Celebrating Black History Month and Black Books

Although it was not yet February - Black History Month - I spent January 20 immersing myself in the vibes of Dr. Martin Luther King's birthday. Two of this Spirit Warrior's quotes have always been my favorites: "One has a moral responsibility to disobey unjust laws" and "Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that." Combined, they match my own stance as a Spirit Warrior - I lead with love, but that is not always a tame weapon; when necessary, I can be fierce in the name of what is right.

It is hard for most of us to argue that Black Americans are among the most abused and disenfranchised groups in our nation's history. Even before my college days, where I majored in Women's Studies, I have been drawn to Black literature, especially that of Black female authors. Recently, in a conversation with a friend, I had the opportunity to finally find the right words to express why I have always felt a deep connection to Black women. I understand that, as a White woman, I damn well better be able to express my why, to ensure that, especially as a lesbian, it does not come across as fetishization. So, it was a breath of fresh air to be able to find the words - I am drawn to the stories of Black women because I am drawn to the stories of strong women, and Goddess knows that Black women have always had to be strong.

I'd like to share a couple of my favorite books by Black women, and a few that are on my to-be-read list.

The Color Purple, by Alice Walker is a painful but beautiful story of Celie, a Black woman growing up in the South in the early 1900's. She is treated like an object more than a human being, which was not a rarity. On top of that, the only thing that ever brought her comfort, her sister, is taken from her. We see her mover from a place of defeat and despair to empowerment when a new friend, Shug, helps her discover her sexuality, her spirituality, and her voice.

Beloved, by Toni Morrison, is set in the late 1870's in Ohio. It's the story of ex-slave, Sethe who lives with her adult daughter, Denver. Although she escaped slavery, the legacy and the damage still haunt her, quite literally. The lost her three eldest children, her baby daughter, Beloved is dead, and her two sons ran away when the ghost of that baby haunts their home in Ohio. When someone from Sethe's past resurfaces, she is forced to recall old memories and emotions, most profoundly, the painful choices that we are faced with when in desperate circumstances. This story portrays the very ugly reality of how our past can be so present and the length that mothers will go to to save their children from what they believe to be the worst possible fate. The metaphysical elements of this story depict how reality is a gray area, time is an imaginary concept, and the spirit can be a greater force than the limited definition of science.

Now, here are a few I plan to pick up. Some dear friends, my wife and I plan to buddy - read The Parable of the Sower, by Octavia Butler. I am crazy about apocalyptic and dystopian stories, but this one feels especially fitting at the moment, and it will be great to read my first dystopian novel by a Black woman.

Synopsis

When global climate change and economic crises lead to social chaos in the early 2020s, California becomes full of dangers, from pervasive water shortage to masses of vagabonds who will do anything to live to see another day. Fifteen-year-old Lauren Olamina lives inside a gated community with her preacher father, family, and neighbors, sheltered from the surrounding anarchy. In a society where any vulnerability is a risk, she suffers from hyperempathy, a debilitating sensitivity to others' emotions.

Precocious and clear-eyed, Lauren must make her voice heard in order to protect her loved ones from the imminent disasters her small community stubbornly ignores. But what begins as a fight for survival soon leads to something much more: the birth of a new faith . . . and a startling vision of human destiny.

Wanting more sapphic fiction in my life as well as more fiction by and about Black women, I did my research and found a fantasy series I am really excited about - The Joan of Crow series, by Virginia Black. I initially discovered Incendiant, book two of the series, on the Lezbrary's https://lesbrary.com/black-sapphic-books-2025/. After reading the synopsis of the sapphic war Witch, I knew I would have to start from the beginning with book one, Consecrated.

Synopsis (Consecrated)

Like her father before her, Joan Matthews is a witch. For generations, their family of binder witches has protected Calvert, Oregon from vampires by strengthening the land with spellcraft. Pushing back against tradition, Joan defied her father and left town to become a war witch, one who fights the monsters hand-to-hand. But when her father dies, Joan returns to find her hometown assailed by a vampire lord’s endless attacks—and the answers lie with the one woman who chose a rival over Joan.

Leigh Phan once believed her heart was safe and her future was set. When Joan left town, Leigh’s choices led to ruin and unintended consequences. Now Leigh harbors a dark secret forcing her to live a moment-to-moment existence. Her only hope of survival lies in trusting the war witch who left her behind.

Now it's up to Joan to fight for a town she left behind, while Leigh faces a destiny she never imagined was possible. With Calvert on the brink of total destruction, Joan and Leigh join forces and face inconvenient truths in order to save their town—and each other.

MAKE SURE TO CHECK OUT MY NEXT BLOG POST -

My Character Development Experience: A White Woman Creating A Black Character

~ Peace and Love, Tracey

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