Forums » Is there a book that changed your life?

• @JoinBBC Staff

  

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  October 18, 2011 12:21:00 AM EDT

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  Books such as The Autobiography of Malcolm X, The Color Purple and The Mis-education of the Negro have been noted as some of the most important books of our lifetime. Is there a particular Black book that blew your mind? Has a book ever changed your life?

• william jackson

  

  • 19 posts
   

  October 19, 2011 10:20:28 AM EDT

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  The books Malcolm X Reinvention, The Mis-education of the Negro have been very motivational for me. It awoke me to the struggles of Blacks in obtaining education, but also the triumphs with the help of educated Black who gave back and Whites that were willing to help.
  It is hard to understand how so many Blacks from the struggles that we as Black people have experienced do not value education more.
  Why are we still so low in reading, literacy and dropout rates? Looking at my own blogging I see in my writings the influences of these books. Wake up my Black people....
• Deleted Member

  
   

  October 21, 2011 12:36:19 PM EDT

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  There's been quite a few for me...past, it was Frederick Douglas' Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglas. That joint had me HEATED at the treatment of us! You hear me! And recently, Toni Morrison's The Bluest Eye at Coffey's suggestion (BBC member). Oh! And Anne Frank - although not Black...
• Kimsuccess Milton

  

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  October 24, 2011 9:38:41 AM EDT

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  The Mis-Education of the Negro really blew me away when I read it. I was going through my black power to the people phase and was SHOCKED to see the book was written in 1933! I thought I was reading some new information and found that this wisdom had been around for a few generations. We are still being mis-educated because we won't educate ourselves!
  
  Another great life changing book is The United Independent Compensatory Code/System by Neely Fuller. He teaches "The 9 Areas of People Activity are (1)Economics, (2)Education, (3)Entertainment, (4)Labor, (5)Law, (6)Politics, (7)Religion, (8)Sex and (9)War"
  
  We have the knowledge to change our situation, now we must unite and use the POWER!
• william jackson

  

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  October 25, 2011 2:44:34 AM EDT

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  Kim,
  It is so interesting that these great authors have been around for years (in literature), but yet our children barely know them and don't read their works.
  I love to talk to my students about reading and writing. My hope is that some if not all will begin to see the wisdom in my words..
• Phenola Moore

  

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  October 28, 2011 11:27:03 PM EDT

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  Besides the Bible, :>), Alex Haley's "Roots" opened up my eyes to the depth of slavery. Because in school, we sort of brushed over that issue but "Roots" depicted it in detail. And those 500 plus pages were well worth it? 

   

  But it gave me a deeper drive to do more with my life because my ancestors had went through so much.

  
• william jackson

  

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  October 29, 2011 9:58:58 AM EDT

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  I understand what you mean about the past.
  I recently asked my father about his mother, grandmother and greatgrand mother. I learned some great things and decided to write them down and share with my kids.
  I think I will turn this into a writing project at school building a family tree.
  
• LP Brown

  

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  October 29, 2011 1:10:34 PM EDT

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  I am an avid reader and a black history buff. Over the years have read countless books that influenced me and at least half a dozen of those actually changed my outlook on life. “Roots” was enlightening, as was “The Confessions of Nat Turner”, “A Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglas,” “The Autobiography of Malcolm X,” “Assata” the autobiography of Assata Shakur and one book that really opened my eyes to the dilemma of black soldiers during the Vietnam War was “Bloods” by Wallace Terry. I was fortunate to have met the author before he died and his daughter since his death.
  So many books out there. So little time to read them all, but I would if I could. www.potpourri101.com
  
• Deborrah Cooper

  

  • 18 posts
   

  October 29, 2011 2:09:26 PM EDT

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  The one Black book that changed my perspective on life and made me wake up to many realities of our society and culture was THE INVISIBLE MAN by Ralph Ellison. I read it very early in life, I was just 14-1/2 years old. But I will never forget closing the book after having read the final page, taking a deep breath, and saying "I refuse to be invisible." I had made it my life's work to be seen, and heard, and acknowledged. People may not like what they see or hear, but after interacting with me their eyes are always a bit more open, their world a bit more changed.
• Kimsuccess Milton

  

  • 6 posts
   

  October 29, 2011 6:45:37 PM EDT

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  Now you all have me thinking so now I have to add a few more. Of course the Bible which is 66 books unto itself.
  I should have remembered "Assata, The Autobiography of Assata Shakur" because I read that when I was pregnant with my third child, who is a GIRL! (having a girl and 3 boys is a long story for another time) I named my daughter Assata Mali! You have brought back some memories. As a fellow avid reader, it is HARD to narrow down a list of favorite life changing books! As an African American trying to find our way in this system, you have to read our history for our past, read to get through our present and read to prepare for our future...
• B Ra Carter

  

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  November 11, 2011 9:49:44 PM EST

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  There are several books that changed my life:
  
  The 48 laws of power
  The Dream Manager
  The Art of War
  
  These books helped me understand the abilites that I had, and conclude that I would not be good at everything. They taught me how to be a leader, and size up every situation. I was free to dream and think critically at the same time without being discouraged. Some ppl dream and get upset about them coming to fruition at the time we want them. These following reads helped to remind me that everything doesn't happen over night and they take time. I've become a way better person from these reads, and I suggest that everyone else take them up.
• Nikki Byrom

  

  • 5 posts
   

  November 17, 2011 12:26:04 PM EST

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  Paradise, Sula, Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison. The Autobiography of Malcolm X, Roots.
  
  She's come undone by Wally Lamb. Ariel, by Sylvia Plath. Living Buddha, Living Christ.
  
  i have a literature degree so i could go on for quite a while but i'll stop here.
  
  Roots blew my mind at 12. Paradise blew my mind at 19. The Bible blows my mind anytime I read it.
• Jessica (BeautyLit)

  

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  January 10, 2012 1:28:18 AM EST

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  Bone Black: Memories of Girlhood completely changed my life at 17, and again at 19. (I'm 20) It continues to beat out every other book I read. It touched me on a personal level and has stayed with me throughout my college years, new relationships, and various changes.
  
  Lots of people flinch at he thought of bell hooks' politics, but I think she's a genius.
• Bridget Body

  

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  January 28, 2012 8:58:10 PM EST

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  Manchild in the Promised Land was one that changed the way I viewed my actions and my life. It is an amazing book about the transformation of one's conscience. Very similar to The Autobiography of Malcolm X.
• Monique Jeanty

  

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  January 29, 2012 5:08:37 PM EST

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  Manchild in the Promised Land was my first memoir. It taught me to speak my truth. Native son made me think about my role in society. I never get tired of re-reading I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings.
• Malik Watkins

  

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  May 24, 2012 7:41:34 PM EDT

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  All great pieces, but for me I would have to add in "The Crisis of the Negro Intellectual" by Harold Cruze....simply put....A Masterful Work!!!!
• Deleted Member

  
   

  May 25, 2012 12:19:15 AM EDT

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  I would have to say The Miseducation of the Negro by Carter G. Woodson. I saw african americans in a whole new light.

• Yevette Gooden

  

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  June 26, 2012 4:41:39 PM EDT

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  As a child "Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry" by Mildred D. Taylor was lifechanging. For the first time the character resembled me. I was hooked on african american literature after that.
• Sista Voyage

  

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  June 26, 2012 10:17:26 PM EDT

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  Yevette Gooden said:
  As a child "Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry" by Mildred D. Taylor was lifechanging. For the first time the character resembled me. I was hooked on african american literature after that.

   

   

  I read this book in the 5th grade. Absolutely wonderful!!!