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10 Black Authors You Should Know

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Hey, Reader! Needing some additions to ante up your bookshelves? Check out these 10 Black authors to add to your repertoire. Included in this list are suggestions of novels written by them.

Click on each book title to get more information about the author and their work.

Happy Reading!

1. Sister Souljah 

Sistah Souljah

Sister Souljah, born in the Bronz, NY in 1964, is a recording artist, film producer, activist, and author. Her book, The Coldest Winter Ever, is an award-winning best-seller from 1999. Her passion pours from the pages of her memoir, No Disrespect. Cracking the spine of any of her works will leave you wanting to read more.


2. Ta-Nehisi Coates

Ta-nehisi Coates

Ta-Nehisi Coates, the correspondent for The Atlantic, frequently writes about culture, politics, and socio-economic issues that often plague the African Diaspora. He is the author of The Beautiful Struggle, Between the World and Me, and We Were Eight Years in Power.


3. Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is a Nigerian author of Purple Hibiscus, Half of a Yellow Sun, The Thing Around Your Neck, Americanah, and We Should All Be Feminists.


4. Ralph Ellison

Ralph Ellison

Ralph Ellison was an American novelist, literary critic, and scholar best known for his novel Invisible Man, which won the National Book Award in 1953.


5. Roxane Gay

Roxane Gay, Photo credit: Jay Grabiec/HarperCollins

Roxane Gay, author of The New York Times best-selling essay collection Bad Feminist, as well as the short story collection Ayiti, the novel An Untamed State, the short story collection Difficult Women, and the memoir Hunger.


6. James Baldwin

James Baldwin

James Baldwin, American novelist, playwright, essayist, poet, and activist- who was prolific is his many works. Of his prominent titles- I am Not Your Negro, Go Tell It on the Mountain and Giovanni’s Room, will leave your yearning for more from this great man.


7. bell hooks

bell hooks

bell hooks is an acclaimed intellectual, feminist theorist, cultural critic, artist, and writer. Her works include Ain’t I a Woman: Black Women and Feminism and Rock My Soul: Black People and Self-Esteem.


8. Mikki Kendall

Mikki Kendall

Mikki Kendall is an author, diversity consultant, and feminist who focuses on intersectionality, policing, gender, and sexual assault. Her latest work, Hood Feminism is a great read that delves into Black womanism (Black feminism).


9. Alice Walker

Alice Walker

Alice Walker, writer, poet, and activist whose many works include seven novels, four collections of short stories, four children’s books, and volumes of essays and poetry. Among them are: The Temple of My Familiar, By the Light of My Father’s Smile, Meridian, and The Color Purple.


10. Ayana Mathis

Ayana Mathis

Ayana Mathis is a recipient of the 2014-15 New York Public Library’s Cullman Center Fellowship. Her first novel, The Twelve Tribes of Hattie, was a New York Times Bestseller, a 2013 New York Times Notable Book of the Year, and an NPR Best Books of 2013.

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Melanie Henderson

This is actually right on time. I was look for a couple new additions to my ever increasing collection. Can’t wait to check them out thanks!

Luna

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