Books like The Messenger by Karl Evanzz

Between the World and Me is a memoir‑essay in letter form, where Ta‑Nehisi Coates addresses his teenage son about the history, violence, and ongoing reality of being Black in America.

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks follows the story of Henrietta Lacks, a poor black tobacco farmer whose cancer cells were taken in 1951 without her consent and later became the first immortal human cell line, HeLa, driving major scientific breakthroughs while raising questions of ethics, race, and medical exploitation.

A compelling overview of American history through the eyes and experiences of its women, workers, African Americans, Native Americans, immigrants, and the working poor.

The Warmth of Other Suns is a non‑fiction study of the Great Migration, tracing the journey of nearly six million African Americans from the South to northern and western cities between 1915 and 1970.

Angela Y. Davis links the history of state violence and oppression to present struggles, urging solidarity and action for human liberty worldwide.

James McBride’s memoir chronicles his upbringing among twelve siblings in Brooklyn’s Red Hook, revealing his mother’s hidden Jewish heritage and their shared journey of race, identity, and faith.

An autobiographical account of Olaudah Equiano’s journey from enslavement in West Africa to freedom and entrepreneurial success, offering a rare first‑hand perspective on the Atlantic slave trade.

Follow Aminata Diallo, a child sold into slavery in South Carolina, as she escapes to Canada after the Revolutionary War and seeks a new life of freedom.

Edward E. Baptist shows how slavery’s expansion from 1777 to 1847 powered America’s shift to industrial capitalism, turning the South into a cotton empire and reshaping the nation’s economy.

David Robertson’s biography of Denmark Vesey, a freed black leader who planned the largest slave rebellion in U.S. history, explores the revolt’s planning, execution, and lasting impact on African American political life.

A concise, illustrated biography of Baptist minister and civil rights champion Martin Luther King Jr., highlighting his nonviolent strategy that advanced equality for African Americans.

Three friends from Newark’s streets pledge to become doctors, supporting each other through the challenges of medical school and beyond.

The moving, inspiring memoir of one of the great women of our times, Shirin Ebadi, winner of the 2003 Nobel Peace Prize and advocate for the oppressed, whose spirit has remained strong in the face of political persecution and despite the challenges she has faced raising a family while pursuing her work. Best known in this country as the lawyer working tirelessly on behalf of Canadian photojournalist, Zara Kazemi -- raped, tortured and murdered in Iran -- Dr. Ebadi offers us a vivid picture of the struggles of one woman against the system. The book movingly chronicles her childhood in a loving, untraditional family, her upbringing before the Revolution in 1979 that toppled the Shah, her marriage and her religious faith, as well as her life as a mother and lawyer battling an oppressive regime in the courts while bringing up her girls at home.Outspoken, controversial, Shirin Ebadi is one of the most fascinating women today. She rose quickly to become the first female judge in the country; but when the religious authorities declared women unfit to serve as judges she was demoted to clerk in the courtroom she had once presided over. She eventually fought her way back as a human rights lawyer, defending women and children in politically charged cases that most lawyers were afraid to represent. She has been arrested and been the target of assassination, but through it all has spoken out with quiet bravery on behalf of the victims of injustice and discrimination and become a powerful voice for change, almost universally embraced as a hero.Her memoir is a gripping story -- a must-read for anyone interested in Zara Kazemi's case, in the life of a remarkable woman, or in understanding the political and religious upheaval in our world.From the Hardcover edition.

A compelling look at the rise and fall of the Fox sisters and the birth of Spiritualism in America, blending historical narrative with supernatural elements.

Former NFL coach Tony Dungy shares how faith, family, and humility guided him to the first Super Bill win for an African‑American head coach.