The list also includes nonamerican authors resident in the usa and american writers of african descent. African writers series aws is a series of books by african writers that has been published by heinemann since 1962. Adichies works are primarily characterdriven, interweaving the background of her native nigeria and social and political events into the narrative. Apr 10, 2018 if youre an african american author who has written a book for an african american audience, there are a number of relevant publishers in the united states who might be interested in your manuscript. This list includes a mixture of some of my favorite books and also some new books i have simply enjoyed reading.
One of the oldest and largest singleday events for african american childrens books in the country, the goal of the fair is to enlighten, enrich and empower african american children to read outside of their normal schoolwork. Africanamerican authors of books for children and young adults author title, audience, and call number adoff, arnold editor street music. My year of reading african women, by gary younge books. There has never been a better time than right now to be a reader of african literature, especially in the united states historically, an underdeveloped nation in this regard. Black history month is a great time to highlight the work of black authors in the u.
The stories told by these six rising stars in the world of african american literature might be hard to stomach at times, but there is no denying that we are all richer for having read them. See more ideas about books, childrens books and african american books. Authors great listens from african american authors. Butlers kindred is a classic of african american science fiction. These products are our current recommendations for you.
The top 10 contemporary african writers you should know. Washington, dc 20020 united states of america call us at 202 8442062 subscribe to our newsletter. Info mahoganybooks mahoganybooks 1231 good hope rd. Things fall apart by chinua achebe, americanah by chimamanda ngozi adichie, half of a yellow sun by chimamanda ngozi ad. The only problem is narrowing a list to under 30 books standouts when all the books. Below are 16 top african american book publishing companies that publish everything from childrens books, poetry, history to academic titles. Born in nigeria in 1977, chimamanda ngozi adichie is part of a new generation of african writers taking the literary world by storm.
African american authors of books for children and young adults author title, audience, and call number adoff, arnold editor street music. In the florida projects, sixteenyearold jayson struggles with the harsh realities of his life which include an abusive mother, a drugaddicted father, and not fitting in at his predominately white school, and bring. A prolific poet, her words often depict black beauty, the strength of women. African american fiction, american fiction, books barnes. The story of the first six african americans who escaped slavery and became millionaires. Trouble is what i do leonid mcgill book 6 release date. The bluest eye by toni morrison, their eyes were watching god by zora neale hurston, beloved by toni morrison. Hurston is one of the talented harlem renaissance authors. This year is the perfect chance for you to fall in love with some old favorites and to find a few new christian. Jan 28, 2020 thanks to the work of african american authors, the world can better understand both the struggles and triumphs of black people in america.
The bluest eye by toni morrison, beloved by toni morrison, their eyes were watching god by zora neale hurston. In this fresh, funky, and ferociously honest book, awardwinning journalist joan morgan bravely probes the complex issues facing african american women in todays world. Feb 21, 2019 14 books by black authors that are shaping our conversation about race. Africanamerican authors and their books to fall in love with this valentines day february 14, 2020 by chandra sparks splond valentines day is today, and if theres one thing i love, its africanamerican authors. In this fresh, funky, and ferociously honest book, awardwinning journalist joan morgan bravely probes the complex issues facing africanamerican women in todays world. Literature in particular has been a space for black authors to tell their stories authentically, and bookworms seeking good reads can choose. If you didnt know, february has been marked as black history month in the united states since 1926, which has served as an annual observance of noteworthy people and events of the african diaspora. In these fifteen superb stories, this essential author of african american fiction gives us compelling portraits of a wide range of unforgettable characters, from sassy children to cunning old men, in scenes shifting between uptown new york and rural north. Their eyes were watching god by zora neale hurston.
The contributions of black writers to american literature span genres and generations. In his hilarious yet soulshaking truthtelling book, hughley touches on politics, race, and life as a black american as only he can. Book fair to feature african american childrens books whyy. Db041462 adoff, arnold editor all the colors of the race poems. Africanamerican authors and their books to fall in love. Africanamerican authors from african and the african. This is a list of africanamerican authors and writers, all of whom are considered part of africanamerican literature, and who already have wikipedia articles. African authors and their books explore african books. Goldens style is modern, refreshing and accurately captures a slice of africanamerican life. These books are mustreads to add to your 2019 list of books to. Langston hughes was an african american writer whose poems, columns, novels and plays made him a leading figure in the harlem renaissance of the 1920s.
Often referred to as a spokesman for african americans and women through her many. Score a book s total score is based on multiple factors, including the number of people who have voted for it and how highly those voters ranked the book. He is a young executive, and she is an artist on the brink of an exciting career. These books are available from the wisconsin talking book and braille library catalog. Lets talk about books because, as usual, the past year has been an amazing one for books by black writers. We are pleased to provide books on the african experience world wide, as well as books on the african american experience from your favorite african american authors. Feb 20, 2019 black history month gives us 29 days to honor african americans and the everexpanding contributions they make to culture. This novel which has since been translated into over 50 languages due to its high demand, made achebe very popular.
Delany, major jackson and others tell us about some of their favorite works of literature. An engaging saga of unconditional friendship, love, and foregiveness. I purposely did a mixture of classic and contemporary african american literature. He was born in 1930, and schooled at the university of ibadan, nigeria. Thanks to the work of african american authors, the world can better understand both the struggles and triumphs of black people in america. Here are 50 commendable books by black authors published in the.
We celebrate black culture, through books, for readers of all backgrounds to enjoy. Top 12 must read books by black authors for 2019 black. Newlyweds celestial and roy are the embodiment of both the american dream and the new south. Top 20 favorite books by black authors in 2018 duration. Books the top west african diaspora authors you must read. Literature in particular has been a space for black authors to tell their.
Explore the most talented writers in africa and their books. Online shopping for african american authors from a great selection at kindle store store. Phillis wheatley 17531784, first published africanamerican poet walter francis white 18931955 colson whitehead born 1969, novelist the intuitionist, the underground railroad and journalist. Look for and buy used african american textbooks from us now and look for the cheapest copies you could possibly find. But as they settle into the routine of their life together, they are ripped apart by circumstances neither could have imagined. Petersburg timesin the exciting, yet frightening days of freedom summer in 1963, two very different africanamerican women meet.
Novels, biographies, politics, academics, business and many more. My year of reading african women, by gary younge books shamed by a gap in his reading, the guardian writer vowed to read only fiction by african women in 2018. Feb 12, 2017 if you didnt know, february has been marked as black history month in the united states since 1926, which has served as an annual observance of noteworthy people and events of the african diaspora. Annie allen is a collection of poems that follows the life of the author from childhood to womanhood surrounded by poverty, racial discrimination, parental. A folktale from the american south hamilton, martha. Read the biographies, discover the published books, and watch videos for more than 3,300 black, afro american, african and authors of african descent from the caribbean, europe, the americas, and the entire african diaspora. Black history month gives us 29 days to honor african americans and the everexpanding contributions they make to culture. Seven of the african american authors who appeared on the new york times best sellers list will be. From achebe to zora, youll discover a wide variety african american and black writers from all over the world. Brooks became the first african american to receive the pulitzer prize for this book. Read some of the best fiction and nonfiction by contemporary black authors. Africanamerican authors and their books to fall in love with this valentines day. Freshwater akwaeke emezi author akwaeke emezi is a talented millennial nigerian fiction writer and artist with a graduate degree from new.
This february, were taking a look at recent history and celebrating contemporary icons. Books 20 important books you should have read before you were twenty. There, she discovers her ancestors and becomes entangled in their lives. Nov 21, 2017 brooks became the first african american to receive the pulitzer prize for this book. Aalbc is the largest and most popular online bookstore dedicated to african american literature and black literature from around the world. Annie allen is a collection of poems that follows the life of the author from childhood to womanhood surrounded by poverty, racial discrimination, parental expectations, and unhappiness. His first groundbreaking novel titled things fall apart was published in 1958. In addition, he received a national book award in 1953 for his book invisible man, which was chosen in 1998 by the modern library association. Collected poems by gabriel okara nebraska university press along with publishing a first book by an emerging new african poet each year, the africa book fund has also committed to publishing a collected edition of a major living african poet each year, and this year it is gabriel okara, the only person who could ever be called both the elder statesman of nigerian literature. Mississippi native jesmyn ward s novels often stray into that zone of discomfort but rarely leave readers without the feeling that there is hope in the. Check out these terrific titles for teens written by african american authors. If youre an african american author who has written a book for an african american audience, there are a number of relevant publishers in the united states who might be interested in your manuscript.
From wise artists like maya angelou to new voices like marlon james and kiley reid, and leaders like the obamas, weve gathered some of the best books by black authors to add to your reading list. The following books by black authors in alphabetic order by title were published in 2018 and fall under a wide range of genres. The death of jayson porter by jaime adoff in the florida projects, sixteenyearold jayson struggles with the harsh realities of his life which include an abusive mother, a drugaddicted father, and not fitting in at his predominately white school, and bring. From mystery and detective novels to books about contemporary women, you can find all manner of different and engaging text books here to read while at college. She shares the joy and painful experiences from her childhood. May 06, 2019 the following books by black authors in alphabetic order by title were published in 2018 and fall under a wide range of genres. Africanamerican authors of books for children and young. Questia compiled this list based on the mostread africanamerican authors in their library a list of most influential africanamerican authors might also include fellow omahan, malcolm x, the. Dec 15, 2018 my year of reading african women, by gary younge books shamed by a gap in his reading, the guardian writer vowed to read only fiction by african women in 2018. Butler at book signing, released by nikolas coukouma. Like in everything else, african american authors are often excluded from best books list. Novels, biographies, politics, academics, business and. Valentines day is today, and if theres one thing i love, its africanamerican authors. The series has ensured an international voice to major african writersincluding chinua achebe, ngugi wa thiongo, steve biko, ama ata aidoo, nadine gordimer, buchi emecheta, and okot pbitek.
Acclaimed american poet, author and activist maya angelou was born in st. Chinua achebe is one of the best african authors who have contributed a lot in the field of african literature. The african bookstore continues to inspire others to read, and is a firm believer in the. Feb 09, 2019 10 african american books and their authors i know why the caged bird sings by maya angelou this is the first autobiography about the life of maya angelou and she tells us from first person. Zane, bestselling author and the publisher of strebor books, says that mainstream bookstores and outlets such as target dont promote books by.
Though written in african american vernacular english, the depth in which janie describes her life is truly aweinspiring. Check out these terrific titles for teens written by africanamerican authors. Ayi kwei armahs novels are known for their intense, powerful depictions of political devastation and social frustration in armahs native ghana, told from the point of view of the individual. Octavia butlers kindred 1979 is one of a string of novels she penned. David covin, author bestseller raisins in milk from achebe to zora, youll discover a wide variety african american and black writers from all over the world. Buy cheap african american books online african american. Feb 18, 2012 questia compiled this list based on the mostread african american authors in their library a list of most influential african american authors might also include fellow omahan, malcolm x, the. So, in celebration of the honorary occasion, were commemorating the best books weve read and recommended to read by black authors.