Make Your February Super Black and Super #Lit with Books by Black Authors born in February

Hands down, February is the Blackest month of the year in the United States. It’s Black History Month and like it or not, mainstream America gets all of its Black agenda items checked off during these four short weeks. One could argue that June is the Blackest month of the year on account of Juneteenth Day, but I’m actually sticking with #TeamFebruary. Why? Because more than a dozen award-winning, iconic Black authors were born in February, and while they may not have “made history,” with their birth, they recorded it with their words, leaving us a literary legacy to be proud of. And that right that there is worth a month of celebrations.

It really is almost an embarrassment of riches when you look at all of the Black authors born in February. It’s like the literary gods decided to bless all the Black babies born in this shortened month. (Thank you, literary gods, as I too was born in February and feel so grateful to be a part of this melanated literary tribe.) Of course, if you believe in astrology, then you know that February babies are destined to be creative artists types, with a flair for the dramatic, so all of the literary greats born in February makes total astrological sense.

A Who’s Who of Black Authors Born in February

Happy Birthday, Langston!

On February 1st, let’s wish author, journalist and poet, Langston Hughes a Happy Birthday!

While this list is not exhaustive, here is a carefully curated list of Black authors born during the Blackest month of the year. (Feel free to say Happy Birthday on social media on their special day!)

February 1 – Langston Hughes

February 2 – Joseph S. Cotter, Sr. (One of the earliest published African-American dramatists.)

February 3 – Victor LaValle

February 6 – Melvin B. Tolson ( Poet, debater, and one-time poet laureate of Liberia) & Bob Marley

February 7 - Angela Flournoy

February 9 – Alice Walker

February 10 – Me (Lori L. Tharps)

February 11 - Maryse Condé

February 12 – Jewell Parker Rhodes, Jacqueline Woodson and Asali Solomon

February 14 – Frederick Douglass

February 15 - Beverly Jenkins and Elizabeth Acevedo

February 18 – Audre Lorde, Bebe Moore Campbell, Elizabeth Nunez, and Toni Morrison !!!

February 20 – Elayne Fluker and Trevor Noah

February 21 – Malaika Adero, Nina Simone, and Attica Locke

February 22 – Ishmael Reed and Edward Enninful

February 23 – W.E.B. Dubois, Haki R. Madhubuti, and Farrah Jasmine Griffin

February 24 – Stacey Patton

February 25 – George Schuyler

February 27 - Alexis Keir (Debut British author of Windward Family.)

How to Celebrate (and Support) Black Authors in February

So, how can you celebrate these Black authors during Black History Month? Of course, the obvious answer is to buy one, or two, or three of their books. With this list of authors alone, you have literally dozens - dare I say hundreds - of books to choose from. (BTW, if you’re looking for suggestions, I’ve created a shelf of ‘Books by Black authors born in February” in the Read Write and Create Bookshop.)

Here’s another idea: You can read a book about one of these authors and deepen you knowledge on their life experiences and writing styles. Me personally -and here on the RWC platform - I am always encouraging writers to study the lives of our literary foremothers and forefathers , to look for clues on how to live a more successful, productive and satisfying literary life.

You can also take your reading Black authors in February mission out into the world and participate in something like the National African American Read-In where organizations, schools, churches and individuals are encouraged to get their communities reading books by Black authors together during the month of February. Reading in community is always more fun.

Finally, I would say February is the perfect time to read and financially support any books by Black authors, not just those of us born in February. Make February your Blackest reading month of the year. Read novels, poetry, and nonfiction by Black writers and make your month super Black and super #Lit. It’s a guaranteed good time.

Is there another author I need to add to my list of Black authors born in February? Let me know in the comments! And tell me how you’re going to make this February super Black and super #Lit!