Best Books by Black Authors

Explore the haunting and innovative world of a former slave in this Pulitzer Prize-winning novel. Sethe may have escaped to Ohio, but memories of the beautiful yet tragic Sweet Home still hold her captive. A destructive ghost and a mysterious teenage girl, both named Beloved, only add to the weight of her past. Discover how Sethe navigates the horrors of slavery and the consequences it has on her family in this unforgettable classic.

In this blackly comic novel, Korede is constantly cleaning up after her sister Ayoola, who has a tendency to "dispatch" her boyfriends in self-defense. Korede loves her sister, but when Ayoola starts dating the doctor Korede has feelings for, she's forced to choose between them. Will she protect her sister or the man she loves?

In this modern classic, Alice Walker depicts the lives of African American women in early 20th-century rural Georgia. The story follows Celie and Nettie, two sisters separated as girls who sustain their loyalty and hope in each other through a series of letters spanning 20 years. The Color Purple broke the silence around domestic and sexual abuse, narrating the lives of women through their pain and struggle, companionship and growth, resilience and bravery. With deep compassion and beautiful writing, this Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award winner is a must-read journey towards redemption and love.

Follow Janie Crawford on her journey of self-discovery, as she navigates through the challenges of being a black woman in the 1930s. Through three marriages and a journey back to her roots, Janie seeks to become her own person and find true identity.

Identical twin sisters grow up together in a small, southern black community and later choose to live in two very different worlds, one black and one white. One sister secretly passes for white, while the other raises her black daughter in the same southern town they once escaped. As their daughters' storylines intersect, Brit Bennett weaves together multiple strands and generations of this family, exploring the lasting influence of the past on a person's decisions, desires, and expectations. A riveting, emotional family story and a brilliant exploration of the American history of passing.

This groundbreaking novel tells the journey of an unnamed protagonist navigating through the racial divide, shedding light on the effects of bigotry on both victim and perpetrator. With a voice that captures the full range of the American language, the story takes us from the Deep South to Harlem, throwing our own reality into harsh relief. Suspenseful and sardonic, Invisible Man is an audacious and dazzling masterpiece that redefines American literature.

This poignant memoir follows Maya and her brother as they are sent to live with their grandmother in a small Southern town, facing abandonment and prejudice. After a traumatic incident and years of struggle, Maya learns to liberate herself through self-love, the support of others, and great literature. Poetic and powerful, this book is a timeless standout in the genre of memoir.

This thought-provoking work delves into American history and presents a powerful new framework for understanding the nation's current crisis. Through personal narratives and reimagined history, the author addresses the falsehood of "race" and its damaging effects on black men and women. Written as a letter to his son, this emotionally charged book sheds light on the past, confronts the present, and offers a hopeful vision for the future.

Discover the sweeping and emotionally powerful story of two half-sisters born in 18th-century Ghana, whose destinies diverge as one is married to an Englishman and lives in luxury while the other is sold into slavery and shipped off to America. Homegoing follows the families of both sisters through generations, capturing with stunning immediacy the impact of historical forces on their lives. From the slave trade and British colonization to the Civil War and Great Migration, this exquisite novel by a major new voice in contemporary fiction is not to be missed.

A Ghanaian family in Alabama grapples with addiction, grief, and faith in Yaa Gyasi's stunning novel. Gifty is a neuroscience candidate studying depression and addiction following her brother's fatal overdose. As she seeks answers in science, she also confronts her childhood faith in the evangelical church. Transcendent Kingdom is a moving portrayal of a family's struggle with mental illness and their search for love and salvation. Gyasi's exceptional writing makes this a powerful follow-up to her acclaimed debut.