Black and Latino Men Read

Abel P. Lara, Clinical Social Worker

The Mastery of Love
Don Miguel Ruiz

The Mastery of Love teaches the true meaning of love, forgiveness, and healing. Many go through life carrying old wounds they refuse to heal. Those wounds then breed anger, despair, and bitterness. The Mastery of Love teaches, “When you can touch a wound and it doesn’t hurt, you know you have truly forgiven.” Now, I teach others that true happiness cannot coexist with open wounds. This book is for anyone ready to heal and restore relationships. Forgiveness doesn’t condone…it liberates.

William Paden, Actor and Retired Educator

Between the World and Me
Ta-Nehesi Coates

Between the World and Me is a unique examination of the multilayered, insidious nature of racism in the United States. The author invites the reader to explore the effects of race across generations by challenging the reader to consider the multigenerational impact of race in a written letter to his son. Though the focus is the dynamic between Black and White Americans, the lessons apply to a majority of men of color as they navigate the racial landscape of modern America. Coates’ nonfiction text is a tremendous tool for men of color to use in discussing, dissecting, and living with the constant assault on our humanity.

Otis Harris, Jr., University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Student

The Energy Bus
Jon Gordon

As Black and Latino men, we don’t always get to choose the roads we’re asked to travel, but we can choose who gets to drive. The Energy Bus by Jon Gordon challenged me to take responsibility for the energy I carry, the people I allow on my bus, and the direction towards which I’m heading. Life brings detours, disappointments, closed doors, and people who would gladly choose our destination for us. This book reminds us that positivity isn’t ignoring those realities. It’s refusing to surrender our power to them. I recommend The Energy Bus because our circumstances may influence the route, but they do not have to determine the destination.

Jordan Koontz, El Camino College Student

Red Rising
Pierce Brown

The glorious tale of Red Rising follows Darrow and the creation of the myth that is the Reaper of Mars. Darrow is a Red, the lowest rank in a color-coded hierarchy ruled by Golds, the highest and most powerful color in society. The Golds have morphed civilization into an exploitative system catered to themselves, ensuring indefinite oppression and powerlessness for lower Colors. Darrow’s perseverance and journey toward breaking the chains that have bound his people for several hundred years connect with men of color. Many of us have experienced injustice and know how it shapes society to suppress those who stand up for themselves or others. Red Rising unveils the significance of fighting for a future free of such oppressive systems—something all men of color should identify with by reading this Prime Series.

About Black and Latino Men Read

In 2015, I partnered with Tia Chucha’s Centro Cultural & Bookstore to create the Black and Latino Men Read (BLMR) Essay Contest. Our goal was to promote literacy for Black and Latino young men. Since 2015, the BLMR Essay Contest has clearly shown that young male Black and Latino students across America can and do love to read. We are ending the BLMR Essay contest; however, we are excited to announce a new BLMR literacy contest this fall.

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BIANNUAL BOOK RECOMMENDATION CONTEST

Beginning September 1, 2026, we are replacing the BLMR Essay contest with the new Black and Latino Men Read Book Recommendation contest. We are creating a space where Black and Latino men across this country can find recommendations for books to read. Winners will be selected to have their book recommendations and photos posted on the website. Each winner will receive a $100 Barnes and Noble Bookstore e-gift card.

Eligible Participants

The Black and Latino Men Read Book Recommendation contest is open to Black and Latino men 18 years of age or older.

BLMR Book Recommendation Contest

Type a paragraph providing reasons why this is an important and/or significant book (fiction or nonfiction) that should be read by other men of color. The paragraph must be typed, 12 font, double-spaced, with a limit of 8 lines. Type your complete name, job title or college’s name, email, and cell# in the top left-hand corner. Attach a photo of you reading your recommended book. Make sure we can clearly see the full title of the book and the author’s name in the photo.

Financial Award

Four (4) BLMR winners will receive $100 Barnes and Noble Bookstore e-gift cards.

Deadlines

There are two contest deadlines:

o Fall submissions begin September 1st and the deadline is September 30th, at 12 noon, PST.

o Spring submissions begin March 1st and the deadline is March 30th, at 12 noon, PST.

Note: No late entries will be accepted.

Black and Latino Men Read Essay Contest Closed.

2025

December

$1,000 Financial Award

Marlon Flores

California State University Northridge

December

$1,000 Financial Award

Emiliano Cruz

Hugoton High School

December

$1,000 Financial Award

Mathyas Cerda-Siezar

Miami Dade College

December

$1,000 Financial Award

Korbyn Baptiste

Benjamin Franklin High School

2024

December

$1,000 Financial Award

Juandiego Perozo

University of Oklahoma

December

$1,000 Financial Award

Marc Anthony Torres

University of North Texas

2023

December

$1,000 Financial Award

Alfonso Romero Gonzalez

Milwaukee Area Technical College

December

$1,000 Financial Award

Charles Nwakanma

Canterbury High School

2022

October

$1,000 Financial Award

Edwin Galvan

Contra Costa College

October

$500 Financial Award

Jorge Reque

University of California Los Angeles

October

$150 Honorable Mention

Joseph Adams

Embry Riddle Aeronautical University

2021

October

$1,000 Financial Award

Isaac Cortez

California State University, Los Angeles

2020

October

$500 Financial Award

Eduardo Zamora Castellanos

San Jose State University

October

$500 Financial Award

Edwin Alvarez

University of California, Santa Cruz

October

$150 Honorable Mention

Ariel Alvarez

California State University, Fullerton

2019

October

$1,000 Financial Award

Brandon Croom

Pasadena City College

October

$150 Honorable Mention

Thomas Lipscomb

Aliso Niguel High School

2018

October

$1,000 Financial Award

Miguel Evaristo

University California, Berkeley

2017

February

$500 Prize Winner

Edgar De La Cruz

University of California, Merced

2016

February

$300 Prize Winner

Jordan Roberson

University of California, Irvine

February

$500 Prize Winner

Abel Lara

California State University, Los Angeles

February

$500 Prize Winner

Aaron Preciado

California State University, Long Beach

People Recommend

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Luis J. Rodriguez

Poet

"One summer I was homeless in L.A. When I was about fifteen, I used to go to the library to get books. I would have books in abandoned cars, in the seats, cubby holes on the L.A. River—just to have books wherever I could keep them. I just loved to have books and that really helped me. I didn’t realize it was going to be my destiny. I didn’t know I was going to be a writer."

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Mel Donalson

Author

"Writing has no borders. Even when choosing a particular genre or deliberately mixing forms, writing has provided me a particular freedom. A freedom to pursue personal expression. A freedom to criticize or celebrate the people and world around me. Writing provides ways to encourage a reader to feel, think, and act. Writing is personal, but serves as that pathway to connect to others. Writing has been my weapon, my addiction, my salvation, and my source of hope."