BOOKSHELF

Equal Justice Under Law (Farrar, Straus, Giroux, $25), is an important memoir by America's first Black woman federal court judge and one of the leading lawyers in the Brown v. Board of Education case, Constance Baker Motley. The book takes readers through the legal challenges of the turbulent '50s and '60s as they follow the author's work as a civil rights attorney with the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, as counsel for key Movement figures such as Martin Luther King Jr. and James Meredith, as New York State senator and later as a federal judge. Against the odds of racism and sexism, Motley made impressive inroads in the legal community, arguing 10 cases before the Supreme Court and winning all but one. It's a fresh perspective on an important time in our history and the story of a Black woman's rise to greatness.

An Olympic Journey: The Saga of an American Hero: LeRoy T. Walker (Griffin Publishing Group, $24.95) tells the story of a great track coach who overcame the obstacle of racism, to become president of the United States Olympic Committee and to lead the U.S. delegation into the stadium for the Centennial Olympic Games in Atlanta, a short distance from Parsons Street where he had been born in poverty. His achievements are many, including his work as chancellor of a major university and coach of some of the world's brightest track stars. Succeeding at a time when America was shadowed by Jim Crow, Walker's victories are all the more amazing.

By the Light of My Father's Smile (Random House, $22.95), Alice Walker's first novel in six years, marks the author's return to the literary scene. With trademark grace and a renewed sense of spirituality, Walker spins the story of an African-American family who moves to Mexico for a time and lives amongst a mixed-race tribe of escaped Black slaves and Indians and how that journey affects their lives. Exploring notions of sexuality, maturity, spirituality and self-actualization, the characters sparkle with originality and depth. It's a fitting comeback for a treasured author.

The Bluelight Corner: Black Women Writing on Passion, Sex & Romantic Love (Three Rivers Press, $14) is a provocative assemblage of writings, edited by Rosemarie Robotham. Shaped from the words of Black women authors, both unknown and beloved, this book presents a patchwork of ideas about love, eroticism, romance and marriage that touches on the innocent, familiar and taboo. Though different in their telling, the stories are linked by their attention to detail and the strong feelings they evoke.

Something Beautiful (Doubleday, 16.95) is a children's book that touches on adult themes such as poverty, homelessness and community responsibility with a tender hand and a poet's voice, by Sharon Dennis Wyeth and illustrated by Chris K. Soentpiet. The story stands out as much for its important storyline as it does for its beautiful artistry.

The Future of American Progressivism: An Initiative for Political and Economic Reform (Beacon Press, $20) is a thin volume packed with solutions to solving out nation's inequities, by Roberto Mangabeira Unger and Cornel West. The authors challenge the notion of economic growth and social parity as mutually exclusive terms and instead lay out a blueprint in which both are possible.

Affirmative Acts: Political Essays (Anchor Books, $12.95), a collection of essays, by June Jordan.

Blue Light (Little, Brown and Company, $23.50), a science-fiction novel, by Walter Mosley.

Touched by God: America's Black Gospel Greats Share Their Stories of Finding God (Pocket Books, $22), 19 gospel singers share inspiring stories of how they found God, by Dr. Bobby Jones with Leslie Sussman.

The Mood of Christmas (Harper & Row, Publishers, $10.50), alive with the spirit of the season, this classic is a spiritual and poetic testament to the true meaning of Christmas, by Howard Thurman.

Kwanzaa: A Celebration of Family, Community and Culture (University of Sankore Press, $24.95) is the commemorative edition of a holiday classic, by Dr. Maulana Karenga. The book explains the meaning of Kwanzaa, its principles, symbols and traditions.

Steppin' Out With Attitude: Sister, Sell Your Dream (Harper-Perennial, $12.50), a motivational book for women with easy-to-follow steps to help realize your dream, by Anita Bunkley.