Honor these 5 authors for Black History Month

By Nemesi Martinez

Black History Month is a tribute to many African Americans’ hard work. It started in February 1926 by author and historian Carter G. Woodson, as a week to learn about the culture and accomplishments of African Americans. This became known as “Black History Month” in 1976 by President Gerald Ford. Here are the top five Black authors that will help you get into the spirit of the month.

Angie Thomas, a young adult novelist, is a great author who is most well-known for the book “The Hate U Give.” Thomas takes on the injustice of many racial problems and faces them head-on with this book. Many of the same pattern, including “On the Come Up,” and “Concrete

Rose.” Thomas even includes love stories “Blackout,” and “Whiteout” for romance fans.

Renowned author and poet Maya Angelou is known worldwide for her work, including her many published novels and poems. Even though she passed away on May 28, 2014, her work is still being studied and treasured. Angelou’s most known book is her autobiography, “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings,” where she talks about her traumatic childhood. It is truly a heartbreaking story that is a must-read for poem lovers. This book makes the reader better understand the injustices many African Americans face such as racism and their struggle for

For fans of LGBTQ+ novels, I have the perfect author for you. Aaron Foley is a journalist and author, currently serving as senior digital editor for the PBS NewsHour. His bestselling book “Boys Come First,” is a gay fiction book published early last year. Foley makes a hilarious take on three gay men trying to find love which has garnered him a large audience of followers. This book is engaging for all audiences, even if you aren’t a part of the LGBTQ+ community. Though Foley hasn’t published too many novels, you will be waiting for more after reading the few he does have.

Mystery followers will be excited to hear of Walter Mosley’s novels. Mosley is most known for his work in crime and mystery, with his best-selling book being the “Easy Rawlins” series. It follows private detective Ezekiel “Easy” Porterhouse Rawlins facing and solving crimes. The detective is a veteran of World War II, and a “no funny business” type of guy. This bone-chilling mystery is a fan favorite and a must read if mystery is interesting to you.

As the one year anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine nears, Daniel Pearl Magnet High School (DPMHS) welcomes two Ukrainian students: freshmen Sebastian Olfatmanesh, who has been in the U.S. for three months, and

Alisa Kaharchanko, who has been here for 10 months.

“I feel a lot more comfortable here because in Ukraine, even before war, I always wanted to come here to the U.S. and start my life from the beginning,” Olfatmanesh said. “Coming here changed my life for the better.”

Since coming to the U.S. after the war began on Feb. 24, 2022, both Olfatmanesh and Kaharchanko are getting used to the cultural differences between Ukraine and the U.S.

“I wouldn’t say it’s very different here but the mentality of the people is very different,” Kaharchanko said in Russian. “The reaction of people to certain matters, there’s a difference between those that were born here and the socialization, the culture, the habits. For example, to take the language, many people here joke about it to some degree.”

Olfatmanesh has also been adjusting to the new environment. Though he had a hard time finding a group of friends in the beginning, he feels very comfortable at the school now. One hobby that has helped him cope through the change is guitar. Olfatmanesh began playing guitar for two years now and performed a couple of songs in the winter concert.

“It (guitar) is my favorite thing to do,” Olfatmanesh said. “I don’t know how I would live without it. It kind of saved my life.”

Kaharchanko also brought her hobby to the U.S. and enjoys playing tennis. She has been playing tennis for two years and wishes to be a professional tennis player in the future.

“I play in a Russian-speaking team and I’d like to make it a profession,” Kaharchanko said.