Every February, we celebrate Black History Month to honor African American achievements that have played an essential part in creating the American culture we see today. We’ve celebrated Black History Month for more than a century. The first recorded celebration was in 1915, 50 years after the Thirteenth Amendment abolished slavery. 

One of the best ways to learn more about the importance of Black culture is through reading. Books written by Black people, for Black people, and about the Black experience bring new light and perspective. Now more than ever, we’re seeing more and more emphasis on celebrating and honoring individual Black contributions and the contributions of Black culture in recent years. 

Author Heather McGhee says it succinctly, “Stories matter. We are stronger together.” The past century has witnessed incredible achievements and advancements from people of color, and in 2022 and beyond, we have a wealth of stories to read that celebrate that. 

At American Book Company, we offer titles that show both sides: the struggles and challenges Black people face and have faced historically and how that has borne resiliency and strength for themselves and their families. 

Sensuous Knowledge: A Black Feminist Approach for Everyone by Minna Salami inspires reflection and challenges us to think in a new light – whether we identify as Black or not. Salami asks questions about how we see ourselves, history, and the world. Her thought-provoking essays offer new insights into what it means to be a Black woman in today’s world. This book is powerful for all who read it, not just Black women.

Pulitzer Prize-winner Gregory Pardlo wrote Air Traffic: A Memoir of Ambition and Manhood in America. His father was a strong and intelligent man that lost his job during the air traffic controllers’ strike in 1981. After that, he fell into addiction and lost his family’s money in the blink of an eye. Gregory knew he didn’t want to end up that way, so he joined the Marines and built his future. Pardlo talks about how his past affected his choices, how race played a role in his decisions, and how manhood should be viewed. 

These books are just a tiny glimpse into the fantastic work written by and for Black people in America today. These non-fiction pieces tell stories of what it’s like and provide a positive light to readers. They talk about how to overcome struggles and how to turn a disadvantage into an advantage. These books are both influential and powerful, inspiring generations to come.

Let us know if you’re interested in offering these books to your customers and many others like them. We suggest adding a Black History Month display to your store in February. But, we also challenge you to take it a step further and offer Black History titles year-round. The world is becoming more diverse and more informed, and better for it. We’re glad we can do our part to share in the history, and we know that you will be too. If you have questions about specific titles or would like to look at the Black History novels, biographies, and stories we offer, head to our website. We can make the world a more unified and beautiful place when we all do our part.