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”
- Phillis Wheatley – “On Virtue”
