The average person will only associate the month of June as Pride Month; however, it’s also Caribbean Heritage Month! Now if you don’t share my excitement or if you’re just now hearing about this; allow me to be excited. As a proud Afro-Caribbean and an even prouder Jamaican-American, anytime I get the chance to talk about my culture, my heart swells! The Caribbean is a vast, diverse and beautiful place filled with beautiful countries (and amazing food), frankly we would need more than a month to scratch the surface. However, I’ll play along; I’m going to show you some of the best books to kick off Caribbean Heritage Month! So rep your flag and definitely jot down these titles!
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Dear Haiti, Love Alaine
Image via Amazon I can’t stress enough how much I LOVE this book and how AMAZING it is! I wandered into a neighborhood bookstore one afternoon and bought it on a whim (we’ve all been there am I right?); the beautiful cover and Caribbean influence captured my eye instantly. Written by sisters Maika Moulite and Maritza Moulite, it’s about a Haitian-American teenager named Alaine; when her life in America goes sideways (as well as her Mom’s professional life) they figure it’s time to go back home to Haiti. Between learning Haiti’s history, superstitions, and a family curse that her Mom tried to hide her entire life; this vacation is definitely the trip of a lifetime. I couldn’t put down this book once I started for many reasons: for the first time in a long time I had a character that looked like me, had a similar cultural background and struggled fitting in between two cultures like me. This novel might be Young Adult, but reading it as an actual adult helped me so much. It taught me so much about the beautiful land of Haiti; it’s a must-read folks, whether you’re young or young at heart.
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I, Tituba Black Witch of Salem
Image via Amazon Even though October is four months away, why not get into the Halloween spirit a little early? For those who aren’t familiar with the people accused during the Salem trials, allow me to be some help. The trials lasted from 1692-1693, more than 200 people were accused, thirty were found guilty and nineteen were hanged (14 women and 5 men). During this spectacle, one woman of color was recorded of being accused, a slave named Tituba. However the records of her are so vague we’re unsure if she was Afro-Caribbean or Native American; even more so what happened after she was jailed (the belief is that she was sold off). Since history took away Tituba’s agency and voice, Maryse Conde gave it back. In her novel, she gives Tituba a story, heart, compassion, and humanizes her; by allowing this heroine version of Tituba to shine we’re forced to remember what horrors the actual Tituba most likely went through. We’re forced to say her name. One of the best books I read in my five years of college, no question.
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The Poet X
Image via Medium If I could choose one book from my list to be added to school curricula nationwide (I’m talking high school and college) it would have to be this one. Elizabeth Acevedo’s novel might be categorized as YA, but don’t be scared off or turn your nose down at this novel. The struggles the protagonist faces are often faced by many adult women; topics ranging from body shaming, body acceptance, slut shaming and female sexuality. The Poet X is about an Afro-Latina teen named Xiomara who feels unheard and unable to hide in her Harlem neighborhood; the attention her curves has granted her isn’t helping. She pours her insecurities, pain, and frustrations into her poetry, including her desires for a boy in her class. With Mami’s determination to force her daughter to obey the laws of the church, Xiomara understands that her thoughts are best kept to herself. But she still can’t stop thinking about performing her poems. Because in the face of a world that may not want to hear her, Xiomara refuses to be silent. Honestly if this book was utilized by schools, the world would be a much better and different place. Just get this book people!
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Krik? Krak!
Image via Goodreads I had to give you guys an oldie, but a goodie! If you’re looking for a ‘classic’ in the genre of Caribbean Literature, look no further! Krik? Krak! is truly a classic in every sense of the word; Edwidge Danticat is nothing short of brilliant. I first read Krik? Krak! in my sophomore year of high school, since then it’s always been in my rotation of favorites. Danticat’s amazing novel encompasses short stories all with the undertone of her Haitian upbringing; whether it be a woman who’s forced to watch her mother rot in prison for her crimes or a sex worker performing her job while her son sleeps. Her stories her passionate, gritty and teleport you somewhere else. Seriously this book is perfect, so place it in your cart already.
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The Farming of Bones
A double dose of Danticat? I’m spoiling you! Truly, I had to end this off on a high note and another amazing novel by Edwidge Danticat was a no brainer. The Farming of Bones takes us back to 1937, Amabelle is a young Haitian woman who lives in the Dominican Republic as a house servant who’s in love with a cane worker named Sebastian. They dream of marrying when genocide hits the DR driven by Dominican dictator Rafael Trujillo, leading to the slaughter of Haitian workers. Amabelle and Sebastien are separated, and she desperately flees the tide of violence for a Haiti she barely remembers. Another classic by Danticat without a question.
Honorable Mentions:
Wide Sargasso Sea
Omeros
Brief Wondrous Life Of Oscar Wao
I hope this Caribbean Heritage Month you step outside your comfort zone, your usual go-to in the bookstore and reach for something new. There’s a whole world of Caribbean authors out there who want to introduce you to their culture and customs. If you let them, I promise you won’t regret the experience. Happy reading!