Reading is something that I valued more than anything growing up. Books were a way to leave all of the abhorrent mess going on in the world and travel to a land far away with individuals that I came to consider some of my good friends. But one thing that I will never forget about the list of books I was required to read throughout my high school career was the fact that almost every book was written by a white person. I was left to seek out any black authors on my own, when I knew that it was the other students in my predominately white classroom environment that more than likely needed to read these books the most. Below you will find a few black authors that I believe should be required in every high school curriculum across America — because our history is a part of American history.

1. Toni Morrison 

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2. Ralph Ellison 

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3. James Baldwin

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4. Frantz Fanon

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5. Maya Angelou 

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6. Aimé Césaire 

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7. Alice Walker

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8. Zora Neale Hurston 

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9. Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

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10. Langston Hughes 

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What black authors do you recommend everyone read? Leave your suggestions in the comments.

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