Top 5 Black authors for Black History Month

My name is Koke, an international student ambassador from Botswana, studying English and Creative Writing. And this is my list of 5 Black Authors I would recommend.

1- James Baldwin 

James Arthur Baldwin was an African-American writer and civil rights activist. Best known for his novel Giovanni’s Room, his work tackles issues regarding race, sexual identity and social justice. 

As a gay Black man in mid-20th-century America, Baldwin was marginalized and struggled to gain a writing platform. His work is inspired by his personal life experiences and those of others around him. At the time when he published Giovanni’s Room it was considered controversial and even taboo - but it is now praised for its emotional complexity and cultural impact. 

If you’re looking for an emotional, thought-provoking read then I would say Baldwin’s your guy. 

2- Malorie Blackman 

Malorie Blackman is a British author best known for her Noughts & Crosses book series. Through it she explores themes of racism, injustice and identity by flipping racial power dynamics. 

I’ve read the entirety of the Noughts & Crosses series (something I am very proud of) and I will say that they’re some of the best books I’ve ever read.

Malorie Blackman’s books make space for Black characters and confront systemic biases. They make the reader reconsider the world around them and urge readers to be more empathetic. They also have some great romantic plotlines (just a note for the hopeless romantics such as myself). 

If you’re looking for some charged social fiction, I would strongly recommend Malorie Blackman’s books. 

3- Toni Morrison

I believe that I would be committing some kind of crime if I didn’t add Toni Morrison on this list. Dramatic, I know - but I love her so.

In 1993, Toni Morrison became the first Black woman to win the Nobel Prize in Literature. This made her an inspiration to many young, Black authors, including myself. She didn’t just break a barrier, she redefined the literary world. 

Her most known novel Beloved won her a Pulitzer Prize. It addresses slavery in America and the effect it left, particularly on the African-American community.

If you choose to read it, you’ll know what I mean - and you’ll probably need a box of tissues. 

If you’re looking for a fictional book on Black History that’s deeply rooted in historical truth, then I would suggest Toni Morrison to you. 

4- Langston Hughes 

Now, some of you might be reading this blog thinking "I don’t have time to read an entire novel". And, honestly - fair enough. So, I’d like to introduce you to one of my favourite Black poets, Langston Hughes (sorry Maya Angelou). 

Langston Hughes was an American poet and activist. One of his most-known poems include "Harlem" which asks the reader to think about unfulfilled dreams, especially those of African-Americans in a racially unjust society. You may be aware of the iconic opening line “What happens to a dream deferred?”. 

Hughes’ poems are moving through tales of sorrow, hope and rage. He didn’t shy away from talking about racism, poverty and injustice. His work became a soundtrack for the Harlem Renaissance and later the Civil Rights movement. 

If you’re looking for something shorter than a novel but just as moving, Langston Hughes’ work is something I would consider worth checking out. 

5- Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie 

Last on my list, but certainly not least, is the iconic Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. Yes, she is my favourite, and yes, I am going to ramble about her. If you choose to ignore every other recommendation on my list, then take this one into consideration. 
 
Chimamanda is a Nigerian writer and feminist, best known for her novels Americanah and Half of a Yellow Sun. Her books center around African Women and deal with issues such as race and feminism, particularly in post-colonial Africa. Her work speaks of cultural memory and resilience through the use of richly drawn, complex main characters. 

This representation is something Chimamanda has strived for as she warns about the “danger of a single story”. She speaks out against stereotypes and speaks up for inclusion. 

If you’re looking for a book with ancestral weight and lyrical storytelling, then I would recommend Chimamanda’s novels. 

That’s my list! I do apologise to Maya Angelou, Richard Wright, Bernardine Evaristo and the many others who deserve to be on here, but my fingers are numb now, so we stop at five.