PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas (Feb. 2, 2024) – Prairie View A&M University’s John B. Coleman Library invites readers to dive deep into the vibrant world of African American history and creativity with the unveiling of not one but two official reading lists for the 2024 African American History Month.
This year’s national theme, African Americans and the Arts, sets the stage for an exploration of the profound impact African Americans have had on the artistic landscape. From literary masterpieces to socio-cultural treasures, these meticulously curated lists—crafted by both seasoned PVAMU librarians and discerning students—promise a captivating journey through the intersection of history, culture and creativity.
According to the Library’s website, “African American artists have used art to preserve history and community memory as well as for empowerment. Artistic and cultural movements, such as the New Negro, Black Arts, Black Renaissance, hip-hop, and Afrofuturism, have been led by people of African descent and set the standard for popular trends around the world.”
To get started, check out the top 14 titles on the Library’s list, which include Up Home: One Girl’s Journey by former PVAMU President Ruth J. Simmons and Black Water Rising by PVAMU Writer-in-Residence Attica Locke. Here is the complete list:
- Authoring: Replacing Arts and Architecture, by David Adjaye
- The Color of Dance, by TaKiyah Wallace-McMillian
- Hollywood Africans, by Jon Bautiste
- African-American Musicians That Changed Music Forever, by Matthew A. Carson
- Dance on the Historically Black College Campus, by Wanda K. W. Ebright
- Fugitive Pedagogy, by Jarvis R. Givens
- Call Us What We Carry, by Amanda Gorman
- Navigators, by Theresa Jenoure
- Wade in the Water, by Arthur Jones
- The 1619 Project, by Nikole Hannah Jones
- Structural Inequality, by Victoria Kaplan
- Black Water Rising, by Attica Locke
- An Anthology of Blackness, by Terresa Moses
- Up Home: One Girl’s Journey, by Ruth J. Simmons
The complete list includes nearly 70 titles with familiar names, such as Maya Angelou (The Complete Poetry), James Baldwin (The Fire Next Time), Michelle Obama (Becoming and The Light We Carry), and Toni Morrison (Beloved, The Bluest Eye, and Jazz).
The student-selected Black History reading list, chosen by PVAMU Reference Department student workers, includes a dynamic compilation featuring 50 titles from 1952 to 2021. From timeless classics to contemporary works, this thoughtfully curated selection offers a diverse array of literary treasures that celebrate the multifaceted contributions of African Americans to the arts and beyond.
Whether eager to discover hidden literary gems or delve into the stories behind iconic works of art, these reading lists offer something for everyone. Join the PVAMU community in celebrating the enduring legacy and boundless creativity of African Americans this African American History Month by exploring the compelling reads included in these lists.
Visit pvamu.edu/afam for more on PVAMU’s African American History Month Celebration.
By Kerry Laird
-PVAMU-