By Tqwana B.
We have come to the end of Black History Month 2016. And as usual, most of mainstream focused only on slavery, MLK, and the Civil Rights movement. Maybe a bit of Malcolm X and Sojourner Truth.
And in case you missed it, here’s a likely example of the results of that tried and true approach…
Now, I’m of the mind that Black history is American history. World history. And while I hope for real inclusion one day, history tells me it may never happen in my lifetime, sadly.
In case you haven’t realized it yet, school textbooks are woefully limited in their information. If I asked you to tell me who Madame C.J. Walker is, could you? Or Vivien Thomas? Ida B. Wells? Bass Reeves?
Maybe non-fiction isn’t really your thing anyway. It’s not mine either. And that’s why I love Beverly Jenkins’ historical romances. I’ve made no secret of my adoration for this woman and her books. Not only do you get an HEA, but you learn that black people didn’t just disappear after Emancipation, then pop back into existence during the Civil Rights movement. You’ll learn about everything from Black Seminoles, Buffalo Soldiers, Exodusters, all-black townships like Nicodemus, Kansas, pirates, outlaws, cowboys, and U.S. Marshals of color. Journalists, activists, entrepreneurs, inventors, bankers, and just everyday people making it against the toughest of odds. There’s a wealth of knowledge in each of her books, and then a list of all the sources she used to help further your education. Some of my favorites books by Ms. Jenkins are Topaz, Something Like Love, The Taming of Jessie Rose, and okay, all of them really. Here’s her Goodreads page.
Have fun and learn stuff.
