Black Power Scorecard: Measuring the Racial Gap and What We Can Do to Close It

Perry, Andre. Black Power Scorecard: Measuring the Racial Gap and What We Can Do to Close It. 2025. 256p. ISBN 9781250869715.

Black Power Scorecard redefines the understanding of Black Americans' pursuit of power. Moving beyond the traditional focus on legal equality to emphasize its inherent connection with economic influence and ownership across various facets of life, the author utilizes extensive research and statistical data to quantify the actual power Black Americans wield in the United States, arguing that true power in the U.S. extends far beyond basic democratic freedoms.

The book comprehensively evaluates Black power across critical areas, including property, business, wealth, education, health, and social mobility, assessing communities nationwide. Perry calculates how this translates into fundamental means of power, including life itself and the longevity of Black communities. In doing so, he identifies crucial, often overlooked areas where investment could significantly narrow the racial gap, ultimately benefiting all of society and offering a fresh, data-driven approach to addressing structural inequality.

More than 150 years after the end of the Civil War, racial injustices continue to afflict the United States, preventing the nation from achieving its true potential.

A Thousand Ways to Die: The True Cost of Violence on Black Life in America

Lee, Trymaine. A Thousand Ways to Die: The True Cost of Violence on Black Life in America. 2025. 272p. ISBN 9781250098016.

In this profound narrative, journalist Trymaine Lee confronts a life-altering event: a near-fatal heart attack at age 38, despite his physical fitness. His five-year-old daughter, Nola, innocently asked "why," prompting Lee to delve into the underlying causes of his health crisis. He realized the answer lay in the immense burden of being a Black man in America, grappling with the relentless exposure to Black death as a journalist, and the deep scars of his family's history. This includes the legacy of enslavement, lynching, the Great Migration, the pervasive yet insidious racism of the North, and the devastating impact of gun violence that claimed the lives of multiple family members, including two great-uncles, a grandfather, a stepbrother, and two cousins.

Lee masterfully interweaves three powerful threads throughout the book: the extensive and often brutal history of African Americans and firearms; his personal experiences documenting gun violence and exploring the economic forces behind both legal and illegal gun industries; and his own autobiography. This personal journey includes his near brushes with gun violence in his youth, a reflective trip to Ghana to trace his ancestors' journey from the Middle Passage, and the constant challenge of representing Black people accurately within a predominantly white and often antagonistic media landscape. Ultimately, A Thousand Ways to Die serves as Lee's comprehensive answer to Nola, offering a raw and complex portrayal of the Black experience while simultaneously celebrating the indomitable strength and beauty of his family and community, which forms Nola's inheritance.

Love in 280 Characters or Less

Stringfield, Ravynn K. Love in 280 Characters or Less. 2025. 320p. ISBN 9781250899385.

Sydney Ciara Warren, a Black college freshman, is embarking on the exciting yet nerve-wracking journey of her first year at Coastal Virginia University. While thrilled about this new chapter, she faces the challenge of being separated from her best friend, Malcolm, and the uncertainty of her future academic and career path, much to the disappointment of her parents who envision law school for her. Fascinated by fashion, Sydney finds comfort and a means of self-expression through blogging about her experiences, curating meaningful outfits, and engaging on Twitter as she navigates campus life and searches for her place in the world.

Within the digital realm, Sydney develops a connection and a crush on a mysterious online persona known as YoungPrinceX. However, her real-life romantic landscape becomes more complex when she begins a relationship with a kind classmate named Xavier, who might just be the person behind the screen. As Sydney juggles academics, burgeoning relationships both online and offline, and the pressure to define her future, she hopes to not only survive her first semester but to truly flourish in her real life as much as she seems to be online.

Filled with realistic characters who live their lives while confronting issues such as racism and gender differences. Love in 280 Characters or Less is a great transition from young adulthood into becoming an adult.

Malcolm Lives!

Kendi, Ibram X. Malcolm Lives! 2025. 400p. ISBN 9780374311865.

Malcolm Lives! offers a compelling narrative biography of Malcolm X, meticulously crafted to trace his life from birth to death. Growing up poor, Malcom X's early life was shaped by the struggle against a racist American society. Malcolm turned to a life of crime and was eventually caught. In prison, Malcolm had the time to reflect and shape his views of the world. Upon his release, Malcolm joined the Nation of Islam and became its most prolific speaker. Malcolm Lives! provides crucial context for Malcolm's pivotal decisions and the actions of those around him, moving beyond a mere personal portrait to illuminate the intricate social and political landscape of America during the Civil Rights Movement. Malcolm's journey ultimately evolved towards a powerful commitment to anti-racism.

This groundbreaking work serves as a comprehensive and accessible resource, not only providing an intimate look at a hugely influential American figure but also revealing the broader historical forces that shaped his life and era. By presenting Malcolm's transformation and intellectual evolution within the context of the civil rights movement, Malcolm Lives! highlights that his enduring legacy is grounded in his ongoing growth and dedication to achieving a more just and equitable society.

Dear Manny

Stone, Nic. Dear Manny. 2025. 224p. ISBN 9780593308011.

Jared Peter Christensen, a university student, is confident in his bid for junior class president, believing his progressive platform focused on equity and inclusion will secure his victory over his right-wing opponent. His friend and roomate, Justyce, from Dear Martin, provides advice and guidance without being too involved. However, his campaign is unexpectedly disrupted by the arrival of Dylan, a captivating transfer student from an HBCU. Dylan challenges Jared's self-perception, accusing him of embodying a "Woke White Boy" mentality, which throws him into a state of confusion and self-doubt.

To navigate his conflicting emotions and grapple with Dylan's accusations, Jared begins writing letters to his deceased best friend, Manny. These letters serve as a means for him to process his internal struggle and confront the complexities of love and privilege. He is forced to examine his own beliefs and actions, questioning whether his intentions align with his impact. 

Dear Manny explores the tension between Jared's desire for social justice and his own privileged position, posing the question of how he can reconcile his personal feelings with his understanding of systemic inequalities. 

Racial Opportunity Cost: The Toll of Academic Success on Black and Latinx Students

Chamber, Terah Venzant. Racial Opportunity Cost: The Toll of Academic Success on Black and Latinx Students. 2022. 232p. ISBN 9781682537442.

Racial Opportunity Cost examines the unique obstacles faced by high-achieving Black and Latinx students, particularly in predominantly white educational settings. Introducing the concept of "racial opportunity cost," the author explains the many tradeoffs and challenges these students encounter on their path to academic success. Through firsthand accounts from students, educators, and researchers, the author highlights the prevalence of educational racism, peer and cultural isolation, and struggles with racial identity, even among those who are academically successful.

Racial Opportunity Cost demonstrates how these secondary stressors negatively impact students' educational experiences from K-12 through postsecondary education and beyond. Factors such as school culture, intersectionality, and community acceptance influence racial opportunity cost. By connecting individual experiences to systemic issues, the author provides a framework for educators to proactively address these challenges. The book aims to equip educators with the tools to cultivate inclusive environments, reduce racial opportunity cost, and improve the overall experiences of high-achieving students of color.

Into White

 Pink, Randi. Into White. 2016. 288p. ISBN 9781250070210.

LaToya is not comfortable in her skin. Instead of being Black, she wishes she were White. The people in Birmingham, Alabama, are so much nicer, and life is so much easier if you are White. One night, she makes the wish to be White, and when she wakes up the next morning her wish has been granted. Her family doesn't notice a difference, but everyone else sees her as White.

As White, LaToya suddenly finds herself propulsed up the social hierarchy at her mostly White high school. She ranked so low as a Black girl that even other Black people disrespected her. But now that she is White, she gets more attention and more respect. However, LaToya suddenly realizes that not everything is as rosy as she thought it were. She's still at risk from sexual predators. Her rapid climb up the social ladder is more driven by her newness (she claims to be a transfer student) than the fact that she is White. And the people who loved LaToya are really missing her. In the end, LaToya must decide whether to be true to herself, or become something new and different from everything she has known before.

Dealing with the hard topic of race relations with humor and mirth, Into White explores several sensitive issues and provides one answer to "what if" questions. Readers interested in discovering more about how such changes would affect them will enjoy LaToya's struggles.

Such a Fun Age

 Reid, Kiley. Such a Fun Age. 2019. 310p. ISBN 9781526612144. Available as an audiobook from Overdrive.

At 25, African-American Emira lives in Philadelphia and is rudderless. After graduating from Temple University, Emira worked a series of odd jobs, but her favorite so far is being a babysitter for Briar, a precocious 2 years-old who is always asking questions. She works with Briar three days a week, while Briar's mother, Mrs. Chamberlain, cares for Briar's younger sister and writes a book.

Blonde and White, Alix Chamberlain loved her old life in New York City. She used her spirit of positivity and her blog to parley a book deal and get a ton of free stuff. She and her husband moved to Philadelphia for his work as a network anchor, and Alix has felt lost, with her friends and all of her favorite haunts left behind.

When a rock is thrown through Alix' window following a controversial comment made by her husband on the newscast, she calls Emira in a panic to see if she could come and take Briar away while the police are over. Emira, who was at a party for her best friend Zara, agrees to come over even though she has been drinking. Accompanied by Zara, she picks up Briar and heads to the local market, where Briar loves to look at tea and different staples. They walk through the market and dance, but eventually Zara has to depart, leaving Emira and Briar alone. That's when a White customer accuses Emira of having kidnapped Briar, because what kind of sitter would be out in a party dress, smelling of alcohol, this late at night? The whole confrontation with a security guard is filmed by Kelly Copland. Emira is shaken up, but not as much as Alix who feels guilty she placed her sitter in that situation.

Emira begins dating Kelly, who has a complicated history with Alix when they were both in High School. Alix wants to make the whole mess right, but for the wrong reasons. Briar wants Emira to stay with her forever, because Alix doesn't pay much attention to her daughter. And Emira continues to search for herself, hoping to discover who she really is.

The dual themes of self-discovery and race relations percolates through the book. Each character has major flaws. Alix can't let go of the past and doesn't want to be perceived as racist. Kelly is still bitter about the circumstances surrounding his breakup with Alix. Emira's friends are all adults with their own apartments and benefits, but Emira still lives in a dingy apartment with no real prospects. Fans of realistic fiction with dysfunctional families will appreciate this look into a complicated situation.