A chill is forming in the air, making it the perfect time to fall into a collection of captivating books by Black authors. From thought-provoking memoirs and a hip-hop genius' graphic rhymes to mind-bending science fiction, EBONY's curated required reading list has something for everyone. Get ready to explore these must-have pages by actors Jada Pinkett Smith and Keegan-Michael Key, cultural commentator Roxane Gay, innovative crime/sci-fi novelist Walter Mosley and more, all out this October.
Worthy
Jada Pinkett Smith
From the drug-riddled streets of Baltimore to becoming an A-list superstar and one of Hollywood's top power couples with Will Smith, the actress and activist candidly unveils her life. From the depths of suicidal depression to the heights of self-acceptance and spiritual healing, this is a woman’s journey to finding herself again.
Price: $27
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Summer of Hamn: Hollowpointlessness Aiding Mass Nihilism
Chuck D
Legendary hip-hop artist Chuck D uses rhymes to show how the nation has been held hostage by gun violence and a growing sense of hopelessness. It's based on his bound journal written in the summer of 2022.
Price: $20
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OPINIONS: A Decade of Arguments, Criticism, and Minding Other People’s Business
Roxanne Gay
In this collection of Roxane Gay’s best nonfiction pieces, the cultural critic covers hotpoint topics: politics, feminism, the culture wars, civil rights and more, to reflect her outspoken thoughts of the past decade in America.
Price: $27
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FOOLISH: Tales of Assimilation, Determination, and Humiliation
Sarah Cooper
From lip-synching in church to lip-synching the president (and all the dad issues she collected along the way), Sarah Cooper reveals her crazy life path in this touching and funny memoir.
Price: $26
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The New Brownies' Book: A Love Letter to Black Families
Charly Palmer and Karida L. Brown
Esteemed scholar Karida L. Brown and award-winning artist Charly Palmer present essays, poems, photographs, paintings and short stories reflecting on the joy and depth of the Black experience from more than 50 contemporary Black writers.
Price: $40
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Remember Love: Words for Tender Times
Cleo Wade
The artist, poet, activist and author serves up a collection of prose and poetry to find light in lostness, love after heartbreak, serenity in the midst of change and strength in letting go. "In the midst of great change, grief, heartbreak, love, joy, politics, family and everything else life brings, we need a little extra comfort and support," Wade tells EBONY. "[This] is a reminder that you are not alone and you will be okay."
Price: $24
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The History of Sketch Comedy: A Journey Through the Art and Craft of Humor
Keegan-Michael Key and Elle Key
From their 2022 Webby Award-winning podcast, Key and Key delve deeper into the world of sketch comedy, illuminating all its facets, from the 16th century to today.
Price: $26
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Touched
Walter Mosley
One of the prolific sci-fi writers of our time returns with a new fight between good and evil. Protagonist Martin Just wakes up one morning with two new innate pieces of knowledge: Humanity is a virus destined to destroy all existence. And he is the Cure.
Price: $27
I Think You'll Be Happy: Moving Through Grief with Grit, Grace, and Gratitude
Nicole Avant
The former United States Ambassador to the Bahamas writes an intimate and emotional memoir, self-help and faith-based book that chronicles her life and its most tragic moment: the murder of her mother.
Price: $24
ICONIC HOME: Interiors, Advice, and Stories from 50 Amazing Black Designers
June Reese
Go behind-the-scenes and be inspired by 50 interior designers as they share their motivations, expertise and thoughts on what it means to be a designer of color in this gorgeous full-color coffee table book.
Price: $50
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African American Almanac: 400 Years of Black Excellence
Lean'tin Bracks Ph.D.
This historical overview offers 800 illuminating biographies of notable individuals in the realms of civil rights, politics, business, science, music, literature, media, music, science, invention, exploration, religion, art, sports, military and entertainment.
