From debt free living to generational wealth, these personal finance titles written by Black author
April is Financial Literacy Month, and there may be no better time to take an honest look at your relationship with money and decide to do something about it.
For many people, the money habits formed in childhood quietly shape every financial decision made in adulthood. The lessons or the silence at the kitchen table tend to follow us into our careers, our households and our bank accounts. Unlearning those patterns is possible, but it takes intention, community and the right resources.
That is exactly where these 15 books come in. Each one was written by a Black author and approaches personal finance in a practical, honest and conversational way not as a dry textbook lecture, but as a real conversation between people who understand the full picture. Whether the goal is eliminating debt, building a consistent budget or beginning an investment journey that creates generational wealth, there is something on this list for every stage of the financial road.
For the adults ready to do the work
Moving Beyond Broke by Dasha Kennedy opens the list with the same unfiltered energy that made her social media platform a go to for financial honesty. Kennedy helps readers push past shame and guilt to access real, actionable money advice.
Get Good with Money by Tiffany Aliche offers a comprehensive 10 step roadmap toward what she calls financial wholeness, with approachable milestones built for real, everyday people.
You Deserve to Be Rich by Rashad Bilal and Troy Millings brings the spirit of their award-winning podcast, Earn Your Leisure, and their popular conference, InvestFest, directly onto the page. Financial empowerment is at the center of every chapter.
The 21 Day Financial Fast by Michelle Singletary a longtime personal finance columnist for The Washington Post challenges readers to cut non-essential spending for three weeks in pursuit of lasting financial peace, grounded in biblical principles.
Clever Girl Finance by Bola Sokunbi is an expanded and updated guide giving women practical tools to transform their relationship with money, supported by real stories from women who have done exactly that.
Your Journey to Financial Freedom by Jamila Souffrant uses a five stage framework to help readers eliminate debt and grow savings without giving up the joy of living along the way.
Overcoming Financial Trauma by Rahkim Sabree goes deeper than budgets and spreadsheets. Sabree addresses the psychological wounds that often drive financial stress, offering his three part framework exposure, education and execution to help readers redefine success and build wealth that lasts.
The Wealth Decision by Dominique Broadway is written by a first generation multimillionaire and mother whose core message is simple, wealth is attainable for anyone. Her step by step approach makes long term financial freedom feel within reach.
The Black Girl’s Guide to Financial Freedom by Dr. Paris Woods covers the essentials credit scores, investing strategies and more while weaving in inspiring stories from Black women who have built financial independence entirely on their own terms.
For the young readers in your life
Teaching children about money early is one of the most enduring gifts a family can give, and these five titles make that conversation both engaging and age appropriate.
The ABCs of Black Wall Street by Claudia Walker introduces young readers to the legacy of Black cooperative economics through the story of Tulsa, Oklahoma, available as a board book or hardcover for older children.
Zina Bina: Learns the Value of Money by Alex Ryan follows a curious young girl as she learns to tell the difference between wants and needs a foundational concept for any future saver. A helpful money glossary in the back of the book is an added bonus.
Make Your Own Money by Ty Allen Jackson stars Danny Dollar, the self proclaimed King of Cha-Ching, who walks young readers through entrepreneurship, banking, budgeting, investing and the importance of giving back.
A Boy, a Budget and a Dream by Jasmine Paul tells the story of two siblings with very different relationships to saving, using their contrast to teach children about budgeting and the patience that delayed gratification requires.
Amber’s Magical Savings Box by Rachael Hanible is an interactive pick that encourages children to set goals, track earnings and understand budgeting in a hands on, engaging format.
You Deserve to Be Rich rounds out the list as a title suited for older teens ready to begin thinking seriously about their financial futures making it a title the whole family can grow into together.
Financial Literacy Month is the ideal moment to invest in knowledge and few investments pay off quite like understanding your money. These 15 titles, spanning every age and stage, are a meaningful place to start.