By Bianca Crawley,
Special to the AFRO
Keeping with our theme of discovering our roots and honoring the past from which we’ve come, the AFRO has compiled a short list of recommended books that address traditions of old, people who have contributed to the culture, and tracing family lineage.
Take a look at the list below and then head to your local library or your favorite Black- owned bookstore to find a copy!
- African American Herbalism: A Practical Guide to Healing Plants and Folk Traditions
by Lucretia VanDyke
This informative book focuses on holistic treatments and remedies which obtain healing powers to help replenish the body. Guiding the reader through ancient practices rooted in African traditions and folktales, readers learn about the healing traditions which have been seen and practiced throughout the African Diaspora both yesterday and today.
This outstanding book provides information on herbal skin care routines, medicine, food, and more with plenty to learn, understand, and incorporate into one’s own life.
- A Nation of Descendants: Politics and the Practice of Genealogy in U.S. History
by Francesca Morgan
This eye-catching and mesmerizing book focuses on the deep-rooted history of family ancestry specifically within the American Black community. Taking the reader on an exploration of commonalities and ties that bring us together, the text does an excellent job of honoring all the things that make us unique.
This book is a must for those who are interested in gaining knowledge of who they are as a race and how that tightly ties them to those in the world around them.
- Black Roots: A Beginner’s Guide to Tracing the African American Family Tree
by Tony Burroughs
This book is a must for all Black people interested in tracing their own families’ historical roots as well as learning about the challenges of African Americans since they were brought to the Americas. The novel gives you the step by step of everything you need to know to learn how to research your own personal family history, how to organize these documents, and how to best analyze and understand the research that has been found.
- Foundational Black American Race Baiter by Tariq Nasheed
Tariq Nasheed is an author, actor, and producer who is known for his controversial work in reviewing Black history and systemic racism in America. He’s best known for his film series, Hidden Colors, which focuses on a collection of scholars and works discussing the historical roots of Black people throughout the African diaspora. His outstanding book Foundational Black American Race Baiter is an autobiography discussing Nasheed’s life and personal experiences growing up and experiencing systemic racism in America while living in different environments. His sometimes-controversial views shine a light on the challenges faced by many Black Americans while experiencing racism throughout different phases of their lives.
- Black on Earth: African American Ecoliterary Traditions by Kimberly N. Ruffins
This controversial and intriguing book elaborates on the relationship between the culture and traditions of African Americans and other ethnic groups. It goes into great detail on significant distinguishing factors such as economic discrimination, environmental issues and differences, social and political contradictions, racism and more. This must-read book will keep you intrigued in the various types of research and thought that went into the creation and masterpiece of this work.
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