Celebrating his 83rd birthday March 22, Houston A. Baker, Jr. is a scholar s an American scholar specializing in African-American literature and Distinguished University Professor of English at Vanderbilt University. Here are a few of his books:
365 Black Books: Erasure Wednesday
Earlier this month, our book club met to discuss the book Erasure by Percival Everett. Erasure was adapted to a movie titled “American Fiction.” I did not see the movie, although it did receive good reviews. Erasure is an excellent book and in my humble opinion, I think Percival Everett is brilliant. The complexity of characters, the theme of black identity, and what does not black enough mean, the publishing industry marketing of African American novels, family, love relationships, the novel within the novel just made this book part satire and very thought provoking. A must read!
NPR reviewed this book. Read the review here:
365 Black Books Alice Walker Monday
Today, February 9, Alice Walker celebrates her 82nd birthday! Known for The Color Purple, Alice Walker has written essays, novels, and poetry. A few are show below. To read more about her, click here.
365 Black Books Gloria Naylor Friday
Born January 25, Gloria Naylor was an award winning novelist. She was named the winner of the National Book Award, first novel, Women of Brewster Place. She passed away in 2016. Read more about this award-winning author here:
A few of her well-known novels:
The Women of Brewster Place
Mama Day
Linden Hills
Bailey’s Cafe
365 Black Books: Mary Helen Washington Tuesday
Born January 21, Mary Helen Washington is an African American literary scholar who is the author of numerous books on the African-American female experience.
Her most notable books are can be found here:
365 Black Books: John Oliver Killens Friday
Born January 14, John Oliver Killens wrote several novels, two of which were nominated for the Pulitzer Prize for fiction: And Then We Heard the Thunder and The Cotillion, or One Good Bull is Half the Herd. More information about John Oliver Killens can be found here
365 Black Books Ernest J. Gaines Thursday
Born January 15, 1933, Ernest J. Gaines is an African American author of eight novels and several short stories. Three novels became movies: A Lesson Before Dying, The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman, and A Gathering of Old Men. One short story, The Sky is Gray, was adapted for a movie. More information about his books can be found here
There is also an award given to a rising African American author: The Ernest J. Gaines Award for Literary Excellence
365 Black Books Spooky Friday
These two books are some classic reads.
Book 1: Dark Matter: A Century of Speculative Fiction From the African Diaspora edited by Sheree R. Thomas
Book 2: Spooks, Spies, and Private Eyes Black Mystery, Crime, and Suspense Fiction of the 20th Century edited by Paula L. Woods. Great selection of stories and novellas.
365 Black Books Sundays
Sundays are for family, food, fun, and, of course church. These three books explore the traditions, food, fun, and church on Sundays.
Book 1: Soul Food Sunday by Winsome Bingham
Book 2: Sunday Dinner by Angela Shanté
Book 3: Second Sunday by Michele Andrea Bowen. I have read two of her books, Church Folks and Second Sunday. Both are humorous, delightful, and honest!
365 Black Books Funny Friday
Today’s book is about everyday Black folks told with humor and truth. It is Langston Hughes’s stories about Jesse B. Semple–first composed for a weekly column in the Chicago Defender and then collected in Simple Speaks His Mind, Simple Takes a Wife, and Simple Stakes a Claim–have been read and loved by hundreds of thousands of readers.
The CamaraIfe Maktaba 