Erica Ezeifedi, Associate Editor, is a transplant from Nashville, TN that has settled in the North East. In addition to being a writer, she has worked as a victim advocate and in public libraries, where she has focused on creating safe spaces for queer teens, mentorship, and providing test prep instruction free to students. Outside of work, much of her free time is spent looking for her next great read and planning her next snack.
Find her on Twitter at @Erica_Eze_.
While we love to celebrate diverse writers 24/7/365, it feels especially important to display support for and highlight them more these days. As Black history (which is American history) is being stripped from schools, and books by and about Black people (and others) are being taken off school library shelves, showing your love for your favorite Black authors is starting to feel a little radical. At least to me.
So yes, let’s celebrate Black History Month this February and beyond by reading Black authors and showing our love for them, even as others try to deny their stories. The bookish goodies below feature some of the most influential and groundbreaking Black American authors, starting with some fab YA authors.
Image courtesy of TheDireApparel on EtsyThis sweatshirt features the names of some of thee best Black YA writers publishing today. Seriously, I wish I had their books when I was still in the YA target age range, but I’ll settle for reading them now. $45+
Image courtesy of TheMeekApparel on EtsyBlack American literature—really, American literature in general—would not be what it is today without Toni Morrison. She’s my favorite author and my play Auntie. You can show your love for her impact with this Shirt. $20
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Image courtesy of WaterforRoses on EtsyWith this Suprise Date With A Black Book package, you can choose from a tea lovers or coffee lovers mix, your drinkware, the genre of book you’d like, and you can even link your Goodreads account to make sure you don’t get a repeat. $48+
Image courtesy of AfroFlair on EtsyI love original pictures, and these photos capture these influential Black authors at the height of their careers. Pick which one author you’d like on a pin for $4 each.
English (US) · 