it’s no secret that sexism and racism are hugely pervasive in the literary community. from being overlooked by publishers to eurocentric curriculums to biased literary criticism, the literary world has been a historically non-inclusive and discriminatory space. as a literary blog, twirling pages would like to acknowledge that and actively fight against these exclusions.
if you’re used to reading white male authors in school and haven’t been exposed to many BIPOC writers, here’s a list of five phenomenal books written by Black womxen!
The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
i thought this book was so relevant when i read it back in 2018 and unfortunately, in a post-floyd america, it’s only become even more relevant. i love that there are YA books that deal with serious topics and wish that everyone would read the hate u give — there’s so much nuance and complexity in its construction. starr was such a loveable protagonist and i can’t wait to read more from angie thomas!!
Beloved by Toni Morrison
toni morrison has never written anything i don’t love. this novel follows the emancipation proclamation and utilizes magic realism to create a highly nuanced view on what the abolition of slavery means. this is one of those 11/10 books that just absolutely changes your life and leaves you breathless. she’s a serious literary genius and i would highly recommend anything written by morrison!!!!
The New Jim Crow by Michelle Alexander
as an non-black poc who’s lived in canada for most of my life, i’ve had the privilege to be able to never really giving the prison industrial complex a second thought. this all changed when i read the new jim crow. i don’t read much non-fiction but this was such a page-turner because of the astute writing and profound arguments. if you want to educate yourself on how mass incarceration is a form of a racial caste system, i highly highly highly recommend this book!
Swing Time by Zadie Smith
i don’t want to say too much for fear of giving away the entire book, but this book had LAYERS. and on the most superficial layer, i absolutely loved the incorporation of music and tap dance. as a prose writer, there was so much to admire in this novel and swing time is just a beautiful read packed with social commentary.
Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston
maybe i’m biased because she’s a columbia grad (!!!!) but i love zora neale hurston (i know i keep using the word love in this article i’m sorry there’s just so much to love). this novel dissects gender roles, marriage, femininity, racial history . . . and so much more. if you’re looking for a classic feminist read from the harlem renaissance, this is it!
Great recommendations! I’m searching for some new books to read and this is a wonderful list to explore new authors! Thanks for sharing 🙂
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