{"id":118938,"date":"2026-02-01T12:15:10","date_gmt":"2026-02-01T12:15:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/118938\/"},"modified":"2026-02-01T12:15:10","modified_gmt":"2026-02-01T12:15:10","slug":"what-im-reading-harlems-schomburg-center-issues-list-of-100-books-by-black-authors","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/118938\/","title":{"rendered":"What I\u2019m reading \u2014 Harlem\u2019s Schomburg center issues list of 100 books by Black authors"},"content":{"rendered":"

When Harlem\u2019s renowned Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture<\/a> asked me to recommend five of my favorites for its list of 100 books by Black authors, my first reaction was, \u201cI\u2019d be honored.\u201d<\/p>\n

My second reaction was, \u201cOnly five?\u201d<\/p>\n

Because how could I leave off such luminaries as James Baldwin, Lorraine Hansberry, Maya Angelou or August Wilson?<\/a><\/p>\n

How could books by Richard Wright, Ralph Ellison or Claude Brown not make my cut?<\/p>\n

They could have asked me for 20 titles, and I would have faced the same challenge. Why? Because they asked for books that shaped me or inspired the work I do.<\/p>\n

At the top of my list? \u201cComing of Age in Mississippi\u201d<\/a> by Anne Moody, which also made the Schomburg list.<\/p>\n

\""Coming\u201cComing of Age in Mississippi” by Anne Moody<\/p>\n

Why? The Schomburg blurb explains it better than I can.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe unforgettable memoir of a woman at the front lines of the Civil Rights Movement, a harrowing account of Black life in the rural South, and a powerful affirmation of one\u2019s ability to effect change.\u201d<\/p>\n

It\u2019s my go-to book whenever someone \u2014 especially a young person \u2014 asks me for a reading recommendation.<\/p>\n

No. 2 on my list of five was \u201cThe Autobiography of Malcolm X,\u201d<\/a> by Malcolm X and Alex Haley.<\/p>\n

\""The\u201cThe Autobiography of Malcolm X\u201d by Malcolm X and Alex Haley.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn this classic memoir,\u201d as described by the Schomburg team, \u201cMalcolm X, the Muslim leader, firebrand, and activist, tells the remarkable story of his life and the growth of the Nation of Islam movement.\u201d<\/p>\n

The list \u201c100 Black Voices: Schomburg Centennial Reading List\u201d<\/a> was released last week just in time for Black History Month, and was curated by the center\u2019s reference division. It features recommendations from some of the leading voices in Black history, literature, scholarship and art, as well as the Schomburg Center\u2019s extended library community.<\/p>\n

\u201cNot only were we able to engage brilliant minds about their favorite books, but we also received thoughtful and unexpected choices to encourage our patrons to read, discover and explore,\u201d said Maira Liriano, the Schomburg Center\u2019s associate chief librarian of the research and reference division.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe list is a continuation of our legacy of literacy in encouraging the exploration and access to Black literature, and highlights the many riches in our vast research collections.\u201d<\/p>\n

Their selection process was much harder than mine. More than 70 \u201cliterary and cultural luminaries\u201d submitted 400 titles, which they narrowed down to 100.<\/p>\n

Authors who received the most recommendations were Toni Morrison, Maya Angelou and James Baldwin, all important authors with ties to the Schomburg Center.<\/p>\n

The book list not only honors the Center\u2019s 100th anniversary, but its release also comes nearly 100 years after Carter G. Woodson, the historian, author and journalist, initiated Negro History Week, which would evolve into Black History Month.<\/p>\n

The idea behind the book list is to generate discussion. But, more importantly, the motive is to get people to read.<\/p>\n

Toward that end, the100 titles on the list are now available at The New York Public Library\u2019s circulating and research branches, officials said.<\/p>\n

The libraries are also offering instant e-book and audiobook access to a selection of the most highly recommended titles \u2014 no waiting\u2014 as well as book giveaways at select locations.<\/p>\n

As for me, I just finished reading \u201cTruly,\u201d by Lionel Richie, and am now on \u201cMisunderstood,\u201d by NBA Hall of Famer Allen Iverson. Next on my list is \u201cMother Emanuel,\u201d by Kevin Sack, unless I decide to stick with the Black authors theme.<\/p>\n

There are plenty to choose from.<\/p>\n

I have a good list.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"When Harlem\u2019s renowned Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture asked me to recommend five of my favorites…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":118939,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[35],"tags":[75,84,83,9,24,63,299],"class_list":["post-118938","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-manhattan","tag-manhattan","tag-manhattan-headlines","tag-manhattan-news","tag-new-york","tag-new-york-city","tag-nyc","tag-opinion"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/118938","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=118938"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/118938\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/118939"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=118938"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=118938"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=118938"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}