
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">One of the best ways to celebrate Black History Month is to learn about the some of the community’s largest cultural figures and contributors, and their lives. Below is a short list of autobiographies that are not only captivating reads, but are also perfect for the occasion of honoring and celebrating some of the greatest American thinkers, artists, and political actors. </p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">5. <em>Narrative
of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave </em>by Frederick Douglass <em>(</em>1845)</h3>



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img src="https://tulanemagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/Screen-Shot-2020-02-11-at-7.05.07-PM.png" alt="" class="wp-image-8519" width="275" height="428"/><figcaption><em>Barnes and Nobles</em></figcaption></figure></div>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><em>“You have seen how a man was made a slave; you shall see how a slave was made a man.”</em></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Written by former slave Frederick Douglass, this autobiography serves as both an unapologetic call for abolition and indictment of the institution of slavery, as well as a personal, poignant story that details his experience both in captivity and beyond it. ; It is generally considered the most popular slave narrative and not without reason — the autobiography was incredibly influential to the abolition movement within the United States. Douglass’ mastery of prose allows him to tell a beautiful, but heart wrenching, story about the brutality of slavery and one man’s fortitude on his journal to physical, emotional, and mental emancipation. Stories like Douglass’ are important to read because the struggles of those who endured slavery should not be forgotten. </p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">4. <em>Dust Tracks on a Road</em> by Zora
Neale Hurston (1942) </h3>



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img src="https://tulanemagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/Screen-Shot-2020-02-11-at-7.05.23-PM.png" alt="" class="wp-image-8518" width="301" height="461"/><figcaption><em>Amazon</em></figcaption></figure></div>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><em>“You
take up the pen when you are told, and write what is commanded. There is no
agony like bearing an untold story inside you”</em></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Written by one of the leading figures of the Harlem Renaissance, author Zora Neale Hurston — the mind behind classics like <em>Their Eyes Were Watching God</em> and <em>How it Feels to be Colored Me</em> — this autobiography is an engaging chronicle of Hurston’s life and career. This is a fascinating look inside the mind of a controversial but brilliant artist! </p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">3. <em>Assata: An Autobiography</em> by
Assata Shakur (1988)</h3>



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img src="https://tulanemagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/Screen-Shot-2020-02-11-at-7.05.32-PM.png" alt="" class="wp-image-8517" width="243" height="391"/><figcaption><em>Amazon</em></figcaption></figure></div>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><em>“The
world, in spite of oppression, is a beautiful place. I would say “Om” softly to
myself, letting my lips vibrate. I felt the birds, the sun, and the trees.”</em></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">This political autobiography, written by
former member of the Black Panther Party Assata Shakur, details one woman’s
struggles with racism and incarceration that encouraged and complicated her
life of activism within the United States. The narrative is a revolutionary and
timeless tale about resistance, strength, and the desire for freedom no matter
the cost. I was familiar with Shakur’s story prior to reading her
autobiography, but it was all the more powerful to understand her life through
her own words. </p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">2. <em>Growing
Up X</em> by Ilyasah Shabazz
and Kim McLarin (2002) </h3>



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img src="https://tulanemagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/Screen-Shot-2020-02-11-at-7.05.40-PM.png" alt="" class="wp-image-8516" width="287" height="443"/><figcaption><em>Amazon</em></figcaption></figure></div>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><em>“He is my hero and my mother is my
heroine. I wouldn’t change that for anything. Because of them, I know true
love. I am a product of love.”</em></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Ilyasah Shabazz, daughter of American minister
and civil rights leader Malcolm X, writes about her childhood and growing up in
the shadow of her father’s legacy. Shabazz details intimate memories of both
her father and mother and explores her struggle to understand and appreciate
the ways in which legacy, memory, and identity are interconnected. This memoir
ultimately serves as a heart-warming love letter to both her parents, as well
as a tribute to their lifelong commitment to dutiful parenting and activism. I
love this book because it’s perspective shows X through the eyes of someone
dearest to him.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">1. <em>Coretta: My Life, My Love, My
Legacy</em> by Coretta Scott King and Barbara Reynold (2017)</h3>



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img src="https://tulanemagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/Screen-Shot-2020-02-11-at-7.05.52-PM.png" alt="" class="wp-image-8515" width="327" height="502"/><figcaption><em>Amazon</em></figcaption></figure></div>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><em>“I want people to know that I was committed to leaving an eternal flame, built on love that would never be extinguished.”</em></p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">This novel tells the story of civil rights activist Coretta Scott King, and vividly paints her as a strong leader and political force. Chronicling her early life and marriage to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., as well as her struggle to continue their fight after his assassination, King’s autobiography gives a long overdue voice that speaks to both the pain and power of her resilient fight for civil rights. It is important to read stories like Correta’s to remember that, though often overlooked, women are also active leaders and champions for human rights. </p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Cover Photo: Newsweek</p>
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5 Must-Read Autobiographies this Black History Month
