An African American Cookbook: Traditional and Other Favorite Recipes. 

• RC 60178
  Phoebe Bailey 
  Hundreds of recipes, traditional and others, many discovered or used by descendants of participants in the Underground Railroad or those who lived nearby. Includes main dishes, vegetables, salads, breads, cakes, and sweets. Also contains songs and lessons learned at the dinner table.

Mighty Like a River: The Black Church and Social Reform

• RC 50405
  Andrew Billingsley
  An account of the socially and politically active role of churches in the black community and how these churches have been a major force in advancing equality and justice for African Americans.

The Lost Boys of Sudan: An American Story of the Refugee Experience

• RC062006
  Mark Bixler
  Journalist documents four African youths’ first two years in the United States (2001-2003) and their adaptation to an entirely unfamiliar cultural environment. Describes their reaction to American conveniences and daily life and their dealings with government services, interactions with private citizens, and desire for education. 2005.

I Feel Good. 

• RC 60883     
  James Brown 
  Autobiography of the outspoken "Godfather of Soul." Brown describes his childhood in the segregated south, personal life, legal troubles, and career in the music business. Assesses his impact on American culture during the 1960s civil rights movement.  Some strong language.

The Promise: How One Woman Made Good on Her Extraordinary Pact to Send a Classroom of First Graders to College

• RC062383
  Oral Lee Brown
  Author chronicles the mission she began in 1987 to finance higher education for twenty-three disadvantaged East Oakland, California, students if they graduated from high school. Every one did. Describes how she raised funds, established a foundation, helped college applicants get accepted, and decided to adopt future classes. 2005.

Chicken Soup for the African American Soul: Celebrating and Sharing Our Culture One Story at a Time

• RC061889
  Jack Canfield
  Coauthor and radio host Tom Joyner sees this book as an extension of his "efforts to reach the souls of black folks all around the country." Collection covers African American roots, families, resilience, and religion. Includes works and quotations by Colin Powell, Rosa Parks, Reggie Jackson, and Frederick Douglass. 2004.

A Knock at Midnight: Inspiration from the Great Sermons of Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr

• RC062329 
  Clayborne Carson, ed.
  Eleven of King’s sermons, including his earliest recorded homily "Rediscovering Lost Values" and "Remaining Awake during a Great Revolution," delivered at the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C., just days before his assassination. Each sermon is introduced by well-known ministers such as the Reverend Billy Graham and Archbishop Desmond Tutu. 1998.

Crowns: Portraits of Black Women in Church Hats. 

• RC 61277     
  Michael Cunningham
  Social history of the custom of wearing hats to church in accordance with the apostle Paul’s edict to cover one’s head. Through interviews with African American women of all ages the authors explore the faith and fashion of black American churches. Foreword by Maya Angelou.

Life is so Good

• RC 51912     
  George Dawson
  A 101-year-old laborer who learned to read at age 98 chronicles his life in the South and provides a personal retrospective on the African American past.

Dr. Gavin’s Health Guide for African Americans.

• RC 61423     
  James R Gavin
  President of the Morehouse College School of Medicine offers guidelines for controlling health problems common among African Americans such as obesity, hypertension, diabetes, heart disease, and kidney disorders. Advocates making incremental lifestyle changes to eat healthier, exercise more, and reduce stress.

Before His Time: The Untold Story of Harry T. Moore—America’s First Civil Rights Martyr

• RC 50596     
  Ben Green
  Traces the life of Harry T. Moore as a Florida schoolteacher, NAACP coordinator, Progressive Voter League executive secretary, and educator of African Americans concerning their constitutional rights.

A Shining Thread: The History of Black Women in America

• RC 50032         
  Darlene Clark Hine
  A chronology of diverse African American women’s lives across the United States from colonial times to the late twentieth century.

Driven from Within

• RC061922
  Michael Jordan
  Michael Jordan explains through snapshots, vignettes, stories, and shoe designs the motivations that helped him become a famous basketball player and entrepreneur. Discusses his childhood, athletic career, and business philosophy. 2005.

The First Rasta: Leonard Howell and the Rise of Rastafarianism

• RC062178
  Helene Lee
  Journalist’s account of Jamaican and Rastafarian history, based on an updated translation of a 1999 French work and on oral history interviews with Jamaican elders. Interweaves chronicles of Rasta founder Leonard Howell, Bob Marley, Reggae music, and centrality of ganja (marijuana). 1999.

T.D. Jakes: America's New Preacher

• RC061903
  Shayne Lee
  Sociologist examines the rise of African American preacher Thomas Dexter Jakes--CEO, television host, and author of God’s Leading Lady (RC 54897)--from his humble beginnings in West Virginia. Attributes Jakes’s success to his entrepreneurial spirit and innovative marketing techniques that resonate with postmodernists and an expanding mass-media Christian faith industry. 2005.

Spike Lee: That's My Story and I'm Sticking to It

• RC061901
  Spike Lee
  Oral history of African American filmmaker Spike Lee’s rise to fame from his 1986 movie She’s Gotta Have It to the 2004 She Hate Me, produced by Lee’s own company. Interviews Lee’s colleagues, friends, and family and discusses controversial social issues, including stereotyping, racism, and sexuality. Strong language. 2005.

Hip: The History

• RC061445
  John Leland
  Former Spin columnist traces the origins of "hipness" to the era of American slavery. Discusses "hip" movements in music, literature, and fashion in the twentieth century. Examines the roles of cultural and racial identity in the perception of what is cool. Strong language. For senior high and older readers. 2004.

The Secret Epidemic: The Story of AIDS and Black America

• RC060453
  Jacob Levenson
  Patients, social workers, medical personnel, and activists give anecdotal accounts of the lives of African Americans who are infected with HIV. Addresses the social and political aspects of the epidemic. Strong language and some violence. 2004.

Cuttin’ Up: Wit and Wisdom from Black Barber Shops. 

• RC 61709     
  Craig Mayberry 
  Journalist crisscrossed the country to collect these anecdotes and quotes from barbershops, the "nation’s earliest black businesses." Barbers (including Oprah Winfrey’s dad) and customers reminisce about barbershop camaraderie, African American history, women, and current events.

The Audacity of Hope: Thoughts on Reclaiming the American Dream

• RC063126
  Barack Obama
  Democratic senator from Illinois and author of Dreams from My Father (RC 43877) details his ideas to improve the country. Discusses American values, the U.S. Constitution, religion, globalization, race, and other subjects of interest to voters. 2006.

Don’t Make a Black Woman Take Off Her Earrings: Madea’s Uninhibited Commentaries on Love and Life.

• RC 62523     
  Tyler Perry     
  Words of wisdom from Tyler Perry’s comedic character Madea from the movie Diary of a Mad Black Woman. Topics covered include love, marriage, child-rearing, etiquette, finances, and church, among others. Dispenses advice in a straightforward, no-nonsense way. Strong language.              

Becoming Dad: Black Men and the Journey to Fatherhood

• RC 51286       
  Leonard Pitts
  Based on his own experiences and interviews with African American men and children, a journalist explores the nature of black fatherhood in the United States.

The Measure of a Man: A Spiritual Autobiography

• RC 50313         
  Sidney Poitier
  The first African American actor to win an Oscar recalls his idyllic childhood in the Bahamas, his move to Florida in his teens, his early struggles to establish his acting career, and his later successes.

Covenant with Black America

• RC 62404     
  Tavis Smiley
  Essays on issues facing African Americans, including criminal and environmental justice, education, employment, health care, and housing. Provides a plan of action for helping communities progress socially, politically, and economically.

Growing Up in Slavery: Stories of Young Slaves as Told by Themselves

• RC062230
  Yuval  Taylor, ed.
  Personal accounts of ten former slaves, including Frederick Douglass and Harriet Jacobs, recalling their childhood and teen years. Descriptions of cruelty, misery, and fear mingle with their memories of learning to read, playing games, and falling in love. Violence and some strong language. For senior high and older readers. 2005.

African American Humor: The Best Black Comedy from Slavery to Today. 

• RC 62112     
  Mel Watkins, ed. 
  Anthology of African American humor from traditional trickster tales to twenty-first century comedy. Contains proverbs, short stories, riddles, songs, jokes, and stand-up routines as well as literary works by Zora Neale Hurston and Langston Hughes. Includes historical introductions for each chapter.