One of my favorite opportunities as an author is writing forewords for special books, and I especially enjoy working with publishers who are committed to breathing new life into old books. As a bibliophile with a passion for sharing long-forgotten living books with contemporary readers, I have a side passion for writing forewords in lovely editions of older treasures that have been republished by boutique publishing houses. I’ve contributed forewords for several books that I believe in and want to share with a wide audience, and the experience has reaped unexpected benefits.

I’ve recommended hundreds of books to friends and strangers over the years, but there’s something special about sharing my love for books in a permanent way. I enjoy introducing readers to characters, authors, game-changers, and poets, and it warms my heart to think that I get to “speak” privately to every reader who takes the time to flip through the front matter of one of these books.

Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, I may earn commissions from qualifying purchases of these Black history, culture, and poetry books using these links, at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your support.

Here are a few of my latest projects along with excerpts of the forewords:

Gladiola Garden

When I began to introduce my children to poetry as a daily practice within our homeschool, I was struck by the homogeneity of the sweet images included within the pages of our favorite poetry books. As I read more, I heard familiar refrains and verses that struck on the many shared emotions of humanity – joy, fear, love, discomfort, belonging. But none celebrated the unique experiences of Black children and their meanderings through field and forest alongside the crickets and toads.

Written by Effie Lee Newsome (1940). Republished by Living Book Press. Author was targeting second graders. I recommend this for 1st-3rd grades but I’ve read these poems with my older kids too, and they’re perfectly happy.

A Narrative of the Negro

For many children, the history of African Americans begins with shackled bodies enduring unspeakable forms of oppression rooted in racism. While this is an undeniable aspect of our story, it is by no means the beginning. Nor is it the defining narrative of who we are as a people. Today’s history books rarely offer more than a paragraph on Black lives before colonialism and the transatlantic slave trade. They don’t typically give much attention to the contributions Black people have made in the building up and defense of the U.S., and they often fail to give serious consideration to the geography and rich history of ancient and modern Africa. This incomplete account is a pressing concern for parents and other educators, but it isn’t new. More information (Lots of great details!)

Written by Leila Pendleton (1912). Republished by Smidgen Press. I love this for middle school but a high schooler in need of a good overview of Black history could really benefit.

Mary McLeod Bethune

As much as we enjoyed our historical studies, I knew that what I was serving up in our home was woefully incomplete. My children needed to hear from the unheard. And to be honest, I needed to hear from them too. So I prioritized women’s voices throughout history as we examined what they endured and contributed to the world. And as an African American family, we began to take special notice of Black women who took up the charge and courageously forged ahead in the face of unimaginable adversity.

Written by Emma Gelders Sterne (1957). Republished by Purple House Press. Publisher’s recommended ages: 13+ (This is a great middle school choice.)

The Gift of Black Folk

During a time when the United States needed to be reminded of the contributions Black people have made to its democracy, freedom, music, literature, and more, W.E.B. DuBois took on the task of enumerating the gifts that we’ve provided to our country. When I began reading The Gift of Black Folk, I approached the book with apprehension. I’m African American and felt that the value of our lives didn’t need to be laid out in a treatise to convince the misguided that Black people have made a significant impact throughout time and across our land. But as I continued to read, the story that unfolded was one that I had never anticipated.

Written by W.E.B. DuBois (1924). Republished by Purple House Press. Publisher’s recommended ages: 13+ (I recommend this one for high school. Not because of the content but because of the writing style.)

I hope one or more of these beautiful books will capture your interest! Have you run across any out-of-print or older Black classics that you wish could be republished? Please drop your recommendations in the comments!

And be sure to check out my book: A PLACE TO BELONG: Celebrating Diversity and Kinship in the Home and Beyond