Black American Nonfiction
Enjoy these nonfiction titles by Black American authors about Black history, culture, and life published within the last two years and selected by librarians at The Seattle Public Library. Annotations from review sources, as cited. (January 2026)
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Black Genius
A spirited presentation of the manifold accomplishments of Black creators as an instrument of resistance - and of love. Readers will leave this provocative book wanting to hear much more from Johnson. (Kirkus)
Format: Book
Availability: Available
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Black History Is for Everyone
A candid personal expression of redefining and realigning Black history through questioning, reading, and dreaming. (Kirkus)
Format: Book
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The Trouble of Color
How generations of a biracial family found their lives shaped - and distorted - by the color line. Eloquent, candid, and meticulously researched, this book will appeal to both lovers of family memoir and scholars of Black history. A deftly woven multigenerational tapestry that celebrates the complexity of African American history and identity. (Kirkus)
Format: Book
Availability: Available
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Learn Black American Sign Language
Deaf history has been told primarily from a white-centered lens, pushing Black Deaf history into the background. However, today, Black signers are telling the hidden stories of Black Deaf people and celebrating their language, exposing their dialect to millions across the world. (Publisher description)
Format: Book
Availability: All copies in use
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How to Live Free in A Dangerous World
A nonbinary, disabled, Black writer describes how travel has informed their journey to liberation. Lawson is a gifted chronicler not only of their own personal revolution, but also of the power structures that affect their place in the world. A stunning essay collection about travel, mortality, and liberation. (Kirkus)
Format: Book
Availability: Available
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American Soul
Delve into foodways of the United States, including testimonies from more than 30 Black chefs, restaurateurs, historians and luminaries, as well as 40 historically-rooted recipes. Equal parts historical exploration and cookbook, this rich narrative reveals the rich and indelible contributions of the Black diaspora in shaping the footprint of American cuisine. (Publisher description)
Format: Book
Availability: All copies in use
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Firstborn Girls
A distinguished novelist explores the history that shaped her and the women in her family. A powerful, richly tapestried book about race, history, love, and the healing power of the written word. (Kirkus)
Format: Book
Availability: Available
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Cudi
A raw, fearless memoir from the Grammy Award-winning artist, actor, and designer Kid Cudi about a kid from Cleveland who found purpose in the darkness and became a guiding light for a generation. (Publisher description)
Format: Book
Availability: Available
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Night Flyer
A keen investigation of Harriet Tubman through a womanist lens. ... National Book Award winner Miles chronicles and contextualizes Tubman’s work to lead enslaved people to freedom in the North, spotlighting her subject’s spiritual conviction and naturalistic know-how. A notable, discerning contribution to the understanding of an American legend. (Kirkus)
Format: Book
Availability: Available
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When Trees Testify
Plant biologist Montgomery mixes memoir, history, and science in this unique examination of the significance of trees in Black history. (Publishers Weekly)
Format: Book
Availability: Available
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