The Convict Leasing System because for most of American history "To have Negro blood in the veins makes one unworthy of consideration, a social outcast, a leper, even in the church." (This is a brilliant pamphlet written by Ida B Wells. The forward is from the hand of Fredrick Douglas).
The Progress of the Afro American Since Emancipation a part of the same pamphlet above, this chapter was written by I Garland Penn outlining the amazing contributions and progress of African Americans in the decade following slavery- in education, trades, music, art, journalism and much more.
Southern Horrors: Lynch Law in All Its Phases because Ida B Wells commitment to the truth inspires us to do the same. "Somebody must show that the Afro-American race is more sinned against than sinning, and it seems to have fallen upon me to do so."
How It Feels to be Colored Me because we are proud of who we are "I AM NOT tragically colored. There is no great sorrow dammed up in my soul, nor lurking behind my eyes. I do not mind at all." by Zora Neale Hurston.
We Wear the Mask because our poetry says it all and yet leaves so much unspoken.
The Great Migration because Isabel Wilkerson is a brilliant storyteller and captures a period of time in which many of our families persisted and persisted and persisted.