront complicated dynamics in their family and identities to uncover what really happened.
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They all fall down
by Rachel Howzell Hall
"It was supposed to be the trip of a lifetime. Delighted by a surprise invitation, Miriam Macy sails off to a luxurious private island off the coast of Mexico, with six strangers--an ex-cop, a chef, a financial advisor, a nurse, a lawyer, a young widow. Surrounded by miles of open water in the gloriously green Sea of Cortez, Miriam is shocked to discover that she and the rest of her companions have been brought to the remote island under false pretenses--and all seven strangers harbor a secret. Danger lurks in the lush forest and in the halls and bedrooms of the lonely mansion. Sporadic cell-phone coverage and miles of ocean keeps the group trapped in paradise. And strange accidents keep them suspicious of each other, as one by one . . . They all fall down For fans of thrilling contemporary suspense like The Woman in Cabin 10, Rachel Howzell Hall's brilliant stand-alone novel modernizes and pays homage to Agatha's Christie's And Then There Were None, bringing a diverse cast of seven sinners to a private island for a reckoning that will leave you breathless"
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The dating playbook
by Farrah Rochon
Taking on a former footballer who wants back in the NFL, personal trainer Taylor Powell finds her game plan turned completely upside down when theyre accidentally outed as a couple..
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The boyfriend project
by Farrah Rochon
When a live tweet of a horrific date reveals the unscrupulous dealings of an internet catfisher, three duped women make a pact to invest in themselves for six months, prompting one to pursue a dream career. Original. .
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A sister's power
by Cydney Rax
Amidst revenge, grief and forgiveness, the five Reeves women must challenge themselves and what they know about each other when a devastating truth is revealed that could either tear them apart or bring them together. Original.
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Bad Boy Brawly Brown
by Walter Mosley
Trying to locate a family friend who has become involved with a radical resistance group, Easy Rawlins stumbles onto a murder scene only to be named a suspect, and he finds himself exploring a world of betrayal, trying to stay alive..
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Blood grove
by Walter Mosley
Unlicensed private investigator-turned-hardboiled detective Easy Rawlins navigates sex clubs, the mafia and dangerous friends when he reluctantly accepts the racially charged case of a traumatized Vietnam War veteran in late-1960s Los Angeles. .
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Secret obsession
by Kimberla Lawson Roby
Tired of living her entire life in the shadow of her sister Camille, Paige Donahue plots to steal her brother-in-law and ruin their marriage in this new novel from the award-winning New York Times best-selling author of One in a Million. .
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And now she's gone
by Rachel Howzell Hall
When a desperate family implores her to track down a woman who may not want to be found, Grayson Sykes unravels violent secrets that embroil her in an increasingly dangerous game of cat and mouse. .
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Welcome to Lagos
by Chibundu Onuzo
Resolving to abandon his post when he is ordered to kill innocent civilians, Nigerian army officer Chike Ameobi becomes the leader of a band of runaway rebels, each of whom imparts the difficult and remarkable experiences that drove them to seek better lives.
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Blind ambition
by Lutishia Lovely
When their mother dies, quiet, shy Chantel visits her superstar, Hollywood-based sibling, Jett, in an effort to find solace and get to know her better but instead learns a devastating secret and makes a plan to exact revenge. Original.
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The cutting season
by Attica Locke
When the dead body of a young woman is found on the grounds of Belle Vie, the estate's manager, Caren Gray, launches her own investigation into Belle Vie's history, which leads her to a centuries old mystery involving the plantation's slave quarters--and her own past. .
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Riot baby
by Tochi Onyebuchi
The author of the award-winning young-adult novel Beasts Made of Night tackles youth, race and the carceral state with magical flair, in his adult-science-fiction debut.
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Be careful what you pray for
by Kimberla Lawson Roby
In a sequel to The Best of Everything, the infamous Reverend Curtis Black's beautiful daughter Alicia has grown up and married a man of the cloth, Pastor JT Valentine, who sneaks around town with other women and married only her to get close to her father's fame and fortune; but the Reverend Black is not fooled and moves to protect his daughter. .
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The long fall
by Walter Mosley
Getting by as an old-school private investigator in spite of Manhattan's increasingly sophisticated culture, Leonid McGill finds his commitment to living a straight-and-narrow life repeatedly tested when he attempts to obtain seemingly harmless information for a high-paying client.
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Goliath
by Tochi Onyebuchi
After those with the means to do so leave Earth in a mass exodus to the space colonies in the 2050s, those left behind salvage what they can from the collapsing infrastructure and try to find purpose. .
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Love in color : mythical tales from around the world, retold
by Bolu Babalola
A debut anthology reimagines cultural folk and love stories from West Africa, Greek mythology and Middle East legend, from the tale of an unappreciated Nigerian goddess to the story of a powerful Ghanaian spokeswomans fateful decision. .
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Better late than never
by Kimberla Lawson Roby
The horrific childhood of Curtis Black is revealed when his estranged sister falls dangerously ill at the same time his 12-year-old daughter spirals into wild and rebellious behavior, in a conclusion to the best-selling series.
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Speaking of summer : a novel
by Kalisha Buckhanon
A woman's desperate search for her missing twin is complicated by their mother's recent death, police indifference, her relationship with her twin's boyfriend and a growing obsession that tests the limits of her sanity. By the award-winning author of Solemn.
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Sankofa : a novel
by Chibundu Onuzo
When Anna, wondering who she really is, discovers that the African father she never knew is still alive, she embarks on a journey to a small nation in West Africa where she searches for her familys hidden roots.
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Bluebird, bluebird : a novel
by Attica Locke
Forced by duty to return to his racially divided East Texas hometown, an African-American Texas Ranger risks his job and reputation to investigate a highly charged double murder case involving a black Chicago lawyer and a local white woman. By the award-winning author of Pleasantville.
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The city we became
by N. K. Jemisin
This first book of an exciting new series by a Hugo Award-winning author takes readers into the dark underbelly of New York City, where a roiling, ancient evil stirs in the halls of power, threatening to destroy the city and her six newborn avatars. .
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Black leopard, red wolf
by Marlon James
Hired to find a mysterious boy who disappeared three years before, Tracker joins a search party that is quickly targeted by deadly creatures, in the first novel of a trilogy from the author of A Brief History of Seven Killings.
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Transcendent kingdom
by Yaa Gyasi
A follow-up to the best-selling Homegoing finds a sixth-year PhD candidate grappling with the childhood faith of the evangelical church in which she was raised while researching the science behind the suffering that has devastated her Ghanaian immigrant family.
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The death of Vivek Oji
by Akwaeke Emezi
In the wake of a southeastern Nigerian mother's discovery of her son's body on her doorstep, a family struggles to understand the enigmatic nature of a youth shaped by disorienting blackouts, diverse friendships and a cousin's worldly influence.
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The office of historical corrections : a novella and stories
by Danielle Evans
The award-winning author of Before You Suffocate Your Own Fool Self examines race, grief and apology in a history-inspired anthology that complements the title novella with the stories, Boys Go to Jupiter and Richard of York Gave Battle in Vain.
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Memorial
by Bryan Washington
A Japanese-American chef and a Black daycare teacher begin reevaluating their stale relationship in the wake of a fathers death and the arrival of an acerbic mother-in-law who becomes an unconventional roommate. By the award-winning author of Lot.
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No heaven for good boys : a novel
by Keisha Bush
Forced by an unscrupulous teacher to join a pack of child beggars, a Senegalese boy works beside his cousin to survive Dakars black-market organ traders, rival thieves and student protests. A first novel.
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Black buck
by Mateo Askaripour
An unambitious college graduate accepts a job at Sumwun, the hottest NYC startup, and reimagines himself as Buck a ruthless salesman and begins to hatch a plan to help young people of color infiltrate Americas sales force.
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The interruption of everything
by Terry McMillan
Setting aside her dreams in her responsibilities as the wife of the workaholic Leon, mother of three grown children, and caretaker for her live-in mother-in-law, Marilyn Grimes struggles with being overworked and unsatisfied before realizing how to meet her own needs. By the author of Waiting to Exhale. 750,000 first printing. First serial, Essence.
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Yonder : a novel
by Jabari Asim
Meeting at Placid Hall, a plantation in an unspecified part of the American South, Cato and Willian, subjected to the whims of their tyrannical and eccentric captor, find their friendship fraying when a visiting pastor fills their heads with ideas about independence and love.
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The old drift : a novel
by Namwali Serpell
Three generations of a cursed family traverse from India and Italy to England and ultimately a fantastical Zambia of the near future, where an interstitial Greek chorus of mosquitoes traces their vibrant human experiences as children, parents and grandparents.
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While we were dating
by Jasmine Guillory
Featuring Ben Stephens, Theo’s brother from The Wedding Party, this charming and hilarious newRomance finds Ben and a famous actress struggling to keep their working relationship strictly professional. Original.
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The wedding party
by Jasmine Guillory
The rival best friends of bride-to-be Alexa share wedding responsibilities that transform their hostility into attraction, prompting a "friends with benefits" arrangement over an agreement not to fall in love. Original.
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Get a life, Chloe Brown : a novel
by Talia Hibbert
Emerging from a life-threatening illness, a fiercely organized but unfulfilled computer geek recruits a mysterious artist to help her establish meaning in her life, before finding herself engaged in reckless but thrilling activities..
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The way you hold me
by Elle Wright
A PR rep for the Pure Talent agency, Skye Palmer is forced to team up with her ex-lover, attorney Garrett Steele, for damage control when an A-list Hollywood actress’ dream marriage proves anything but. Original.
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Scandalous secrets
by Synithia Williams
To save his reputation and win the Senate seat, Byron Robidoux, who had agreed to be named on the birth certificate of Zoe Hammonds daughter to protect her from an abusive partner, must prove that he isnt a deadbeat dad.
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Open your heart
by Cheris F. Hodges
After witnessing a brutal crime, fashion boutique owner Yolanda Richardson retreats to her family's B&B, where she, until she can testify against the perpetrator, finds safety in the arms of hired bodyguard Charles Morris, complicating an already dangerous situation
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How to catch a queen
by Alyssa Cole
After marrying the newly crowned King Sanyu of Njaza, Shanti Mohapi soon discovers that royal life is not what she expected and goes on the run when turmoil erupts in their kingdom and marriage.
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The prophets : a novel
by Robert Jones
Two enslaved young men on a Deep South plantation find refuge in each other while transforming a quiet shed into a haven for their fellow slaves, before an enslaved preacher declares their bond sinful. A first novel.
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On Juneteenth
by Annette Gordon-Reed
In this intricately woven tapestry of American history, dramatic family chronicle, and searing episodes of memoir, the descendant of enslaved people brought to Texas in the 1850s, recounts the origins of Juneteenth and explores the legacies of the holiday that remain with us.
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The rise : black cooks and the soul of American food
by Marcus Samuelsson
Celebrates the culinary contributions of black chefs and cooks to American cuisine including recipes such as chilled corn and tomato soup, saffron tapioca pudding, and steak frites with plantain chips and green vinaigrette
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Carla Hall's soul food : everyday and celebration
by Carla Hall
A co-host of the Emmy Award-winning lifestyle show The Chew offers 145 recipes for classic soul food, including Black-Eyed Pea Salad With Hot Sauce Vinaigrette, Cracked Shrimp With Comeback Sauce and Sweet Potato Pudding With Clementines..
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The 1619 Project : a new origin story
by Nikole Hannah-Jones
This ongoing initiative from The New York Times Magazine that began on the 400th anniversary of the beginning of American slavery reimagines if our national narrative actually started in late August of 1619, when a ship arrived in Jamestown bearing a cargo of 20-30 enslaved people from Africa.
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A promised land
by Barack Obama
A deeply personal account of history in the makingfrom the president who inspired us to believe in the power of democracy.
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Becoming
by Michelle Obama
An intimate and uplifting memoir by the former First Lady chronicles the experiences that have shaped her remarkable life, from her childhood on the South Side of Chicago through her setbacks and achievements in the White House. Simultaneous.
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Eloquent rage : a black feminist discovers her superpower
by Brittney C. Cooper
A leading young black feminist illuminates how organized anger, friendship and faith can be powerful sources of positive feminist change, explaining how targeted rage has shaped the careers of such African-American notables as Serena Williams, Beyonc ̌and Michelle Obama.
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How we fight for our lives : a memoir
by Saeed Jones
The co-host of BuzzFeed’s AM to DM, award-winning poet and author of Prelude to Bruise documents his coming-of-age as a young, gay, black man in an American South at a crossroads of sex, race and power.
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Letters from an astrophysicist
by Neil deGrasse Tyson
The astrophysicist and best-selling author offers a follow-up to Astrophysics for People in a Hurry. Illustrations
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Thick : and other essays
by Tressie McMillan Cottom
A collection of essays from the author of Lower Ed sheds light on the trait of being "thick," both in form and in substance, while dissecting society and culture from beauty to Obama to pumpkin-spice lattes. (social science)..
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Overground railroad : the Green Book and the roots of Black travel in America
by Candacy A Taylor
Examines the important historical role of the black travel guide to America published from 1936 to 1966, celebrating the courage of black-safe businesses that advanced race relations by including themselves in Green Book listings. (United States history). 35,000 first printing. Illustrations.
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Barracoon : the story of the last "black cargo"
by Zora Neale Hurston
Presents a never-before-published work from the author of the American classic Their Eyes Were Watching God that illuminates the horror and injustices of slavery as it tells the true story of one of the last known survivors of the Atlantic slave tradeabducted from Africa on the last Black Cargo ship to arrive in the United States.
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Heavy : an American memoir
by Kiese Laymon
An essayist and novelist explores what the weight of a lifetime of secrets, lies and deception does to a black body, a black family and a nation teetering on the brink of moral collapse.
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The Hemingses of Monticello : an American family
by Annette Gordon-Reed
Traces the history of the Hemings family from its origins in early eighteenth-century Virginia to its dispersal after Jefferson's death in 1826, in an account that describes their family ties to the third president against a backdrop of Revolutionary America and the French Revolution. .
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