5 Waterbottle Must-Reads for Black History Month
BY Jeremy Collins, Media Manager
These 5 books are great writings that I personally have read and recommend. Resistance and cooperative economics are just as much a part of Black US history as the opression and subjugation of Black people. These books are excellent reads for those curious on expanding their understanding of Black cooperation, economics, and politics.
Collective Courage by Jessica Gordon Nembhard
It’s only fair, as a member of a cooperative, to start the list with this groundbreaking text on the history of Black cooperative culture. This book offers us a greater imagination around how we participate in and shape economics. Anyone using the word “Black business” or “entrepreneurship” or “Black dollar” needs to read this book. Whereas Black reactionaries have their own mythical versions of history, the greater collective has always been a part of the our history going back to the mutual aid networks during and post-slavery to now. The book discusses the suppression, the culture shift, and more in this amazing volume of work. As we consider what future lies ahead if we continue how we do now, this book allows us to shape a model forward with historical context and precedence.
Knocking the Hustle by Lester Spence
Many Black people are familiar with the contradiction of meritocracy placed on Black people in the United States, but Dr. Spence invites us - as in Black people - to question our response to the nature of meritocracy. Where for so long the general response has been to “work harder” or “hustle”, Dr. Spence provides a cultural and historical breakdown alongside some considerations to make as solutions. With references to Christianity, the Civil Rights Movement, hip-hop, and more - this book is truly an eye-opener.
Sidenote: I was actually introduced to the book at a reading at Red Emmas back when it was located on North Avenue. I come back to it a few times a year for reference.
The Myth and Propaganda of Black Buying Power by Jared Ball
The talk of Black Wall Street and the Black dollar has a long history and has grown more relevant with President Trump’s resegregation policies and corporate acquiesence.
Dr. Jared Ball contextualizes this history with data, numbers, and analysis in this brilliant response to the reactionary response to Black disenfranchisement in the mainstream economy. I appreciate this book greatly in its directness and just laying out the facts with abundant resources and evidence to back it up. Plus, Dr. Ball hosts an amazing YouTube channel - iMixWhatILike - where you can continue to engage and learn more.
Hammer and Hoe by Robin D.G. Kelley
Each election season we find that the reactionary disdain for the South, and the people in it, often neglects the long history of resistance and rebellion against worker exploitation and human rights abuses. Dr. Kelley provides us a thorough and very specific case with Hammer and Hoe - taking us to the dirty South, Alabama to be exact. The book talks of struggle between Alabama communists and unions, racial violence on Black workers, government supression, and more. It is empowering to read what’s been before and understanding the limited resources folks had back then versus the resources we have now. More than that, the book is a good check for those who downplay the legacy of radical politics in the South.
My Face Is Black Is True by Mary Frances Berry
If Kendrick Lamar’s “40 acres…” reference inspired you to look into the history of the movement for reparations, this book is a great place to start. Dr. Berry’s detailing of Callie House’s fight for ex-slave pensions showcases her inspiring resliency, dedication, and ferver. Amongst her story, we get the larger story of class tensions between poor Black ex-slaves and free middle-class Black people, the different responses to emancipation, the Back-to-Africa movement, and more.
