Never Without A Book

Lauded African American poet, publisher, and educator, Haki R. Madhubuti, takes readers on his journey through inspiring vignettes with books that challenged his limited understanding of the world and revealed new possibilities for his life, beginning when he was thirteen years old and first read Richard Wright’s autobiography, Black Boy. If it is to be useful, Madhubuti writes, knowledge “must lead one to an active consciousness; a creative and productive mind-set; a doing and problem-solving life-style; an environmentally conservative approach to nature….”`

This brief and captivating essay is a testimony to the enduring power of books to shape identity, awaken purpose, and ignite change. As one of our nation’s most vital literary voices, Madhubuti offers readers a profound reflection on the importance of cultural knowledge, personal growth, and the revolutionary act of reading. At a time when books detailing important Black stories are being banned and Black history is being erased, Never Without A Book celebrates how reading liberates us from narrow-minded thinking.