The start of March officially marked the beginning of Women’s History Month.
Throughout the course of the month, the achievements of women in all fields are being celebrated nationwide.
To start the festivities, here are five classics by Black women to revisit.
- The Heart of a Woman: In 1981, literary giant Maya Angelou published “The Heart of a Woman,” the fourth book in a set of seven books about her life. The autobiography focuses specifically on her life from 1957 to 1962. It documents her life as she travels domestically and internationally to places like California, Cairo and Ghana. Exploring themes of race and motherhood, the book deals with her personal relationships with people like her teenage son, her rise to stardom as a writer and her increasing involvement in the civil rights movement.
- Sister Outsider: Published in 1984, “Sister Outsider” is a collection of writings by writer, feminist and civil rights activist Audre Lorde. Focusing on the topic of Black feminism, Lorde uses her own experiences dealing with racism, sexism, homophobia and ageism as a basis for her work. Described as “containing some of Lorde’s best writing,” “Sister Outsider” is a critique of the nation while also offering readers a message of hope.
- Women, Race & Class: Perhaps one of the most important works to come out of the 20th century, “Women, Race & Class,” is composed of 13 essays by author and activist, Angela Davis. Released in 1981, the book discusses the women’s liberation movement and explores how racism and socioeconomic classism is ingrained into it. While critiquing the movement, Davis discusses the history of the nation as well as the oppression and abuse of Black women.
- The Street: Written by Ann Petry, “The Street” is the first book by a Black woman to sell over a million copies. Published in 1946, the novel is about the life of a young single Black mother, Lutie Johnson, who raises her son Bub while simultaneously dreaming of a life outside of New York City. Set in Harlem in the 1940s, “The Street” is an analysis of the social injustices during the time period as it explores themes of sexism, racism and classism.
- The Collected Works of Phillis Wheatley: Published in 1989, “The Collected Works of Phillis Wheatley” is a volume of the work of poet Phillis Wheatley Known as the first Black American to publish a book, Wheatley gained fame for her poems of hymns, philosophies and elegies ever since she published her first poem at the age of 14. In this volume, not only are poems such as “On Friendship” and “Liberty and Peace” included, but also her letters.
