With the beginning of the holiday season, many are getting in the festive mood.
In honor of the winter holiday, here are five books by Black authors to read.
Seven Spools of Thread by Angela Shelf Medearis
Published in 2000 and illustrated by artist and educator Daniel Minter, “Seven Spools of Thread” discusses the seven principles of Kwanzaa- umoja, kujichagulia, ujima, ujamaa, nia, kuumba and imani. The narrative traces the story of seven bickering Ashanti brothers who are instructed by their father to make gold from different-colored silks. They learn how to work together, spreading their help across the town. “Seven Spools” also covers the origin story of the Kente cloth.
Under the Christmas Tree by Nikki Grimes
In a series of twenty-three poems, Grimes presents a holiday season from the perspective of a singular family’s Christmas celebration. The poems are all crafted to show the different facets of Christmastime. Grimes has previously won a Coretta Scott King Award, an annual award given by the American Library Association to recognize Black children’s books authors and illustrators.
Amazing Peace: A Christmas Poem by Maya Angelou
Published in 2005, the “Amazing Peace: A Christmas Poem” was written by Dr. Angelou for a White House tree-lighting ceremony. Presented as a free verse short form poem, the poem advocates for daily peace and encourages readers to embrace the idea of hope, peace and unity across differences. “Amazing Peace” combines the words of Angelou with illustrations by Steve Johnson and Lou Fancher to celebrate the Christmas season.
A Treasury of African-American Christmas Stories
Published in 1997 by editor Bettye Collier-Thor, the collection features writings by acclaimed writers such as Langston Hughes, John Henrik Clarke and Pauline Hopkins as well as other rediscovered authors. Each of the works published in this treasury were originally published in Black-owned newspapers, journals and periodicals. The poems all reflect on the holiday season for Black Americans, exploring topics such as racism, violence, poverty and identity alongside love, faith and family.
The Complete Kwanzaa: Celebrating Our Cultural Harvest by Dorothy Winbush Riley
Released in 1996, the “Complete Kwanzaa” provides a comprehensive guide to the history and celebrations of Kwanzaa. The book covers both the foundations of the holiday as well as provides instructions on how to celebrate Kwanzaa. The “Complete Kwanzaa” includes information about ceremonies, foods, gifting traditions, clothing and the Karamu feast. Celebrated typically on December 31, the Karamu Feast has family members come together on the sixth day of Kwanzaa over a variety of home-cooked meals. The book is also supplemented with proverbs and stories about Black figures who best represent what the holiday is about.
