You know what they say: Write what you know. That’s probably why so many Black authors center their works around the Black experience—they heed this sage advice.
When Black authors write what they know, the result is a collection of writings — novels, short stories, essays, poems and articles — that resonate with, inspire and create dialogues among present and future readers. The 15 Black authors recommended below are proof. They all famously wrote about the Black experience, and their work, spanning multiple genres, influences people of all ages. It also makes each of them a respected figure in the literary world.
Get to know the Black authors whose books you should be reading
The list of amazing Black writers you should know is long. We’ve narrowed it down to 15 authors, all of whom have written something that has greatly impacted Black literature. These works span multiple genres, from historical fiction to memoirs to sci-fi.
1. Kennedy Ryan
Kennedy Ryan (b. 1981) is one of today’s most popular Black romance novel authors, appealing to readers by consistently giving her characters a happy ending but, in her words, making them “work for it.” Ryan has won several accolades for her writing. The most notable is the 2019 RITA Award by the Romance Writers of America for Best Contemporary Romance. She was the award’s first African-American recipient. Some of Ryan’s well-known titles are “The Long Shot” and “Before I Let Go.”
2. Zadie Smith
Zadie Smith (b. 1975) is an English novelist, essayist and short story writer best known for her incisive debut novel, “White Teeth.” The story — with its strong character development and theme of change — earned Smith several awards and honors, including the James Tait Black Memorial Prize, the Whitbread First Novel Award and the Guardian First Book Award. Smith has also authored titles “The Autograph Man,” “On Beauty” and “NW.”
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