Reading is a powerful way to honor those who've gone before us and to recognize those who are changing the world now. During Black History Month, and all year long, we celebrate the resilience, diversity, creativity, and strength of the Black community and their ability to shape and transform the world for the better. Explore the nonfiction books below that dig into the past, present, and future of Black history, culture, spirituality, and more.
The hand of ancestors in our affairs is undeniable. They exist all around us, motivating individuals and cultures. And yet, the United States is a nation that does not often use the word ancestor. But ancestors are as active here as they are in cultures that center ancestral presence—maybe more so. In Ancestors, William H. Lamar IV examines family ancestors, political leaders, and voices of Scripture, and draws from African and African American historical ancestors to show how they shape our identities and moral compasses.
I Love My People is a poetic tribute to African American history-makers and culture-shakers, complete with nostalgic photography and vibrant, playful illustration. In the vein of Gill Scott-Heron's poetry of the 1970s, author Kim Singleton invites us into call-and-response and brings a refreshing cadence to the page that captures every decade of Black joy in all its resilient, diverse, and excellent splendor. By the end, you'll be chanting Singleton's anthem, too: "I LOVE MY PEOPLE!"
An energizing tour of Black culture, history, and community, I Love My People is a joyous celebration in rhythmic poetry. Follow two children as they excitedly experience their neighborhood, family gatherings, Juneteenth and Kwanzaa celebrations, church community, and activities that parallel the accomplishments of influential contemporary and historical Black icons. Kim Holt's warm, vibrant illustrations bring each scene to life, infusing each declaration of awe and respect for the Black community with joy and verve.
This book is published and sold by our sister imprint, Beaming Books.
Prince is beloved by millions worldwide, and a true legend of the pop genre. Yet most of his fans don't recognize the spiritual messages coded within his work, nor understand the connections between Prince's own religious devotion—which evolved over time—and the sexualized messages of his music. In Dearly Beloved, Pamela Ayo Yetunde decodes the spiritual and sexual messages behind Prince's work. For anyone who loves Prince, is inspired by him, is confused by his lyrics, or is curious about what his music means, Dearly Beloved is an essential spiritual guide.
In these short meditative and sermonic pieces, some of them composed in jail and all of them crafted during the tumultuous years of the civil rights struggle of the 1960s, Dr. King articulated and espoused in a deeply personal and compelling way his commitment to justice and to the intellectual, moral, and spiritual conversion that makes his work as much a blueprint for Christian discipleship today as it was then.
Known as the godfather of the civil rights movement, Howard Thurman served as a spiritual adviser to Martin Luther King Jr. and other leaders and activists in the 1960s. In What Makes You Come Alive, Dr. Lerita Coleman Brown beckons readers into their own apprenticeship with Thurman. Brown walks with us through Thurman's inimitable life and commitments as he summons us into centering down, encountering the natural world, paying attention to sacred synchronicity, unleashing inner authority, and recognizing the genius of the religion of Jesus.
A grandmother's theology carries wisdom strong enough for future generations. In the pages of In My Grandmother's House, now in paperback, public theologian Yolanda Pierce builds an everyday womanist theology rooted in liberating scriptures, stories from the Black church, and truths from Black women's lives. The Divine has been showing up at the kitchen tables of Black women for a long time. It's time to get to know that God.
Walking the Way of Harriet Tubman
Harriet Tubman, freedom fighter and leader in the Underground Railroad, is one of the most significant figures in US history. In Walking the Way of Harriet Tubman, Therese Taylor-Stinson introduces Harriet, a woman born into slavery whose unwavering faith and practices in spirituality and contemplation carried her through insufferable abuse and hardship to become a leader for her people. Harriet's lived spirituality illuminates a profound path forward for those of us longing for internal freedom, as well as justice and equity in our communities. As the luminous significance of Harriet Tubman's spiritual life is revealed, so too is the path to our own spiritual truth, advocacy, and racial justice as we follow in her footsteps.
Join thought leaders fighting to win the posthumous pardon of Marcus Garvey, one of the most influential figures in Black history. Marcus Garvey (1887–1940) was a Black political activist, journalist, entrepreneur, and orator who founded the Universal Negro Improvement Association and African Communities League, which had a following of more than six million African-descended people worldwide. Despite his massive popularity, this Jamaican-born international leader was wrongfully sentenced to prison by the US government on trumped-up mail-fraud charges.
Edited by Julius Garvey, Justice for Marcus Garvey is a collection of informative essays and personal narratives about the senior Garvey's life and work, demonstrating his essential influence on current social justice movements. The book features contributions from thought leaders and activists, including a foreword by bestselling author Ta-Nehisi Coates.
Jamie McGhee and Adam Hollowell
It is not enough to hold progressive views on racial justice, LGBTQ+ identity, and economic inequality. Through a rich examination of James Baldwin's writing and interviews, You Mean It or You Don't spurs today's progressives from conviction to action, from dreaming of justice to living it out in our communities, churches, and neighborhoods.
Publication date: December 2, 2025
Scholar Eddie Glaude Jr. argues that we often view the women and men who surrounded Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. too narrowly—primarily as followers of King's lead. Yes, they were deeply committed disciples of the movement. Yet, they were far more. The collected sermons of Cordy Tindell "C.T." Vivian remind us that Vivian stood among the impactful figures of the civil rights era as a deep thinker of Christian theology and activist-faith. Your Soul Is Required compiles Vivian's wisdom alongside commentaries written by contemporary scholars and preachers to explore the depth of Vivian's theology.
This book is published and sold by our sister imprint, Fortress Press.
To view books by Black authors for both adults and children, explore our Black Reads catalog.
To view all of our books and resources, visit broadleafbooks.com.
