February marks the start of Black history month, an important time to celebrate Black culture. It’s also a good time to read books written by Black authors and about Black culture!

This month’s fiction book is called Passing by Nella Larsen. The book tells the story of two childhood friends, Clare and Irene. When Clare’s father dies, she’s sent to live with her aunts, who are white. Since Clare is mixed, she “passed” for a white woman and marries a white man. Years later she and Irene, who’s now married to a Black doctor, reuinite. The two take the time to learn more about each other’s lives since they separated and are fascinated by the lives the other led.

This month’s nonfiction book is a memoir called Song in a Weary Throat by Pauli Murray. Murray was an activist for racial, womens’, and gender rights. The memoir tells the story of how they first had to leave their home after their parents died at four years old, then going to college, then becoming an activist. Their work eventually led them to meeting famous figures such as Thurgood Marshall and Elenor Roosevelt.  Murray’s truly inspiring life can barely be summarized in a single paragraph, so the book is well worth reading.