I finished this book in just a couple of weeks. I appreciated how candid and open Kamala was in sharing what went on behind the scenes during her presidential campaign.

This one took me awhile to read. When I purchased this book it had been released for about a year and when I read that it was a compilation of Black horror stories by Black authors, edited by Jordan Peele, I was sold. When you read the forward, Peele describes what inspired the "Sunken Place" in his movie "Get Out" - a medieval torture practice called "oubliette." I found that interesting. Overall the stories were creative but quite a few didn't give me "horror", maybe a litt

This was a good read! I really enjoyed getting to know both Sydney and Theo's characters. Although this is a fiction novel, Alyssa does a good job of lifting up the harsh realities of gentrification and how it can rip apart a tight-knit community - Black communities and communities of color specifically. As Sydney was doing her research for a big project, she was discovering how redlining, "white flight", and other acts of racism changed her neighborhood in Brooklyn throughou

When you speak of the Black Liberation Movement of course Angela Davis should be included in the conversation. She is amongst a long list of Black revolutionaries that have selflessly focused on challenging systemic racism. There is a joke about having your "Black card" revoked if you haven't watched certain movies, eaten certain foods, understand certain phrases, and etc. I believe reading certain Black literature falls in line with this thinking and Angela Davis' Autobiogra

"Worthy" a memoir by Jada Pinkett Smith... I was drawn to Jada Pinkett's new memoir, 'Worthy,' for multiple reasons, with one being that she's always been one of my favorite actresses, especially during the 90s. She always struck me as someone who had a big, yet sweet personality and living a great life of doing what she loved to do with a partner in her corner doing the same. Among my favorite movies starring Jada are 'Set It Off,' 'Woo,' 'Jason's Lyric,' 'Menace II Society,

I purchased "Black Cake" while on a recent trip for work because I forgot to grab a book from home when I left. And so far it's hard to put this one down. I'm still very early in the chapters but I am hoping the strained relationship between the brother and sister mends itself as they collectively seek answers during the extremely difficult time they are facing. I already have hope for the both of them. I'm also very interested to see how the story reveals some hidden family

I decided to take a little break from my usual self-help and other heavy non-fiction books and picked up "The Two Lives of Sara" by Catherine Adel West. This fiction novel is based in the late 1960s and follows a young woman named Sara that decided to leave Chicago for Memphis. I'm only a few chapters in and her story is starting to unfold but it made me wonder why she decided to move to a southern state given that this takes place during the Black migration. Which leads me t

Yes, my pup Sasha got her paws on this one before me 🤦🏽‍♀️. Anyway this is another highly recommended book. 150 tips that support radical self-care for Black women written by a Black woman - from Letting Go of Imposter Syndrome to Wearing Your Natural Hair to Embracing Bad Days. I couldn’t put this down while in the store so I had to purchase. 🖤🤎 (Radical self-care is explained in the book)

Will’s story is pretty interesting. I enjoyed reading about a few things: the early part of his rap career and why he chose not to curse, how laughter + entertaining family kept the peace at home as a kid, how he prepared for his role as Muhammad Ali, method acting and why he will never do it again, his love/hate relationship with his late father, meeting Nelson Mandela (and his regret of not spending more time with him), his past relationships, and marriage. It was also inte

A few days into the new month - so here’s a new book for me. Two Black men in Baltimore share the same name but their lives go in two very different directions. One thing I loved about this book is that there is an extensive list of youth-focused organizations listed in the back.

I put my other books on pause for right now to get into Kendrick’s story real quick. Currently on the chapter around his trip to South Africa, shortly after he lost to Macklemore at the Grammys for best rap album 🥴🥴. The trip turned out to be a pivotal moment in his career and also helped him pull together TPAB. Really good read so far.

Still working on “Stony the Road” but decided to close out the year (or at least try) by adding this to my reading list as well. . Another one of America’s untold stories: From 1915-1970 around 6 million black people fled the south in search of a better life in northern and western cities - making it a major turning point in history. I believe this exodus definitely played a role in the start of the civil rights movement. The book follows the journey of three black people fle

Picked this up with an interest in learning more about the Reconstruction era - a period, from my understanding, that was supposed to guarantee basic rights to newly freed slaves in the South but failed. (FYI: the author’s name is Henry Louis Gates - my thumb is covering the “G”).

Only a few pages in so I don’t have much of a review. She opens with a chapter dedicated to women empowerment (embracing your own beauty + style, explaining the #metoo movement while sharing her own personal experiences, and black womanhood). Random but I didn’t know that her and Wale almost got into a fight at the Roots Picnic one year 😩. Anyway as a fan of, arguably, the most misunderstood and unapologetic woman out here, I’m interested in this read.

When the importation of slaves was outlawed in 1807, close to 2 million Africans were still brought into America illegally until 1860 - Cudjo Lewis was one. This book is the only known narrative of an enslaved African brought into America after 1808. He gives his account of being taken from Africa, sold into slavery and having to make a life in Mobile, Alabama after slavery was abolished - since he couldn’t afford to go back home. (FYI: “Barracoon” is Spanish for holding cell

Just finished my book for March and I love the transparency around his struggle with relationships (partners and family, especially his daughter), how he remembered a situation where he was abused as a child, forgiving his father, seeking therapy, and grounding himself in his faith. At times he writes very “creatively enlightened” (if that makes any sense - it’s the first phrase that came to my mind and seem to fit with his style). His first love and primary focus is definite

This is supposed to be October’s book but my last read was pretty short. Anxious to read this as this comes during a perfect time in my life. . As women and and I’m sure with men we all need to find a way to periodically “check-in” with ourselves and make sure we are living a life where we are creating our own definition of success and to stop seeking external validation despite our age, race, physical appearance, gender, views on life, current situation, etc.

New book for October. Trying to get better at reading and finishing at least one new book a month. So this month I’ll start with this gem (about 5 chapters in). Mamie’s story of her growing up and raising Emmitt shows a woman of great resilience and courage, even as a very young girl. Her story as a child is a great read. I love how her focus on family is mentioned throughout (reconnecting with her dad, keeping Emmitt close with family, helping her mom take in family migratin