Uplifting Books That Celebrate Black Joy

“You hand us the fatback of a pig and we use it to make savory greens,” writes author Tracey M. Lewis-Giggetts. “You hand us a fledgling radio station and we turn it into a media empire. … We are alchemists.” Beautiful and heartbreaking, you’ll reach for this comforting collection of essays on how Black joy is a tool of resilience when times feel tough.

This middle grade novel in verse is a loving look at sibling bonds, familial connection, first crushes, and basketball. Poet Kwame Alexander’s “The Crossover” won many of children’s literature’s most significant awards, including the Newbery Medal.

Babalola (“Honey & Spice”) offers a collection that reimagines classics from around the globe. These short stories were inspired by folklore from Africa, Asia, and beyond, and they give attention to Black love. Modern details bring out each character’s passion while exploring all versions of romance.

Practical, scientific-minded Grace lets loose in Vegas to celebrate earning her PhD in astronomy only to wake up the next morning married to a woman she just met. Frustrated by the discrimination she faces in her career field, she doubles-down on her impulsive marriage and moves across the country to take a chance on love with her new wife. “Honey Girl” revels in love and so much more: the power of friendship, the queer community, and self-discovery. USA Today named it one of its best books of 2021 so far, raving “Sprinkled with stardust, Rogers’ prose is poetic, earnest and existential, making for a coming-of-age story that reminds us we figure out who we are and what our place is in the world over and over.”

A perfectly executed rom-com starring a queer, Black teen running for prom queen. Wallflower Liz Lighty is determined to be crowned prom queen and win the $10,000 scholarship prize associated with the honor so she can afford to go to an elite college. The biggest problem? Liz is in love with one of her prom queen competitors.

“Let’s Talk About Love” stars an asexual and bi-romantic Black lead who, in her first year of college, is grappling with her sexual identity, the expectations of her parents and friends, and her growing feelings for Takumi. An ace story full of #BlackGirlMagic.

If you want to increase gratitude in your everyday life, take a page out Gay’s book, a collection of vivid and whimsical essays. Whether it’s savoring a cup of hot coffee or exchanging hellos with a stranger, the American poet is a pro at noticing and embracing the little joys in life. He acknowledges the pain and complexities that Black men in America face on a regular basis while celebrating the small delights that inspire him on a regular basis.

Over the course of her 96 years, entertainer, activist, and humanitarian Tyson co-created the Dance Theater of Harlem, launched an award-winning and iconic career on stage and screen that spanned more than seven decades, and won the Presidential Medal of Freedom. These are just a few of the stories of her incredible life that she shares in her inspiring memoir, narrated by Viola Davis, Robin Miles, and Tyson herself.

Fievre (educator, poet, and author of “Happy, Ok?” and “Badass Black Girl”) offers a vital tool for empowerment with “Resilient Black Girl.” Including advice, encouragement, and thoughtful activities, this book is designed to build confidence in Black girls who face a modern world that often tears them down.

“Slay in Your Lane” directly confronts the sexism and racism Black women in the UK often face in their careers, and it profiles those who went on to slay despite this adversity. It’ll keep you motivated to follow your dreams, both big and small.

“Pride and Prejudice,” the classic novel about social class and young love from Jane Austen, gets a modern makeover in this YA novel. Author Ibi Zoboi leaves the “prejudice” out of the title for a reason: Her story features plenty of characters of color full of pride about who they are and where they come from as they deal with the consequences of gentrification.

We all know to delete emails from supposed Nigerian princes asking for personal information. But in this sweet romance from Alyssa Cole, the emails about marriage from an African prince are real. When the emails go unanswered, he decides to take matters into his own hands, and get to know his betrothed without bringing up his lineage. It’s tons of fun to watch Naledi fall for Prince Thabiso.

The story of a young Nigerian couple who take two separate paths — one receives admission at an American university, while the other tries his luck overstaying a work visa in England — illustrates not just the general experience of being Black in a largely white society, but highly nuanced observations about the difference between an African American (someone whose ancestors are from Africa but has called America home since birth) and an American African (recent immigrants who essentially only become aware that they are “Black” upon arriving in the US). As much as the novel addresses critical societal concerns around racism, at its heart it remains the coming of age story of two young people who find it hard to find a place that feels like home. Their story is one everyone can identify with — and one everyone should read.

Hibbert (“Get a Life, Chloe Brown”) makes fake-dating one’s way to real love feel so good in her newest rom-com. Get ready to fall for Danika Brown, a career-driven woman who’s so over romance, when she agrees to fake-date her coworker Zafir after a video of him “rescuing” her from an office fire drill gone wrong goes viral.

Lewis’ (“The Mother of Black Hollywood”) title couldn’t be more apt, as this essay collection is brimming with laughs and inspiration. Follow along as the author, activist, and “Black-ish” actress recounts experiences both mundane and extraordinary, including waiting out the pandemic and meeting the Obamas. Regardless of the circumstances, Lewis is continually hopeful, encouraging readers to find and walk in their own joy.