The Captivating History series has some good volumes on West African history, which can give you overview and direction in further African stories. In the US, Black historical events are rooted in the institution of slavery, the repercussions of which continue to influence the Black American experience to 2023.

The Civil Rights Movement always makes compelling reading Taylor Branch’s trilogy on the topic is great especially the 1st book Parting the Waters: America During the King Years 1954-63. Another great book is Fires of Jubilee: Nat Turner’s Fierce Rebellion. In this book Stephen B. Oates recounts the most successful American slave rebellion which took place in 1831. A more contemporary account you might enjoy is Ghosts of Mississippi:The True Story by Maryanne Vollers. In this account, Vollers outlines the decades long campaign for justice in the Medger Evers assassination. The 1996 Whoopi Goldberg movie was based on this book.