Soul searching? These are 20 books that can help you discover yourself from the inside out. Happy Black Afro-American History Month!

Term/Definition of the day:
Cultural Nationalism: the celebration of the contributions of black people to world history

BOOKLIST

1. Black: A Celebration of a Culture by Deborah Willis

2. African Beginnings by James Haskins and Kathleen Benson

3. Black Venus 2010: They called Her Hottentot edited by Deborah Willis

4. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou

5. Iconic by Lakesia D. Johnson

6. Beyond the Black Lady: Sexuality and the New African American Middle Class by Lisa B. Thompson

7. My People by Langston Hughes, photos by Charles R. Smith, Jr.

8. Heart and Soul: The Story of America and African Americans by Kadir Nelson

9. The Sweet Breath of Life: A Poetic Narrative of the African American Family by Frank Stewart and Ntozake Shange

10. Posing Beauty: African American Images from the 1890s to the present by Deborah Willis

11. Soul on Ice by Eldridge Cleaver

12. The Social Theory of W.E.B. Du Bois edited by Phil Zuckerman

13. The Tao of Wu by The RZA

14. Rules for Radicals: A Pragmatic Primer for Realistic Radicals by Saul D. Alinksy

15. The Dance of Anger: A Woman’s Guide to Changing the Patterns of Intimate Relationships by Harriet Lerner

… and then if you want to get into fashion, I found these books to be authentic guidelines to wardrobe

16. New African Fashion by Helen Jennings, foreword by Ike Ude

17. The Sartorialist: Closer by Scott Schuman

18. The One Hundred: A Guide to the Pieces Every Stylish Woman must Own by Nina Garcia

19. The Style Strategy: A Less-is-More Approach to Staying Chic and Shopping Smart by Nina Garcia

20. The Little Black Book of Style by Nina Garcia

I have read all these books and I believe I gained a broader understanding of identity and of what fashion means to people. Maybe you can read them and understand more about yourself as well.

Peace and Love,

Queen Duafe for African Essence