The Holy Bible and numerous books and research on biblically related literature has made the greatest impact on my life. Also, I have been very much enlightened and impressed by writings of the following authors:
Paul L Hamilton – African Peoples’ Contributions to World Civilization – Shattering the Myths
Carter G. Woodson –The Mis-Education of The Negro
Michelle Alexander – The New Jim Crow Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness
Cathryn Jackson –The Pieces Of Me
Desmond Tutu – The Wisdom of Desmond Tutu compiled by Michael Battle
E.B. DuBois – The Souls of Black Folk
James Gates – Hidden Intimacy; Did He Bite You
Larry A. Johnson – Hope Does Not Disappoint
Dolen Perkins-Valdez – Wrench
Julius Lester – Black Folk Tales
Robin McGraw – Inside My Heart
Angela Kay Austin – On The Frontline
Walter Gibson, PH.D. – Black Americans
Leslie Odom, Jr. – Failing Up
Maya Angelou – The Heart of a Woman; Even the Stars Look Lonesome
African America Wisdom A book of Quotations and Proverbs – edited by Quinn Eli
Some of my favorite poems are:
Herbert W. Brewster – “I Am Determined to Be Somebody Some Day”
Maya Angelou – “Phenomenal Woman”, “Sill I Rise”
William Cullen Bryant – “Thanatopsis”
Robert Browning – “Andrea del Sarto” Ah, but a man’s reach should exceed his grasp or what’s a heaven for?
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow – “A Psalm of Life” Tell me not in mournful numbers, Life is but an empty dream! For the soul is dead that slumbers, And things are not what they seem.
Sterlin Brown – “Long Gone”
Langston Hughes – “I, Too”, “Hold Fast Your Dream”, “Dreams Deferred”