Best books by Black Authors

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Poets

Robert Hayden, Collected Poems
Ai, especially Cruelty/Killing Floor
Ntozake Shange, especially "For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow is Enuf"
Marilyn Nelson
Jericho Brown
Hayes Davis--From DC area!!
Teri Ellen Cross Davis--from DC area!! https://poets.org/poet/teri-ellen-cross-davis
Lucille Clifton, Quilting (a Pulitzer nom or finalist, can't recall)

Essayists
Roxane Gay, Hunger

Fiction
Jamaica Kincaid, Lucy

OK also have some amazing fiction works.

[Anonymous]

Giovanni’s Room, James Baldwin
Whatever happened to interracial love, Kathleen Collins
Kindred, Octavia Butler
Deacon King Kong, James mcbride
A brief history of 7 killings, marlon James
Devil in a blue dress, Walter mosley
Heavy, kiese laymon

And although I haven’t really enjoyed her books, Jesmyn Ward should be on the list too.

[Anonymous]

I have always appreciated the short stories of Andrea Lee. Haven’t read her novels but would like to.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi

Came here to say this….incredible!

[Anonymous]

Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston
Black Boy by Richard Wright
Cane by Jean Toomer
Dutchman by Amiri Baraka
Gorilla, My Love by Toni Cade Bambara

[Anonymous]

Another vote for Americanah

[Anonymous]

Anything by Tayari Jones

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I say Black because I'm including writers who are not American. So they won't be self-describing as AA.

This is my list of favorites (some of whom are AA) I would love some new suggestions (some of these are very old). Thank you

Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison
The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
Beloved by Toni Morrison
I know why the cage bird sings by Maya Angelou
The color Purple by Alice Walker
Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe
The Hate You give by Angie Thomas
The Long Song by Andrea Levy

Infidel by Ayaan Hirsi Ali -- tough but eye-opening and very well-written.

[Anonymous]

All time favorites

The Water Dancer by Ta'Nehisi Coates
The Temple of My Familar - Alice Walker
Paradise by Toni Morrison


Recent Thrillers:

All her little secrets - Wanda M. Morris
While Justice Sleeps - Stacy Abrams

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Homecoming by Yaa Gyasi

I loved this book and her second one, Transcendent Kingdom. Can't wait to see what she does in the future!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Homecoming by Yaa Gyasi

I loved this book and her second one, Transcendent Kingdom. Can't wait to see what she does in the future!

NP. I really liked Homegoing, but Transcendent Kingdom was much weaker in comparison.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Adieche - Half of a Yellow Sun, Purple Hibiscus and Americana
I'm sure there are many more less obvious authors. I'm not a avid reader anymore.

I read them in the order you listed. Thought Half of a Yellow Sun was terrific, Purple Hibiscus was ok, but I really didn’t like Americanah.

[Anonymous]

Jasmine Guillory

[Anonymous]

Another Brooklyn or Brown Girl Dreaming - Jacqueline Woodson
Black is the Body - Emily Bernard
The Secret Lives of Church Ladies - Deesha Philyaw

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Adieche - Half of a Yellow Sun, Purple Hibiscus and Americana
I'm sure there are many more less obvious authors. I'm not a avid reader anymore.

I read them in the order you listed. Thought Half of a Yellow Sun was terrific, Purple Hibiscus was ok, but I really didn’t like Americanah.

There was something in the tone of Americanah that I found annoying. I don't know if that was intended as part of the psychology of the main character. I enjoyed the two others much more.