hey tribe!

we hope your weekend is going great.

to make it a little more entertaining, our team has picked up some of the best books by black authors that you must add to your must-read shelf.

What the fireflies knew by Kai Harris

Kai Harris takes us through an entrenching tale of a little black girl whose world is destroyed when her father is killed by overdose. it not only devastates her but also leaves her family with a mountain of debt.

follow her through this unexpected journey; from going to a strange new city to trying to navigate a normal life with her sister and her mother.

don’t cry for me by Daniel black 

the book can only be described as a reflection of the turmoil that ensues between a father-son duo. as Jacob is dying, he writes a set of letters to his gay son with the hopes of trying to amend their tumultuous relationship before he takes his last breath. it is a tale of gut-wrenching honesty, guilt, expectations with masculinity, queerness and in the end forgiveness.

the emotions are the cornerstone of this story, and it will keep you in a gripping emotional state throughout that journey.

you truly assumed by Laila Sabreen

Laila Sabreen beautifully brings out the voices of three young impressionable black Muslim women, trying to deal with islamophobia and hate towards their community.

Sabriya, Zakat and Farah will make you feel fear, love, and courage to stand up and raise your voice to be heard.

how we fight for our lives by Saeed Jones

the only memoir in this list, this story reflects the personal journey of poet Saeed Jones and how he found his truth as he shares his experience growing up as a gay black man. it will take you to places and make you feel things that you might not have felt before.

it is a story soaked with vulnerability and exposed with honesty and courage. 

homegoing by Yaa Gyasi

homegoing is the kind of book that transports you through time and space as we follow two sisters and eight generations of descendants. it does not only show us slavery from the point of view of the ones who were taken but also who were left behind, evolving the complex story from the plantations of Mississippi to the New York jazz scene.

this one will keep you tapping your foot in anticipation.

here you go, folks! we hope you find these stories and experiences soul satisfying. tell us what kind of books you like to read during the weekend.

until next time, live aastey.