I Read Black Books All Year

Black History Month is officially over, but I read Black books all year!

I celebrate Black writers and the monumental impact they have had in my life. Because of Black writers I have been able to see the greatness within myself, cultivate creativity within my spirit and quite literally heal my soul.

Below is a list of books by Black authors that I read at times I was desperately seeking healing. While turning the pages I not only found healing, I discovered my strength and resilience. I also gained the tools that aided me in becoming a better writer.

For more books by Black authors both past and present, fiction and non-fiction, follow my #bookstagram account @amirasbookclub

The legacy of Black writers is a legacy I hope to carry. As I continue to read their words I hope to one day be able to write a work of art that inspires in the same way.

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Respect the Black Woman

*The most disrespected person in America is the Black woman. -Malcom X The anger I feel when I am disrespected seeps past this life time into another from generations ago. The sadness I feel is the sadness of not just my own. The pain I feel is the collective pain of us all. There hasn't been a time in this country's history when the disrespect of the Black women hasn't been justified by the stereotypical characteristics attributed to us. We are defined and named as attitude, criminal, promiscuous, and most frequently, angry. For years, nothing could be done. We could only endure as we were enslaved, raped, beaten, killed and insulted. In this time as we continue to fight for equality, it is hard to not be discouraged the moment we fall victim to disrespect and nothing is done. Society sits quietly while recognizing an injustice. We look around for the appropriate consequences to take effect or even just someone

Birthday Girl Ashantigyal

My poor roommate! I some how manipulated her into taking pictures of me last night so I could have a bomb birthday Instagram post. 124 photos later, I realized that I hated all of them. I know it sounds ridiculous but I began experiencing extreme anxiety about not having a photo to post this morning. After thinking long and hard for a solution, I remembered that I have a photo of myself as a child that I absolutely love. In the photo you can see baby Ashantigyal sitting on a bench surrounded by plants with her eyes closed soaking in life. When I look back at that photo I see more than just a younger me. I see a child who was radiant, confident and hopeful. I see a little girl who had a clear path to her dreams. As we grow older, we experience growing pains in many forms. For me, my growing pains came in the form of depression and self-doubt. If we are not careful, we can allow our growing pains to debilitate us. This day in my 28th year of life, I am grateful that I can also

Grandma's Bungalow

Grandma’s Bungalow An excerpt from my working memoir, “Memoirs of a Lost Ashanti Soul” My sanctuary is located in Kumasi at Mbrom. Grandma’s bungalow is refuge for my soul. The African bungalow where the family matriarch resides is a place many feel at home. There is not a place I have lived where I have felt at home other than grandma’s bungalow. There are few places we can go in this world where we feel a strong connection to our souls. For me, the overwhelming connection to my soul and this bungalow is a result of my first experiences with the things that bring our souls back to us. Here inside my home, I feel love. I learn about Ashanti traditions and customs. I hear stories of our ancestors. Mounted on the walls are photos of family and close friends of the family, both past and present. Descending from the ceilings are well wishes and greetings from prior visitors. The halls have a funny way of evoking

ASHANTIGYAL

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