Book Nook: Books for Black History Month from Mango Publishing

 This Month, support brilliant Black authors! Learn about the amazing, untold stories of Black Americans who have changed history. Garner priceless advice from the people who have been there. Learn life skills from experts in their fields. Everything on this selected list are empowering books that highlight black excellence and that we feel will fit book and gift guides for black history month.

Celebrate Black Americans this February and beyond.

Seven Sisters and a Brother: Friendship, Resistance, and Untold Truths Behind Black Student Activism in the 1960s by Marilyn Allman Maye, Harold S Buchanan, Jannette O. Domingo, Joyce Frisby Baynes, Marilyn Holifield, Myra E. Rose, Bridget Van Gronigen Warren, and Aundrea White Kelley

Seven Sisters and a Brother chronicles the historical eight-day sit-in at Swarthmore College that protested the decreased enrollment and hiring of African Americans at the school and demanded a Black Studies curriculum. This collective narrative provides a very necessary and overdue retelling of the revolution that took place at Swarthmore College in 1969, combatting past negative and inaccurate media coverage. The group of eight student protestors has only recently begun to receive credit for the school’s greater inclusiveness, as well as the positive influence their actions had on universities around the country. Written by the students themselves, this book includes the untold stories about the authors’ family backgrounds and their experiences as student activists. The authors share how friendships, out-of-the-box alliances, and a commitment to moral integrity strengthened them to push through and remain resilient in the face of adversity. View this book on Amazon and Bookshop!

 

Black Man on the Titanic: The Story of Joseph Laroche by Serge Bilé 

Joseph Laroche was an anomaly among the passengers of the Titanic. He was exceptionally well-educated in a time when few black men had access to an education―and when even fewer were able to travel on a luxurious ship in first or second class. Who was Joseph Laroche? Where was he going, and what was his story?

Black Man on the Titanic recounts the life of this man, his part in the history of Haiti, and how he, as a 24-year-old father of two (soon to be three) children, ended up on the last ship of that era of glamourous travel. Ivorian-French writer Serge Bilé is the author of this fresh perspective on the tragedy that still fascinates millions and has inspired dozens of history books. With thorough research in Haiti and France, Bilé unearths the story of the intriguing figure of Joseph Laroche. This is a story of multi-cultural black history and of the political and natural forces that converged on one man. View this book on Amazon and Bookshop!

 

Badass Black Girl: Questions, Quotes, and Affirmations for Teens by M.J. Fievre 

Finding the courage to live as you are is not easy, but Badass Black Girl is here to help. Here’s a journal designed to help readers nurture their creativity, self-motivation, and positive self-awareness. This journal celebrates girl power and honors the strength and spirit of black girls. Explore the many facets of your identity through hundreds of big and small questions. Author MJ Fievre tackles topics such as family and friends, school and careers, body image, and stereotypes in this journal designed for teenage girls. By reflecting on these topics, readers confront the issues that can hold them back from living their lives. View this book on Amazon and Bookshop!

 

The Book of Awesome Black Americans: Scientific Pioneers, Trailblazing Entrepreneurs, Barrier-Breaking Activists and Afro-Futurists by Monique L. Jones

We’re all familiar with a handful of African Americans who are mentioned in American history books, but there are countless others who do not get recognized in mainstream media. Their actions may not have appeared to shake the world, but their contributions to shifting American culture were groundbreaking. The achievements of the Black Americans included in The Book of Awesome Black Americans range from athletic to artistic, literary to scientific. Their biographies vary greatly, but each one contributes to the course of Black history and its influence on the greater world. Their stories encourage readers, especially teenage boys and girls, to find their own path to change. Monique L. Jones’s The Book of Awesome Black Americans is more than a Black history book. It’s a celebration of Black people. View this book on Amazon and Bookshop

Notoriously Dapper by Kelvin Davis

Kelvin Davis, founder of body-positive menswear blog Notoriously Dapper, has brought us a book of the same name full of expertise and experience for young men everywhere. From wedding etiquette to all-around decency and dignity, this book is a treasury of information. Davis covers all the bases, including dating how-tos (hint, pulling up and waiting for them in your car is wrong), social skills, and etiquette for all occasions. He even counsels on improving your character. Whether you are at a weekend wedding with your friends, courting a new lady, being a great colleague at work, or becoming a dad, Notoriously Dapper provides practical information and inspiration for the modern gentleman seeking to build body positivity and essential life skills. View this book on Amazon and Bookshop!

Happy, Okay?: Poems about Anxiety, Depression, Hope, and Survival by M.J. Fievre 

Paloma is faking it. On the outside, she’s A-Okay. She’s electrified at work, there is a cadence in her step as she walks her dog, she posts memes on Facebook, and she keeps up with most relationships. Looks can be deceiving, however. Inside, Paloma is just going through the motions, and she feels like things are spiraling out of control. But when things are at their darkest, dawn arrives with clarity and focus, and with it, healing. Paloma learns to value small glimmering moments of joy rather than searching for constant happiness, thus building hope for her future.

Happy, Okay? is not simply a narrative spun in verse by a masterful poet. It is an invitation to readers to shake off the stigma and silence of mental illness and find strength in the only voice that matters: your own. View this book on Amazon and Bookshop!

Oh Sis, You're Pregant? The Ultimate Guide to black pregnancy & motherhood by Shanicia Boswell

Written with lighthearted humor and cultural context, Oh Sis, You’re Pregnant! discusses the stages of pregnancy, labor, delivery, and motherhood as they pertain to pregnant Black women today.

Tailored to today’s pregnant Black woman. In the age of social media, how do pregnant women communicate their big announcement? What are the best protective hairstyles for labor? Most importantly, how many pregnancy guides focus on issues like Black maternal birth rates and what it really looks like to be Black, pregnant, and single today? Written for the modern pregnant Black woman, Oh Sis, You’re Pregnant! is the essential companion to understanding pregnancy from a millennial Black mom’s point of view. View this book on Amazon and Bookshop!

Raising Confident Black Kids: A comprehensive guide for empowering parents and teachers of black children by M.J. Fievre

Raising Confident and Empowered Black Kids includes everything Black and multi-racial families need to know to raise empowered, confident children. From the realities of living while Black to age-appropriate ways to discuss racism with your children, educator M.J. Fievre provides a much-needed resource for parents of Black kids everywhere.

It’s hard to balance protecting your child’s innocence with preparing them for the realities of Black life. When―and how―do you approach racism with your children? How do you protect their physical and mental health while also preparing them for a country full of systemic racism? On the heels of Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria and “Multiplication Is for White People”comes a parenting book specifically for parents of Black kids.

View this book on Amazon and Bookshop!

Empowered Black Girl: Joyful Affirmations & Words of Resilience by M.J Fievre

Even strong, fearless, and badass Black girls and Black women need affirmations. Now more than ever, we need to practice the art of self-care and give our minds and bodies the TLC they deserve. Author of Badass Black Girl and Happy, Okay? M.J Fievre brings you inspirational words of wisdom through fabulous Black female trailblazers who have changed the world, including Audre Lorde, Lupita Nyong'o and Angela Davis.

Take a deep breath. We don’t always have to be strong. Sometimes, taking a break to focus on our mental health is bravery in itself. We find ourselves needing reminders that we are incredible and more than enough. View this book on Amazon and Bookshop!

The Boyfriend Book by Michael Reid

300 women sat down with Mike, and after three hours, 299 of them agreed that they never wanted a boyfriend again. The Boyfriend Book tells you why.

Before you open this book, ask yourself: Where am I now? What are my struggles? What sort of pain do I carry? What parts of myself have I lost? Then, figure out where you want to be. This book will get you there. The possibilities for rebirth and reinvention are endless—but it's ultimately up to you to make it all happen. This book will help you find a way to go forward—to concentrate on yourself. Read it slow. Plant the seed. Let it grow.

The Boyfriend Book is a gripping collection of short stories, thoughts and poems from inspirational media influencer Just Mike The Poet. View this book on Amazon and Bookshop! 

Dear Woman by Michael E. Reid

You must wear your crown at all times. If you were waiting on someone to give it to you, Dear Woman is here to inform you that you can give it to yourself. Every woman is a queen, especially you. Put your crown on and get ready to rule. Dear Woman has everything—quotes, letters, short stories, and poems to educate, motivate, encourage, and provide a little tough love. This open letter is just as multi-faceted and inspirational as you are. Michael E. Reid wrote this book because he wants nothing more than for you to be the best woman possible, regardless of circumstance. This is more than a self-help book, more than just relationship advice for women—though it does include both of those things. No, this inspirational open letter, full of poetry and wisdom, is life advice just for you. You are an amazing woman. Deep down, you know that. Dear Woman isn’t here to tell you that you need to improve. Rather, it’s here to tell you that you can be your true self—for yourself. This is the life advice you need, because you deserve to thrive for no other reason than the fact that you are a woman. View this book on Amazon and Bookshop!

Your Next Level Life: 7 Rules of Power, Confidence, and Opportunity for Black Women in America by Karen Arrington

If you’re feeling stuck or trapped by other people’s expectations of what you can achieve, it’s time to stop playing small and start redefining what success can mean for you. It’s time to get that upgrade. Karen Arrington―founder of the Miss Black USA Pageant, creator of the Next Level Women’s Summit, and mentor to thousands of confident, successful young black women―is your guide to getting your next level life. With the seven simple rules, you’ll learn how to bring your career, income, and lifestyle to that next level. Don’t settle for a life of invisibility and mediocrity. Set ambitious goals, reach for bigger opportunities, and know that you are brave enough to get what you deserve. Your Next Level Life is a guide to opportunity that recognizes and celebrates the true magic of ambitious black women. View this book on Amazon and Bookshop!

 

 Your Work From Home Life: Redefine, Reorganize and Reinvent Your Remote Work by M.J. Fievre & Becca Anderson

Whatever your remote work circumstance, learn how to be productive at home with nuggets of hard-earned wisdom. From choosing the best colors for workspace productivity to starting a business, these remote work gurus offer everything needed for a smooth work-to-home transition.

The new world of working from home. No longer does the average worker have long, frustrating commutes to crowded offices for jobs more comfortably worked from home. In this day and age, not only are more employers offering remote work, more people are creating their own opportunities for non-traditional work from home. Whether you are a remote work employee, freelancer, or someone who dreams of giving up the daily grind for a career of your own design,  Your Work from Home Life  is the next step to becoming the ultimate work nomad. View this book on Amazon and Bookshop!