essential classics by black authors

It’s hard to know where to start when studying works by famous African American authors. That’s why we’re highlighting some of the best classic books Black authors.

This roundup includes both fiction and nonfiction across multiple genres, so you’re sure to find your next favorite book on this list.

“I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings” by Maya Angelou

This stunning autobiography may be the best-known work by Maya Angelou (1928-2014), the black American poet and civil rights activist, but it is actually the first in a seven-book series. One of the true American classics, “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings” tells the story of Angelou’s first 17 years of life.

“Go Tell It on the Mountain” by James Baldwin

“Go Tell It on the Mountain” is a coming-of-age novel and classic by the eloquent American activist and author James Baldwin (1924-1987). It is loosely based on his childhood growing up in Harlem. You may know Baldwin better for his essays, but this piece of classic literature was his first book.

“Kindred” by Octavia Butler

A must-read for science fiction fans written by black women, “Kindred” uses a time travel story to explore questions of race, ancestry, and the American experience. This science fiction masterpiece is just one of many by Octavia Butler (1947-2006), a MacArthur “Genius” fellow and one of the most imaginative black writers of all time.

“The Souls of Black Folk” by WEB Du Bois

One of the earliest black classics on this list, The Souls of Black Folk, is a 1903 collection of essays by Harvard-educated scholar and author WEB Du Bois (1868-1963). In it, Du Bois shares his sociological reflections on the experience black American at the turn of the century.

“Invisible Man” by Ralph Ellison

“Invisible Man,” winner of the 1953 National Book Award, follows an unnamed narrator as he grows up and takes part in the Harlem Renaissance. In this and other works, author and literary critic Ralph Ellison (1913-1994) examines race, identity, and the struggle to be more than just a stereotype.

“Passing” by Nella Larsen

One of many classic books by black authors, “Passing” tells the story of a black American woman who reconnects with a childhood friend and is shocked to learn that the friend has passed as white. Nella Larsen (1891-1964) wrote this book and just one other, but that hasn’t stopped her from being one of the most respected African American authors in history.

Sister Outsider: Essays and Speeches by Audre Lorde

Written by celebrated Black poet and thinker Audre Lorde (1934-1992), Sister Outsider is a series of essays that explore homophobia, racism, sexism, and their intersection in the lives of Lorde and her contemporaries. This and many of Lorde’s other works are important for understanding the deep roots of black feminism today.

“Beloved” by Toni Morrison

If you’ve ever researched classic books by black authors, you’ve almost certainly heard of this 1988 Pulitzer Prize-winning novel that explores post-Civil War America from the perspective of a supposedly haunted family of formerly enslaved people. “Beloved” is an excellent introduction to the impressive work of literary icon Toni Morrison (1931-2019).

“Their Eyes Were Watching God” by Zora Neale Hurston

This influential novel chronicles the tumultuous love life and eventual self-awakening of a black woman named Janie. Although “Their Eyes Were Watching God” did not receive a positive response when it was first published, its author, Zora Neale Hurston (1891-1960), became one of the most successful black authors of the first half of the 20th century.

“The Street” by Ann Petry

“The Street,” the first novel by a black woman to sell more than a million copies, chronicles single mother Lutie Johnson’s unsuccessful search for the American dream in 1940s Harlem. The big success was actually a debut novel by the writer Ann Petry (1908-1997), which immediately secured a place in the pantheon of classic black authors.

“Citizen: An American Lyric” by Claudia Rankine

The modern classic the American poet Claudia Rankine (born 1963) defies categorization. She combines many types of texts and media to create a moving portrait of the current state of black America. Citizen was released in 2014, just 10 years ago, but that was more than enough time for readers and critics to declare it a classic.

“The Hate U Give” by Angie Thomas

Published in 2017, the novel tells the story of a black teenager whose life is changed when she witnesses the police wrongfully shooting her childhood friend. Written by author Angie Thomas (b. 1988) in the wake of the assassination of Oscar Grant, The Hate U Give is an age-appropriate look at race relations Black teenagers.

“The Color Purple” by Alice Walker

This timeless American classic by Alice Walker (b. 1944) follows Celie, a black woman who survives an abusive relationship and finds her own meaning in life. You may recognize the title from the 1985 and 2023 film adaptations (the latter based on the stage musical of the same name).

Up From Slavery by Booker T. Washington

In this memoir, published during the Reconstruction era, American educator Booker T. Washington (1856-1915) recounts his experiences being born into slavery in the antebellum period, emancipated at the age of nine, and as a child grew up believing that racism did not disappear along with legal servitude.

Native Son by Richard Wright

Author Richard Wright’s (1908-1960) first novel, Native Son, is the tragic story of a 20-year-old black man who accidentally kills a white woman and suffers greatly for this transgression.

We celebrate the black literary tradition

We hope this guide helped you find the best books ever written by black authors. However, if you’re still looking for recommendations, check out our content archive, which includes everything you need to know about established and upcoming products Books by black writers.