in the united states, february is host to a number of notable events and holidays, Black History Month, the s*per bowl, pr*sident’s day and valentine’s day. One lesser known holiday you may not have come across is Black Love Day.
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Black Love Day was first created on february 13th, 1993 by ayo handy-kendi. the holiday is centered around five tenets- love for self, love for family, love for the Black community, love for Black people and love for the creator.
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while i am newly familiar with Black Love Day and these tenants, love for myself as a Black, queer, femme, love for my Black family, for my Black community and for Black people across the globe, both living and passed on, guides my work as the curator of the Reading for Black Lives Project.
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this booklist highlights and celebrates Black love in all iterations, recognizing that love shows up in our lives in a variety of different ways.

book list:

wild women don’t wear no blues by marita golden

the mothers by brit bennett

waiting to exhale by terry mcmillan

the revolution of birdie randolph by brandy colbert

not so pure and simple by lamar giles

confessions in b-flat by donna hill

honeypot by e. patrick johnson

sir by evolve benton

love in colour by bolu babalola

if you are interested in purchasing a book, click on an image and you will be taken to a Black-owned bookstore where you can purchase the book directly!