12 Books by Black Chicago Women 2025

blackgirlsreadchi Host

36 participants (43 books)

01 Jan 2025—31 Dec 2025

Overview

Join us for the 12 Books by Black Chicago Women Reading Challenge for 2025! 

Whether you participated in the inaugural challenge or are participating for the first time—welcome! This year, let’s continue to celebrate the depth, diversity, and dopeness of Chicago’s Black women writers. Read at least 12 books by Black women from Chicago. The books can be in any genre, on any topic, and from any time period. 

Follow along here and on our Instagram page @blackgirlsreadchi, and use the hashtags #12BooksByBlackChicagoWomen and #12BooksByBlackWomenChi to share your progress. 

If you need a few more suggestions to get you started, check out our book list on Bookshop.org.

Challenge Books

All books added
We Are the Culture: Black Chicago's Influence on Everything by Arionne Nettles

We Are the Culture: Black Chicago's Influence on Everything

Arionne Nettles

224 pages • hardcover

nonfiction history race medium-paced
Noor by Nnedi Okorafor

Noor

Nnedi Okorafor

214 pages • hardcover • 2021

fiction science fiction adventurous challenging reflective fast-paced
The Night Masquerade by Nnedi Okorafor

The Night Masquerade

Binti #3

Nnedi Okorafor

208 pages • paperback • 2018

fiction science fiction adventurous fast-paced
Home by Nnedi Okorafor

Home

Binti #2

Nnedi Okorafor

160 pages • digital • 2017

fiction science fiction adventurous emotional fast-paced
A Political Education: Black Politics and Education Reform in Chicago Since the 1960s by Elizabeth Todd-Breland

A Political Education: Black Politics and Education Reform in Chicago Since the 1960s

Elizabeth Todd-Breland

344 pages • hardcover • 2018

nonfiction education challenging informative reflective slow-paced
Ella Baker and the Black Freedom Movement: A Radical Democratic Vision by Barbara Ransby

Ella Baker and the Black Freedom Movement: A Radical Democratic Vision

Barbara Ransby

496 pages • paperback • 2003

nonfiction biography feminism politics race challenging informative inspiring slow-paced
South Side Girls: Growing Up in the Great Migration by Marcia Chatelain

South Side Girls: Growing Up in the Great Migration

Marcia Chatelain

264 pages • paperback • 2015

nonfiction history race challenging informative inspiring slow-paced
The Breakbeat Poets Vol. 2: Black Girl Magic by

The Breakbeat Poets Vol. 2: Black Girl Magic

Breakbeat Poets #2

264 pages • paperback

nonfiction feminism lgbtqia+ poetry emotional reflective medium-paced
The Last Dreamwalker by Rita Woods

The Last Dreamwalker

Rita Woods

272 pages • hardcover • 2022

fiction fantasy historical magical realism dark emotional mysterious medium-paced
Negroland by Margo Jefferson

Negroland

Margo Jefferson

248 pages • hardcover • 2015

nonfiction history memoir race emotional informative reflective slow-paced