Now that the centennial anniversary of Black History Month has given way to Women’s History Month, an important question arises: where do we place the contributions of Black women? For many, the answer has not always been clear. The difficulty of answering this question points to an ongoing challenge in how we frame and discuss history.

Too often, Black women’s contributions risk being overlooked in both the broader narrative of Black history and in the story of women’s rights. In some cases, conversations have unintentionally suggested that Black women are either not central enough to Black History Month or not fully represented during Women’s History Month. This raises an important question about how and where Black women are included in examinations of the Black experience and the ongoing struggle for equal rights. The answer is straightforward: Black women’s contributions are essential and should be recognized and elevated across both commemorations.

On a weekly basis, colleagues, students, and community members approach me and ask for “a reading list about our people.” I receive this request so frequently that I have developed a consistent response. My academic work, focused on race, labor, the Civil Rights Movement, the Black Power Era, and Manhood Studies, often shapes expectations about what I might recommend. Many anticipate a list centered on well-known, male-authored works such as The Autobiography of Malcolm X, Invisible Man (Ralph Ellison), Native Son (Richard Wright), or Makes Me Wanna Holler (Nathan McCall). While these texts are undoubtedly important, a well-rounded understanding of the Black experience must also fully engage with the intellectual and creative contributions of Black women.

At times, the works of Black women have been underrepresented in reading lists and discussions unless they are directly connected to the experiences of Black men. This editorial seeks to broaden that scope by highlighting several impactful works authored by Black women, texts that I regularly incorporate into my courses and that offer valuable insight for our broader community.

• Their Eyes Were Watching God (Zora Neale Hurston)

Hurston’s work follows Janie Crawford’s journey through three marriages, where she seeks security with Logan Killicks, status with Joe Starks, and love with Tea Cake. Along the way, Janie discovers herself and develops a sense of independence.

• The Third Life of Grange Copeland (Alice Walker)

Alice Walker’s book follows the life of Grange Copeland and traces his transformation over a lifetime that was initially filled with anger and inefficiency before redeeming himself through the raising of his granddaughter, whom he dedicates his life to making into a full human being able to stand independently against outside forces, such as her father, Brownfield Copeland.

• The Bluest Eye (Toni Morrison)

Morrison tells an amazing story through the life of 11-year-old Pecola Breedlove, addressing issues of Black trauma in 1940s Ohio. A multifaceted poverty extending beyond economics will lead Pecola Breedlove to react to prevailing American beauty standards in the worst ways imaginable.

• A Taste of Power (Elaine Brown)

Brown crafts a riveting tale of her time in the Black Panther Party and her ascension to become the only woman to head the iconic Black Power Era organization. This is a tale that follows Brown’s development as a Black woman in America during one of the most volatile periods in American protest history. For those interested in the experiences of a Black woman in the Black Panther Party, Brown’s A Taste of Power is a must-read.

• Assata (Assata Shakur)

Possibly the most relevant book on this abbreviated list due to Assata Shakur’s recent death while exiled in Cuba. This is a story about her life and time as a member of the Black Liberation Army that culminated in her escape from prison, being placed on the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted Fugitives List, and emergence as an exiled political prisoner in Cuba.

It is my fervent hope that Women’s History Month serves not as a transition away from Black history, but as an opportunity to continue and deepen our engagement with it. Recognizing the contributions of Black women is essential to telling a more complete and accurate story, one that our communities and our nation benefit from understanding.

James Thomas Jones III, Ph.D., M.A., M.A., M.A., is an Associate Professor of African-American History at Prairie View A&M University and the creator of Manhood, Race, & Culture.

Academic course instruction is not affected by the passage of SB 17. The law specifically states that its limitations may not be construed to apply scholarly research or a creative work by an institution of higher education’s students, faculty, or other research personnel or the dissemination of that research or work. This page reference is to the specific research interest of a professor, Dr. James T. Jones III.