17 Books You Should Read This Black History Month

Richard Wright's Native Son follows the tragic life of 20-year-old Bigger Thomas. An African-American youth living in Chicago's South Side in the 1930s, Bigger dreams of breaking away from his impoverished life and making something of himself. However, he is thwarted by his own fears and makes all of the wrong decisions, leading to a life of crime, rape, and murder.

Though the novel doesn't condone any of Bigger's horrific actions, it examines the hopelessness felt by inner-city youths of the time, as well as the inevitability of his downfall caused by a system of racial injustices and stereotypes.