Books That Inspired Me
These are some of the books that have inspired, challenged, and motivated me along my journey. I share them here in hopes that something within these pages may speak to you as well.
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The Healing Wisdom of Africa
Malidoma Patrice Somé
This book offers a beautiful exploration of African spiritual wisdom, community, ritual, and our connection to the ancestors. Malidoma Patrice Somé’s teachings have deeply influenced the way I think about healing, belonging, and remembering who we are.
Of Water and the Spirit
Malidoma Patrice Somé
In this deeply personal memoir, Malidoma Patrice Somé shares his journey of returning home and reconnecting with the spiritual traditions of his people. His story is a powerful reflection on identity, ancestral wisdom, initiation, and what it means to find your way back to where you belong.
Ritual: Power, Healing and Community
This book explores the importance of ritual as a source of healing, connection, and community. Malidoma Patrice Somé reminds us of the power found in coming together, honoring the sacred, and reconnecting with traditions that have sustained communities for generations.
Their Eyes Were Watching God
Zora Neale Hurston
This timeless novel explores a woman’s journey toward finding her own voice, identity, and freedom. Through Janie’s story, Zora Neale Hurston beautifully captures themes of love, self-discovery, resilience, and the courage to live life on your own terms.
Barracoon
Zora Neale Hurston
In this powerful work, Zora Neale Hurston preserves the firsthand account of Cudjo Lewis, one of the last known survivors of the transatlantic slave trade. His story offers a deeply human reflection on loss, memory, survival, cultural identity, and the enduring connection to home and ancestry.
The Autobiography of Malcolm X
Malcolm X with Alex Haley
This powerful autobiography chronicles Malcolm X’s extraordinary journey of transformation, self-education, faith, and evolving understanding of race and identity in America. His story invites us to examine our beliefs, question what we have been taught, and remain open to growth as our understanding of ourselves and the world deepens.
Go Tell It on the Mountain
James Baldwin
In this deeply moving novel, James Baldwin explores family, faith, identity, and the complexities of growing up within the Black church. Through a story shaped by struggle, spirituality, and generational wounds, Baldwin invites us to consider how the past lives within us and how we come to understand who we are.
Things Fall Apart
Chinua Achebe
Set in an Igbo community in Nigeria, this powerful novel explores tradition, family, identity, and the profound changes brought by colonialism. Chinua Achebe tells the story from within the culture, offering a rich portrayal of Igbo life while examining what can happen when one world encounters another.
Heal Thyself
Queen Afua
This book offers a holistic approach to wellness rooted in nourishment, cleansing, spiritual practice, and intentional living. Queen Afua encourages readers to become active participants in their own well-being while reconnecting the care of the body with the nurturing of the mind and spirit.
Sacred Woman
Queen Afua
This book invites women on a journey of self-care, spiritual renewal, and deeper connection with themselves. Queen Afua draws upon African-centered traditions and holistic practices to encourage women to honor the sacred within, nurture their well-being, and live with greater intention.
Invisible Man
Ralph Ellison
This powerful novel explores identity, race, belonging, and what it means to feel unseen within society. Through the narrator’s journey, Ralph Ellison examines the struggle to define oneself in a world that often tries to determine who you are before truly seeing you.
The Value in the Valley - A Black Woman's Guide Through Life's Dilemmas
Iyanla Vanzant
This book offers wisdom for navigating the difficult seasons of life and discovering what those experiences can teach us about ourselves. Iyanla Vanzant encourages us to look within, learn from life’s valleys, and recognize that periods of struggle can also become opportunities for reflection, healing, and growth.
Jambalaya: The Natural Woman's Book of Personal Charms and Practical Rituals
Luisah Teish
This book offers a beautiful exploration of ancestral wisdom, spirituality, ritual, and traditions rooted in the African diaspora. Luisah Teish reminds us of the importance of honoring those who came before us, reconnecting with the sacred, and recognizing the wisdom that continues to live within our traditions and ourselves.
Dust Tracks on a Road
Zora Neale Hurston
This autobiography offers a glimpse into the life, experiences, and remarkable spirit of Zora Neale Hurston. Through stories of her childhood, travels, relationships, and journey as a writer, Hurston reflects on the experiences that shaped her while revealing the independence, curiosity, and determination that allowed her to follow her own path.
Ifá Will Mend Our Broken World
Wande Abimbola
This book offers a thoughtful exploration of Yoruba wisdom, spirituality, culture, and traditions through conversations with Wande Abimbola. It reflects on the enduring relevance of Ifá teachings and the ways ancestral knowledge can offer insight into community, identity, and the challenges we face in the modern world.