Lesley Brey
Reporter
This story is part one of an ongoing series by The Bengal Newspaper regarding Black History Month.
Even in the midst of a pandemic, college is one of the best settings to meet new people and expand your horizons. Being a student at Idaho State University gives you the amazing opportunity to interact with and learn from people that you may not have had the chance to otherwise. At times, it can be difficult to know where to start, but when we make an effort to understand things outside of our comfort zones, we grow as individuals.
One of the first steps in learning about what life is like for your black friends, classmates, co-workers and professors is to engage with black media. Although it may feel overwhelming at first, it doesn’t have to be a daunting process. There are hundreds of amazing books by black authors that discuss the reality of black life in America, both fictional and nonfictional. This February, take the time to read:
“I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings”
By Maya Angelou
This autobiography explores Angelou’s experience growing up in the small community of Stamps, Arkansas with her brother and grandmother. Angelou is famous for her poetry and playwriting, and her style is reflected here. Although touching on topics such as racism, sexual trauma, abuse and homelessness, this book is ultimately about Angelou’s struggle to find her identity amidst her surroundings, and her resounding victory in that campaign. Since its publication in 1960, the book has never gone out of print, and in 2011 it was named to the New York Times list of 100 Best and Most Influential Books written in English since 1923.
“Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption”
By Bryan Stevenson
This memoir touches on the racial disparities in death penalty sentencing, through the eyes of Stevenson, a lawyer and the founder of The Equal Justice Initiative. It largely focuses on the story of Stevenson’s efforts to overturn the wrongful conviction of Walter McMillian, a black man who had been falsely accused of murdering a white woman. Originally sentenced to life in prison by a jury with only one other black person, the presiding judge overturned the jury, and imposed the death sentence. Set against the backdrop of Monroeville, Alabama, the hometown of Harper Lee, author of “To Kill A Mockingbird,” “Just Mercy” highlights the importance of being critical of our own biases, especially when those biases have deadly consequences.
“Caste: The Origins of Our Discontent”
By Isabel Wilkerson
“Caste” is an in-depth look at the mechanisms maintaining and proliferating the racial divide in America. By examining different caste-based societies, Wilkerson identifies eight “pillars of caste” which work to uphold these deeply stratified systems. Published in 2020, this book was met with immediate acclaim for making a highly complex topic accessible to the average reader. Wilkerson highlights the downfalls of caste systems, and the generational consequences they burden on those in the lowest castes. Finally, “Caste” also explores ways to dismantle this status-quo, even in the face of intense opposition.
“Song of Solomon”
By Toni Morrison
This fictional story weaves together elements of generational trauma, misogynoir (racialized misogyny) and coming-of-age. It takes aim at apathy, and confronts the reader about our own willingness to be bystanders in our lives. The book follows Macon Dead III, otherwise known as Milkman, from birth to adulthood as he works to untangle the mystery that surrounds his family. Using elements of Christian and ISlamic religious folk stories, the narrative is decidedly multicultural. Furthermore, Toni Morrison is infamous for the engaging style and prose within her writing. Soon after its release in 1977, the book received the National Book Critics Circle Award for Fiction.
“The Hate U Give”
By Angie Thomas
Thomas’ debut novel became an instant classic when it was published in 2017. “The Hate U Give” details the fictional experience of Starr Carter as she grapples with the death of a childhood friend at the hands of a police officer during a traffic stop. Being the only witness, Starr is harassed by police to prevent her from testifying, while also facing criticism from her community for initially being hesitant to raise her voice about the injustice she experienced. Meanwhile, she is also gripped by the trauma of the event and the isolation she feels at her primarily white school. Ultimately, Starr is forced to choose a path when her two worlds collide, coming to terms with her identity and learning to stand tall for what she believes in.
“Long Way Down”
By Jason Reynolds
In this deeply reflective story, the fictional William Holloman encounters eight ghosts as he rides the elevator down from his 8th story apartment while on a quest for vengeance against his brother’s killer. Each stranger turns out to be an important person in the sequence of events that lead to his brother’s death, consequently deepening the narrative with every new passenger. “The Long Way Down,” is a poetic piece that analyzes both the society as well as the individual. As the audience learns more about the circumstances leading up to the present moment, we are asked to confront our role in the cycle of teenage violence.
