This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission.
The first week of January never fails to not be disorienting. And I’m sure this year’s transition period malaise is aided by the fact that the last few weeks didn’t feel particularly festive, at least not for me, which is something I’m used to getting before the new year.
Still, I am excited about what (books) this new year has to bring, as is everyone else in the Book World. Below, I’ve got BIPOC books that the Oprah Daily folks want to get into, a Florida news story that is both disheartening and hopeful, diverse SFF shows to marathon, what I’ve been reading, and more.
Oprah Daily has compiled a list of their most anticipated books coming out in 2025. It’s not exclusively BIPOC, but I’ve combed through to pick out a few that are. They include a posthumous memoir by the Josephine Baker (the dancer/spy/Civil Rights activist who I became obsessed with as a teen after Beyoncé dressed like her during a performance), the second novel by prodigy Leila Mottley, a memoir by Tina Knowles (speaking of Beyoncé), a survivor’s memoir (who also happens to be a Nobel Peace Prize nominee), and more.
The state of Floridian education is such a mess that kids are willing to give up precious weekend time in order to learn. And it’s because, despite Florida’s history being deeply rooted in slavery, classes barely teach Black History past Black History Month and select stories centering Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
The lessons—many of which are backed by Black churches—are taking place in museums and other community centers all over the state. Last year, faith-based nonprofit Faith in Florida released a toolkit designed to help educators teach students Black American history in order to combat Florida’s “Stop Woke Act.” Since the release, over 400 churches have pledged to use the kit to teach Black History.
BIPOC Book Clubs
If you’re thinking of joining a book club this year, I highly recommend looking at your local library system. Meetup.com may also have some options near you (it’s actually where I found one of my current book clubs). But, if you don’t want to be limited to your locality, there are plenty of online book clubs to choose from.
Below are the January book club picks for some POC-led online book clubs:
TV and Movies
There are a couple shows that have had me in a headlock (and have messed up my sleep schedule) that also both happen to have very diverse casts: Arcane and Star Wars: Skeleton Crew. I am a big sci-fi/fantasy girlie when it comes to shows and movies, so both shows are, unsurprisingly, fantastical. But even if you’re not super into magic and tech-dependent worlds, both shows’ purely human components are worth tuning in for. Arcane, for starters, is an excellent exploration of class, family dynamics, found family, trauma, and mental illness. It also takes place in a queer-normative world.
Star Wars: Skeleton Crew has a totally different vibe, and obviously takes place in the Star Wars universe, but it’s unlike anything that has been put out under the Star Wars umbrella for a while (which…might actually be a good thing). It starts off in the suburbs, of all places, but soon transitions to a piratey adventure that gives big The Goonies + Treasure Planet + Treasure Island vibes. It’s absolutely a kids’ show, but it still manages to have real stakes, and the last episode I saw had some of the best disability representation I’ve ever seen in a show.
**Subscribers, continue below for 16 new BIPOC books out this week**
The comments section is moderated according to our community guidelines. Please check them out so we can maintain a safe and supportive community of readers!
