Malcolm X once said that “I could spend the rest of my life reading, just satisfying my curiosity” — and at Word In Black, we agree. With book bans sweeping the nation, we’re reminded how our ancestors fought and died for the right to read. Nowadays, due to inequities in our school systems, many Black adults struggle with literacy, as do our children. That’s why we’re so committed to reading, and to highlighting the work of Black authors. Whether it’s fiction or nonfiction, if it tells the story of Black America and sheds light on our experience, we’re reading it — and sharing it with you.
This book list will be updated periodically, and be sure to follow us on Instagram where we shout out a new Black book every Friday!
1. Take My Hand – Dolen Perkins-Valdez’s “Take My Hand” tells the story of Civil Townsend, who is just starting her first nursing job in Montgomery, Alabama. The story follows her work with the town and then jumps to the future when she is ready to retire and leave the past behind. But certain stories can’t be forgotten.
2. It Was All a Dream: Biggie and the World That Made Him – ESPN journalist Justin Tinsley released this deeply reported biography in honor of what would have been Biggie’s 50th birthday. Through interviews with many people in his life, this book offers a new and fresh take on the life of Christopher Wallace.
3. Big Girl – Mecca Jamilah Sullivan’s “Big Girl” follows 8-year-old Malaya as she grows up in 90s-era Harlem. Malaya would much rather eat forbidden street foods with her dad than go to Weight Watchers meetings with her mom. Facing various pressures, she keeps gaining weight until a family tragedy makes her address the true source of her hunger.
4. The Changeling – Following one man’s thrilling journey through an enchanted world to find his wife who has disappeared after seemingly committing an unforgivable act of violence, Victor Lavalle’s “The Changeling” creates a complex world full of magic, love, loss, and mystery.
5. Rest Is Resistance – From the founder of The Nap Ministry, “Rest Is Resistance” is Tricia Hersey’s manifesto, written to help guide others through breaking free from the grips of grind culture. The book teaches readers that rest is an essential tool in reclaiming power and resisting systemic oppression.
6. Feeding the Soul (Because It’s My Business): Finding Our Way to Joy, Love, and Freedom – “Feeding the Soul” by vegan influencer and actress Tabitha Brown does exactly what it came to do — feed our souls. The memoir lets us in on some of Brown’s most precious moments, reveals the health challenges she’s faced, and how she became one of today’s most popular internet cooks. There’s so much wisdom baked into the book, and it is sprinkled with her unique humor and topped with tasty plant-based recipes!
7. Jollof Rice and Other Revolutions: A Novel in Interlocking Stories – This novel follows Nonso, Remi, Aisha, and Solape from their boarding school days in Nigeria through adulthood in America. Author Omolola Ijeoma Ogunyemi shares moving stories around loss, belonging, family, friendship, alienation, and silence.
8. My Government Means to Kill Me – By Author Rasheed Newson, this coming-of-age novel follows Earl “Trey” Singleton III as he leaves his wealthy Indianapolis upbringing and escapes to New York. Set in the mid-80s, Trey becomes a gay rights activist and seeks out “the meaning of life amid so much death.” Newson’s novel is fast-paced, funny, and vibrant.
9. Black Cake – After the death of their mother, two estranged siblings are forced to come back together to face their puzzling inheritance: a black cake from an old family recipe — and an hours-long voice recording full of secrets, mystery, and new truths. “Black Cake” is Charmaine Wilkerson’s debut novel.
10. Inciting Joy – Ross Gay considers the joy we incite when we care for each other, especially during life’s inevitable hardships. Throughout “Inciting Joy,” Gay explores how we can practice recognizing those connections, and how we can expand them.
11. South to America – Imani Perry’s novel weaves together stories of immigrant communities, contemporary artists, exploitative opportunists, enslaved peoples, and unsung heroes to take readers on a surprising journey through the history, rituals, and landscapes of the American South. “South to America” won Perry the 2022 National Book Award for nonfiction.
12. Legendborn – In part one of the Legendborn series, Tracy Deonn shares the story of Bree Matthews who learns of her unique magic and comes across a secrety society of students who hunt down magical creatures. Soon, she has to face the decision of taking down the secret society or joining the fight in the upcoming magical war.
13. Last Summer on State Street – In “Last Summer on State Street,” Toya Wolfe describes a fateful summer where a Chicago neighborhood falls apart around Felicia “Fe Fe” Stevens, and her friendships go with it. As Fe Fe reflects on the summer years later, Wolfe tells an era-defining story of finding home in yourself and your history.
14. Finding La Negrita -Natasha Gordon-Chipembere introduces readers to a famed African sculptor who is stolen into slavery and must buy his freedom to reunite with his newborn daughter in this retelling of the Black Madonna narrative. “Finding La Negrita” spans time and space, freedom and enslavement.
15. Nightcrawling – Kiara is just trying to pay rent so she and her brother don’t get evicted. After a drunken misunderstanding with a stranger, Kiara enters the world of nightcrawling, and she becomes a key witness in a huge scandal involving the Oakland Police Department. “Nightcrawling,” Leila Mottley’s debut novel, was selected as an Oprah’s Book Club pick.
16. Ghetto Gastro Presents Black Power Kitchen – This cookbook/manifesto was created with big Bronx energy by Jon Gray, Pierre Serrao, and Lester Walker. The book features 75 mostly plant-based recipes, and each recipe is flavored with storytelling, diverse voices, and beautiful photographs.
17. Black Boy Smile: A Memoir in Moments – In his coming-of-age memoir, D. Watkins — now a prominent author, college professor, and editor-at-large of Salon.com — tells the story of what it was like to be nine years old in Baltimore at the height of the crack epidemic. He talks about his relationships with his father and brother, explores manhood, and details his pursuit of redemption.
18. People Person – In “People Person,” Candice Carty-Williams tells the story of 30-year-old Dimple Pennington, whose life isn’t going anywhere. But one day, a dramatic event brings her and her four estranged half-siblings together and forces them to reconnect with the absent father they never really knew. Things get complicated.
19. In Every Mirror She’s Black – Told from three different perspectives, Lola Akinmade Åkerström’s “In Every Mirror She’s Black” follows three Black women who are all linked to the same white man in Stockholm. Through each of their viewpoints, the story touches on racism, classism, fetishization, tokenism, and what it means to be a Black woman navigating a white-dominated society.
20. Moonrise Over New Jessup – In 1957, Alice Young leaves the only home she’s ever known to live in New Jessup, Alabama, an all-Black town where residents rejected integration as the means for Black social advancement. She falls in love with Raymond Campbell, who is secretly organizing activities that challenge the town’s status quo and could lead to the couple’s expulsion — or worse. In Jamila Minnicks’ “Moonrise over New Jessup,” Alice seeks to find a way to balance her support for Raymond with her desire to protect New Jessup.
21. Relations: An Anthology of African and Diaspora Voices – Nana Brew-Hammond’s “Relations” features stories, poems, and essays by African and diaspora writers that embrace the diversity of Blackness. Both new and established writers dive into the truth of shared humanity despite differences of language, identity, class, gender, and beyond.
22. Queenie: Godmother of Harlem – This graphic novel follows the life of Stephanie Saint-Clair, the infamous criminal from 1930s Harlem. She rose up through poverty and extreme racism to become the queen of Harlem’s mafia and a defender of the Black community. But as Prohibition comes to end, and under threat of Italian mobsters who want to take over her operation, she launched a war to save both her territory and her skin. “Queenie: Godmother of Harlem,” by Elizabeth Colomba and Aurélie Lévy, tells the story of a genius woman forgotten by history.
23. Wade in the Water – Ella is an unloved and precocious 11-year-old living in racially divided Ricksville, Mississippi in 1982. A mysterious white woman from Princeton, Ms. St. James, appears in the community for some research and soon befriends Ella, who is willing to risk everything to keep her friend in a town that doesn’t want her there. Nyani Nkrumah’s “Wade in the Water” tells the story of this unlikely friendship that, while loving and funny, becomes fraught and complex as Ella pushes Ms. St. James’ carefully constructed boundaries.
24. Driving the Green Book: A Road Trip Through the Living History of Black Resistance – Author Alvin Hall drove from New York to Detroit to New Orleans to revisit the world of The Green Book, visiting motels, restaurants, shops, and stores where Black Americans once found a friendly welcome. “Driving the Green Book” features historical and cultural landmarks, as well as memories from some of the last living witnesses for whom The Green Book meant survival.
25. Daughter in Exile – Bisi Adjapon’s “Daughter in Exile” follows 21-year-old Lola, who leaves Senegal when she falls in love with an American Marine. The story tells of her struggles to make a life in the U.S., the challenges she must overcome, love, and what defines us all.
26. Choosing Family: A Memoir of Queer Motherhood and Black Resistance – Told against the backdrop of Chicago’s North and South Sides, “Choosing Family” is a memoir of chosen family and chosen heritage. Francesca T. Royster focuses on herself, her white wife, and the Black daughter they adopted later in life. The memoir chronicles the journey of motherhood, as well as the complexities of adopting and parenthood from a Black, queer, and feminist perspective.
27. The Humanity Archive – Jermaine Fowler’s “The Humanity Archive” uses storytelling techniques to make history come alive and uncover the truth behind America’s whitewashed history. Fowler goes outside the textbooks, connects current issues with the heroic struggles of those who came before us, and brings hidden history to light.
28. Rules of Engagement – Written under pen name Selena Montgomery, Stacey Abrams’ “Rules of Engagement” tells the story of Dr. Raleigh Foster, an operative for a top-secret intelligence organization. Paired with an alluring partner, Raleigh needs to stay focused on the mission while being distracted by mounting tension between them.
29. I Can’t Save You – As a self-described “not white, mostly Black, and questionably Asian man,” Dr. Anthony Chin-Quee shares stories from his life and career in his harrowing, hilarious, honest, and human memoir “I Can’t Save You.”
30. On the Rooftop – In “On the Rooftop,” Margaret Wilkerson Sexton tells the story of a mother trying to launch her three reluctant daughters into stardom as their 1950s-era San Fransisco changes around them.
31. Real Friends Talk About Race – In Real Friends Talk About Race, friends Yseult P. Mukantabana and Hannah Summerhill share their perspectives on the ways culture, history, and white supremacy prevent us from having the skills to build trust and healthy relationships across race. The essential guide is for those who want to have stronger interracial relationships — whether it’s with friends, colleagues, or loved ones.
32. The Black Three – Grayville High School in Grayville, Tennessee, a “sundown town” prior to the mid-sixties, never had a Black basketball player. After a Nigerian doctor moves to town with his sons, the GHS basketball team gets its first three Black players. “The Black Three,” by Gene Skipworth, chronicles the realities the boys encountered.
33. The People of Ostrich Mountain – In “The People of Ostrich Mountain,” it’s 1950, and Kenya’s Mau Mau war is breaking out. Wambũi, a 14-year-old, travels across the country to a prestigious boarding school where she learns of her unique mathematical skills. She forms a lifelong friendship with her teacher that must withstand the powerful forces of race and nationality that strain to pull them apart.
34. The Suvivalists – In “The Survivalists,” Kashana Cauley tells the story of a single Black lawyer who puts her career and moral code at risk when she moves in with her coffee entrepreneur boyfriend and his doomsday-prepping roommates. The novel is full of dark humor, tension, and curiosity.
35. Travel North Black Girl – “Travel North Black Girl” is the unlikely story of finding one’s power. Olivia Hill’s memoir addresses the complexity of race, gender, generational trauma, and powerful healing through humor, adventure, and painful reckoning that speaks to us all.
36. The House of Eve – Set in the 1950s, Sadeqa Johnson’s “The House of Eve” is a daring and redemptive novel that explores what it means to be a woman and a mother, and how much one is willing to sacrifice to achieve her greatest goal.
37. Symphony of Secrets – Brendan Slocumb’s “Symphony of Secrets” tells the story of a professor who uncovers a shocking secret: the most famous American composer of all time stole music from a young Black composer named Josephine Reed. Bern Hendricks is determined to uncover the truth and right history’s wrongs.
38. Rising – In her memoir “Rising,” Graci Harkema shares her experience growing up as an adoptee from the Congo in Michigan. She details claiming and living her own story, becoming a successful consultant on diversity, equity, inclusion, racial justice, LGBTQ+ equality, and women in business.
39. A Dash of Salt and Pepper – Xavier Reynolds has to move back to his hometown (population 9,000) and work as a prep chef in a kitchen run by Logan O’Hare. Their work styles are not compatible — but are they? Find out in Kosoko Jackon’s “A Dash of Salt and Pepper.”
40. We See Each Other: A Black, Trans Journey Through TV and Film – In “We See Each Other,“ journalist and podcast host Tre’vell Anderson writes a part-memoir, part-history of trans visibility in TV and culture. As Anderson goes through the history of on-screen representation, they connect these moments to their own formative experiences as a Black trans journalist.
41. The Five sorrowful Mysteries of Andy Africa – In his debut novel “The Five Sorrowful Mysteries of Andy Africa,” Stephen Buoro shares the story of Andrew Aziza, a teenager who goes on a journey of self-discovery in the shadow of colonialism and communal violence in Nigeria.
42. The Other Black Girl – In Zakiya Dalila Harris’ “The Other Black Girl,” two young Black women meet in the white industry that is New York City book publishing. While working together, just as they start swapping natural hair-care tips, a string of uncomfortable events elevates Hazel to office darling and leaves Nella in the dust.
43. Homebodies: A Novel – Through “Homebodies,” Tembe Denton-Hurst tells the story of a young Black writer whose world is turned upside down when she loses her coveted job in media and pens a searing manifesto about racism in the industry.
44. The Late Americans – Brandon Taylor’s “The Late Americans” follows a loose circle of friends endure a volatile year of self-discovery. As each prepares for an uncertain future, the group heads to a cabin to bid goodbye to their former lives—a moment of reckoning that leaves each of them irrevocably altered.
45. Quietly Hostile: Essays – In the hilarious new essay collection “Quietly Hostile,” Samantha Irby takes readers on a tour of all the details that make up a true portrait of her life, behind the glitter and glam.
46. Chain-Gang All-Stars – Through dystopian fiction featuring two women gladiators, Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah’s “Chain-Gang All-Stars” looks at the American prison system’s unholy alliance of systemic racism, unchecked capitalism, and mass incarceration. The novel offers a clear-eyed reckoning of what freedom in this country really means.
47. One Summer in Savannah – Shelton Harris’ debut novel “One Summer in Savannah” is full of touching emotion, deeply interrogating questions of family, redemption, and unconditional love in the sweltering summer heat of Savannah, as two people discover what it means to truly forgive.
48. The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store – In “The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store,” James McBride weaves together past and present in Chicken Hill, a community of immigrant Jews and African Americans living side-by-side on the outskirts of white, Christian America, detailing what they had to do to survive.
49. All the Sinners Bleed – Titus Crowne is the first Black sheriff in the history of Charon County when a school shooting, killing a beloved teacher, rocks the town. S. A. Cosby’s “All the Sinner Bleed” follows Titus throughout the investigation, where he must face what it means to be a Black man wearing a police uniform in the American South.
50. Did You Hear About Kitty Karr? – In Crystal Smith Paul’s “Did You Hear About Kitty Kar,” when iconci white actress Kitty Karr Tate dies, she leaves her multimillion-dollar estate to the St. John sisters, three young, wealthy Black women. It prompts questions. Lots of questions.
51. The First Ladies – “The First Ladies” details the extraordinary partnership between First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt and civil rights activist Mary McLeod Bethune — an unlikely friendship that, in forming the foundation for the modern civil rights movement, changed the world.
52. Take My Hand – Inspired by true events that rocked the nation, Dolen Perkins-Valdez’s “Take My Hand” is a profoundly moving novel about a Black nurse in post-segregation Alabama who blows the whistle on a terrible wrong done to her patients.
53. Small Joys – It’s 2005 and Harley has dropped out of college to move home, back to rural England, where he works a dead-end job at a movie theater. Estranged from his father and finding every attempt at happiness futile, Harley is on the verge of making a devastating final decision. Elvin James Mensah’s “Small Joys” explores a young man’s turbulent journey toward happiness.
54. Before I Let Go – “Before I Let Go” is a riveting romance novel about love and mental health. When life delivered blow after devastating blow, main characters Yasmen and Josiah Wade found that love alone couldn’t solve or save everything. Now, they’re faced with difficult questions: Is it too late for them to find forever? Or could they even be better the second time around?
55. Ring Shout – In P. Djèlí Clark’s “Ring Shout,” it’s 1915, and The Birth of a Nation has cast a spell across America, swelling the Ku Klux Klan’s ranks and drinking deep from the darkest thoughts of white folk. All across the nation they ride, spreading fear and violence among the vulnerable. They plan to bring Hell to Earth. But Maryse Boudreaux and her resistance crew won’t go down without a fight.
56. The Blood Trials – Blending fantasy and science fiction, N. E. Davenport’s “The Blood Trials” is a fast-paced, action-packed debut about loyalty and rebellion, in which a young Black woman must survive deadly trials in a racist and misogynistic society to become an elite warrior.
57. #SayHerName: Black Women’s Stories of State Violence and Public Silence – Since the movement’s founding in 2014, #SayHerName has gained international attention and has served as both a rallying cry and organizing principle in the aftermath of police killings of Black women. This is a powerful story of Black feminist practice, community-building, enablement, and Black feminist reckoning.
58. The Fraud – An exemplary first historical novel from the bestselling author of “White Teeth,” Zadie Smith’s “The Fraud” is based on real historical events. The dazzling novel is about truth and fiction, Jamaica and Britain, fraudulence and authenticity, and the mystery of ‘other people.’
59. Let Us Descend – Hailed as an “instant classic,” Jesmyn Ward’s “Let Us Descend” is a haunting masterpiece that reimagines American slavery through the story of an enslaved girl living in the years before the Civil War. The novel inscribes Black American grief and joy into the very land — the rich but unforgiving forests, swamps, and rivers of the American South.
60. Don’t Let Them Bury My Story: The Oldest Living Survivor of the Tulsa Race Massacre in Her Own Words – A lifetime in the making, “Don’t Let Them Bury My Story” shares the journey of the oldest survivor and last living witness of the Tulsa Massacre of 1921.
61. Someday, Maybe – Onyi Nwabineli’s “Someday, Maybe” is a stunning and witty debut novel about a young woman’s emotional journey through unimaginable loss, pulled along by her tight-knit Nigerian family, a posse of new friends, and the love and laughter she shared with her husband.
62. Coleman Hill – “Coleman Hill” is the thrilling story of two American families whose fates become intertwined in the wake of the Great Migration. Weaving fact and fiction, Kim Coleman Foote’s novel is a character-rich story exploring the ties that bind three generations.
63. Black AF History – From acclaimed columnist and political commentator Michael Harriot, “Black AF History” is a smart and hilarious retelling of American history that corrects the record and showcases the perspectives and experiences of Black Americans.
64. The Two Lives of Sara – Sara King has nothing, save for her secrets and the baby in her belly, as she boards the bus to Memphis, hoping to outrun her past in Chicago. She finds refuge at Mama Sugar’s boarding house, where family encompasses more than just blood and hidden truths can bury you or set you free. With a charismatic cast of characters, Catherine Adel West’s “The Two Lives of Sara” is an emotional and unforgettable story of hope, resilience, and unexpected love.
65. Pomegranate – Helen Elaine Lee’s “Pomegranate” is a gripping and powerful novel about healing, redemption, and love. The story follows Ranita Atwater, a queer Black woman who is working to stay clean, pull her life together, and go from surviving to thriving after being released from prison.
66. The Gospel of Breaking – In “The Gospel of Breaking,” Jillian Christmas confirms what followers of her performance and artistic curation have long known: there is magic in her words. Befitting someone who “speaks things into being,” Christmas extracts from family history, queer lineage, and the political landscape of a racialized life to create a rich, softly defiant collection of poems.
67. Ride or Die: A Feminist Manifesto for the Well-Being of Black Women – An honest and inspiring manifesto, Shanita Hubbard’s “Ride or Die” debunks the “ride-or-die” trope, illustrates how it harms Black women, and provides guidance on how Black women can break free from this limiting mindset.
68. The List – Yomi Adegoke’s debut novel, “The List,” follows high-profile journalist Ola Olajide, whose world is upended when her fiancé’s name turns up in a viral social media post.
69. The Reformatory – Weaving Black history with all the chills and thrills that we love, Tananarive Due’s “The Reformatory” is a gripping novel set in Jim Crow Florida that follows Robert Stephens Jr. as he’s sent to a segregated reform school where he sees the horrors of racism and injustice, for the living, and the dead.
70. On Beauty – Set on both sides of the Atlantic, Zadie Smith’s third novel, “On Beauty,” is a brilliant analysis of family life, the institution of marriage, intersections of the personal and political, and an honest look at people’s deceptions. It is also, as you might expect, hilarious.
71. The Color Purple – In celebration of the success of the 2023 The Color Purple musical, we’re honoring the influential book that started it all. Alice Walker’s 1982 epistolary novel is rich with passion, pain, and inspiration and won Walker the 1983 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction and the National Book Award for Fiction.
72. The Prophets – “The Prophets” explores the forbidden union between two enslaved young men on a Deep South plantation, the refuge they find in each other, and a betrayal that threatens their existence. Robert Jones Jr. masterfully reveals the pain and suffering of inheritance while amplifying the power of hope, beauty, truth, and love.
73. Lilith’s Brood Series – Octavia Butler’s “Lilith’s Brood” series is celebrated for being before its time. The trilogy combines fantasy, sci-fi, and horror elements to deconstruct the simple binary of oppressor/oppressed and reveal something much more complex. Critics call this some of the best work by the multiple Hugo and Nebula award winner.
74. Go Tell It on the Mountain – James Baldwin’s first novel, “Go Tell It on the Mountain,” quickly solidified him as a literary master who was not afraid to explore the often untold stories of Black life. The semi-autobiographical novel delves into themes of religion, family, and race in 1930s Harlem. Through the story of a young boy named John, Baldwin explores the complexities of identity and the search for spiritual redemption.
75. Killing the Black Body: Race, Reproduction, and the Meaning of Liberty – “Killing the Black Body” is a classic of Black feminist thought that links racist stereotypes of Black women in popular culture to law, policy, and surveillance. Fans hail Dorothy Roberts for her fresh perspectives and her blunt yet liberating critiques.
76. The People Could Fly: American Black Folktales – This collection of Black folktales gives readers a glimpse into the expansive world of Black fantasy. Brought to life by vibrant illustrations from Leo and Diane Dillion, Ohioan Virginia Hamilton’s “The People Could Fly” explores freedom and the beauty of Blackness.
77. Out There Screaming – The writer and director of “Get Out,” Jordan Peele, curated this visionary anthology of all-new Black horror stories exploring the terrors of the supernatural and the chilling reality of injustice that haunts our nation.
78. Love – From acclaimed Nobel Prize winner Toni Morrison comes this spellbinding novel about passion, hatred, power, and forgiveness that spans three generations of Black women in a fading beach town.
79. Cirque Berserk – An ’80s slasher through a Black girl’s eyes, Jessica Guess’ “Cirque Berserk” takes readers on a thrilling journey through an abandoned carnival that is harboring more than just rusty equipment.
80. Fledgling – From the fantastic mind of Octavia Butler comes “Fledgling,” a captivating novel that redefined the vampire genre, tests the limits of “otherness,” and questions what it means to be truly human.
81. The Delectable Negro: Human Consumption and Homoeroticism within U.S. Slave Culture – Winner of the 2015 LGBT Studies Award, Vincent Woodard’s “The Delectable Negro” unearths connections between homoeroticism, cannibalism, and cultures of consumption in U.S. slave culture that has largely been ignored.
82. When No One Is Watching – In this thrilling tale by New York Times notable author Alyssa Cole, the gentrification of a Brooklyn neighborhood takes on a sinister new meaning.
83. Black Women Taught Us: An Intimate History of Black Feminism – From professor of political science Jenn M. Jackson comes this reclamation of essential history that shows the impact of Black women in the feminist movement and beyond.
84. The List – “The List” follows Ola Olajide as she struggles to come to grips with newly leaked information regarding her beloved finance. Yomi Adegoke’s debut novel is an intense portrayal of the power of secrets, lies, and the internet.
85. Baby of the Family – Tucked in protagonist Lena McPherson’s coming-of-age story, Tina McElroy Ansa’s “Baby of the Family” takes readers on a spiraling journey into the heart of a southern family’s love and mysticism.
86. The Black Girl Survives in This One – Through fifteen chilling and thought-provoking stories that place Black girls front and center as heroes and survivors who slay monsters, battle spirits, and face down death, “The Black Girl Survives in This One” celebrates the new generation of Black women in horror writers.
89. Women Who Work Too Much – Yes, women can have it all. But sometimes striving for “all” can become all too much. Tamu Thomas’ “Women Who Work Too Much” shares how women can break free from toxic productivity and find joy.
90. The Nickel Boys – The Nickel Boys explores the historic Dozier School, a reform school in Florida that operated for 111 years and was revealed as highly abusive. The novel by Colson Whitehead won the 2020 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, and judges of the prize called it “a spare and devastating exploration of abuse at a reform school in Jim Crow-era Florida that is ultimately a powerful tale of human perseverance, dignity, and redemption.”
91. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings – The first in a seven-volume series, “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings” is a 1969 autobiography describing the early years of award-winning writer and poet Maya Angelou that illustrates how strength of character and a love of literature helped her overcome racism and trauma.
92. Black Girl, Call Home – From poet Jasmine Mans comes “Black Girl, Call Home,” an unforgettable poetry collection about race, feminism, and queerness. Dubbed a “love letter to the wandering Black girl,” this collection is a much-needed companion to any Black woman on a journey to find truth, belonging, and healing.
93. Heal Thyself: For Health and Longevity – From bestselling author Queen Afua comes this comprehensive guide to help folks take control of their lives and health by teaching them how to purify their minds, body, and spirit.
94. Orishas, Goddesses, and Voodoo Queens: The Divine Feminine in the African Religious Traditions – “Orishas, Goddesses, and Voodoo Queens,” by Lilith Dorsey, teaches how to celebrate and cultivate the traits of divine feminine energies from traditional African religions. No matter what spiritual practices you believe in, these stories and rituals are sure to impart wisdom and help guide you on your own transformational journey.
95. Children of Blood and Bone – This debut fantasy novel from Nigerian-American writer Tomi Adeyemi brings readers into a world where magic has disappeared and maji have been slaughtered by a ruthless king. A girl named Zélie joins forces with the Princess Amari and embarks on a quest to restore magic and to strike back against the forces that have been oppressing the lands of Orïsha.
96. Reclaiming the Black Body: Nourishing the Home Within – Alishia McCullough’s “Reclaiming the Black Body” is now available for pre-order! This work divests from mainstream, whitewashed ideals of wellness to develop a framework that addresses Black folks’ complex relationship to food based on McCullough’s work with thousands of patients, years of research, social activism, and personal healing journey.
97. The Black Girl’s Guide to Financial Freedom – This is not your normal finance book. In “The Black Girl’s Guide to Financial Freedom,” Paris Woods shares years of research to take the guesswork out of wealth-building and present a plan that anyone can follow.
98. Monday’s Not Coming – Monday Charles is missing, and only Claudia seems to know. How can a Black teenage girl just vanish without anyone noticing that she’s gone? Author Tiffany D. Jackson’s dynamic characters and heart-wrenching story urge readers to advocate for those who are disenfranchised and forgotten by society.
99. How to Go Mad Without Losing Your Mind: Madness and Black Radical Creativity – La Marr Jurelle Bruce’s poignant meditation on Black radical art theorizes four overlapping meanings of madness: the lived experience of an unruly mind, the psychiatric category of serious mental illness, the emotional state also known as “rage,” and any drastic deviation from psychosocial norms. “Ultimately, ‘How to Go Mad Without Losing Your Mind‘ is both a study and an act of critical, ethical, and radical madness,” explains Goodreads.
100. Conversations With Octavia Butler – In this honest and inspiring collection of interviews from 1980 until just before her sudden death in 2006, Octavia Butler shares her journey of becoming the most prolific and widely celebrated Black woman author of science fiction. Her candid struggles and triumphs provide hope for future generations of Black women authors to share their voices and pursue their passions.
101. Tackling the Taboo: Navigating Anxiety, Depression & Other Mental Illnesses as a Christian – Over 50 million Americans struggle with mental illness. But for Christians, seeking support can come with shame. While some espouse the belief that Christians should not have anxiety, depression, or other mental health issues, author Terica Turner reminds readers that having mental health concerns is not the result of a flawed relationship with God.
102. 20 Lessons in 20 Years – The transition from adolescence and early adulthood to adulthood can be jarring. That’s why Cameron Michael Williams wrote “20 Lessons in 20 Years” to help guide folks through various life scenarios. Williams shares his own trials and successes to help teenagers and young adults alike learn the value of change.
103. Outdrawn – In this slow-burn, rivals-to-lovers sapphic romance novel by Deanna Grey, main characters Noah Blue and Sage Montgomery battle for the opportunity to excel on a career-changing project. They thought the hardest part of the relaunch would be drawing together, but that’s easy compared to falling in love.
104. Tales of the Orishas – This fantasy-adventure graphic novel by Hugo Canuto explores Afro-Brazilian legends and mythology. Centered around a celestial battle between the gods of Brazil and a fearsome conquering force led by a dark and malevolent overlord, only Shango, the god of fire and thunder, can lead his people to victory and prosperity.
105. Life Doesn’t Frighten Me – This poetry picture book by Maya Angelou and Jean Michel Basquiat is “a powerful exploration of emotion and its expression through the careful blend of words and art.”
106. What’s Mine and Yours – This multigenerational saga by Naima Coster focuses on two main families headed by fierce women who have lost their husbands—one through murder, the other through drugs. It explores the unique organism that is every family: what breaks them apart and how they come back together.
107. The Place of Broken Things – Bram Stoker Award winners Linda D. Addison and Alessandro Manzetti use their unique voices to create a dark poetry collection exploring the many ways shattered bodies, minds, and souls endure.
108. This Here Flesh – Combining stories of family, spirituality, and liberation, author Cole Arthur Riley offers meditations and reflections on the most urgent questions of life and faith. “This Here Flesh” is a powerful coming-of-age narrative that takes readers on an adventure to discover that humanity is not an enemy of faith, but evidence of it.
109. Immortal Dark – Author Tigest Girma brings Black vampire fantasies to life with this dark romance novel, where a lost heiress must infiltrate an arcane society and live with the vampire she suspects killed her family and kidnapped her sister.
110. JesusDevil: The Parables – Writing under a new genre dubbed “afiction,” author Alexis De Veaux allows readers to glimpse into the journey of an otherworldy spirit as they navigate Blackness and queerness across space and time.
111. A Good Cry: What We Learn From Tears and Laughter – In “A Good Cry,” legendary poet Nikki Giovanni takes us into her confidence, describing the joy and peril of aging. She recalls the violence that permeated her early life and pays homage to the people who gave her life meaning.
112. Jackal – A young Black girl goes missing in the woods outside her white Rust Belt town. But she’s not the first — and she may not be the last. Erin E. Adams’s “Jackal” is a horrifying mystery novel that reveals the courage it takes to stand up to monsters.
113. The Day God Saw Me as Black: The Journey to Liberated Faith – Unfit Christians founder Danyelle Thomas’s new novel chronicles her spiritual trek, embracing her identity, and why it’s important to think for yourself even in religious spaces. “The Day God Saw Me as Black” also offers a cultural critique of white supremacy in the Black Pentecostal religious experience through the lenses of race, gender, sexual expression, and class analyses.
114. I’m Still Here: Black Dignity in a World Made for Whiteness – This New York Times best-selling collection of essays from Austin Channing Brown is an “illuminating meditation on faith, race, and what it means to come of age in the shadow of white supremacy,” according to Penguin Random House. Combining vulnerability with courageous truth, Brown imagines a world where Blackness can be celebrated.
115. Self-Care for Black Men: 100 Ways to Heal and Liberate – Self-care is being seen more and more as an important part of mental and physical wellness, but Black men are often left out of this movement. Jor-El Caraballo’s guidebook is full of activities to help Black men pursue joy, create connections, confront racism, and work through intergenerational trauma.
116. Professional Troublemaker – Luvvie Ajayi Jones’s “fear-fighter manual” shows readers how to stop letting fear chip away at their sense of self so that they can live boldly and courageously. This book is perfect for anyone looking to remember that they deserve to pursue their dreams.
117. Blood at the Root – An HBCU for the young, Black, and magical? Sign us up. LaDarrion Williams’s fantasy novel follows a teenage boy on the run from his past who finds the family he never knew existed and the community he never knew he needed.
118. Somebody’s Daughter – Ashley C. Ford’s powerful and vulnerable autobiography takes readers into the world of growing up a poor Black girl in Indiana with a family fragmented by incarceration. How will she contend with complicated familial love, who she is, and what she was born into?
119. Charlie Drew and His Missing Stethoscope – As the youngest student in the United States in medical school, 11-year-old Charlie Drew’s days at Howard University look quite different from most kids’ schedules his age. Named after the iconic Black surgeon Charles Drew, Dr. David C. Miller’s inspiring children’s book is a powerful motivator for young readers, showing them they, too, can achieve greatness in STEM fields.
120. Homegoing – Following the parallel paths of two half-sisters born into different villages in Ghana and their descendants, Yaa Gyasi’s “Homegoing” illustrates slavery’s brutal legacy both from those who were taken and those who stayed.
121. Horror Noire: Blacks in American Horror Films from the 1890s to Present – In “Horror Noire,” Robin R. Means Coleman traces the history of notable characterizations of Blackness in horror cinema, differentiates between Black horror and Blacks in horror films, and highlights Black horror as a groundbreaking form of protest art.
122. We Deserve Monuments – Full of family secrets, romance, and mystery, Jas Hammonds’s “We Deserve Monuments” follows seventeen-year-old Avery Anderson, who is uprooted from her life in D.C. and forced into the hostile home of her terminally ill grandmother in Bardell, Georgia. Dealing with the small town’s racist past and her family tension, Anderson must decide if knowing the truth or keeping the peace is most important.
123. Legacy: A Black Physician Reckons with Racism in Medicine – Dubbed “a searing indictment of our healthcare system, a generational family memoir, and a call to action” by Barnes & Noble, Dr. Uché Blackstock’s “Legacy” chronicles Blackstock’s journey to becoming a health equity advocate against the backdrop of the pandemic and the Black Lives Matter movement.
124. Lion’s Blood – In this alternative history novel from Steven Barnes, the American South has been colonized by Black Africans, and the North by Vikings, who sell abducted Celts and Franks to the Southerners. Offering a complex examination of the horrors of slavery, “Lion’s Blood” is an exciting novel of freedom and bondage, battle, and love.
125. Conversations with Toni Morrison – In a collection of interviews beginning in 1974, Nobel Prize-winning author Toni Morrison reveals what she believes to be her life’s purpose and how the theme of love streams through her fiction.
126. Changa and the Jade Obelisk – This comic book trilogy from creator Milton Davis follows Changa and his crew through world-changing adventures across Africa as they pursue the powers of the magical jade obelisk.
127. Prayer and Pen – In her new book honoring Carl Murphy — publisher of the AFRO-American Newspapers from 1922-1967 — current AFRO publisher Dr. Frances “Toni” Draper offers more than 100 prayers and commentaries on a variety of topics. Photographs accompanying the reflections on family, freedom, hope, and more also give readers a glimpse into the expansive and historic AFRO archives.
128. 31 Days of Grace – From Word In Black’s religion reporter, Rev. Dorothy Boulware, comes this hopeful and faithful reflection on the importance and power of God’s grace.
129. The Bluest Eye – As renowned writer and thinker Toni Morrison’s first novel, “The Bluest Eye” remains one of the author’s “most powerful, unforgettable novels, and a significant work of American fiction,” according to GoodReads. Following young Pecola Breedlove through a painful transformation, the book explores how fear and loneliness are often at the center of yearning.
130. Black Liturgies: Prayers, Poems, Contemplation – This NYT Bestseller from Cole Arthur Riley combines prayer, poetry, and spiritual practices that center the Black interior world. Adapted from Riley’s desire to unlock a spirituality that she could trust, “Black Liturgies” dreams of a more human, more liberating expression of faith.
131. Black Magic Women: Terrifying Tales by Scary Sisters – Edited by Sumiko Saulson, this anthology brings together 18 Black women in horror through “soul-scorching tales of terror” that place Black characters at the center.
132. Lovely One – With inspiring honesty, Ketanji Brown Jackson, the first Black woman to ever be appointed to the Supreme Court of the United States, chronicles her extraordinary life story.
133. DEFIANT: The Story of Robert Smalls – In the first volume of a four-part comic book series, author Rob Edwards uncovers the daring life and legacy of Robert Smalls, who escaped slavery to become a pioneering politician and activist. “From his audacious theft of a Confederate steamship to his fearless confrontations on enemy territory, Smalls’ story is a testament to courage, determination, and foresight,” Amazon reads.
134. Tell My Horse: Voodoo and Life in Haiti and Jamaica – Through observation of voodoo/obeah in Haiti and Jamaica, Zora Neale Hurston invites readers into her journey as an initiate in the 1930s. The travelogue offers a vivid and authentic picture of the ceremonies, customs, and superstitions prevalent in both regions.
135. Between the World and Me – From award-winning author Ta-Nehisi Coates, “Between the World and Me” reads as a letter to his then-teenage son, unraveling for his child and people worldwide the realities of growing up in a Black body in the United States. “This is your country, this is your world, this is your body, and you must find some way to live within the all of it,” Coates writes.
136. Afro Global 2035: The Urgent Global Strategy For Black America – This ten-year blueprint from author Carter Rankin offers a data-driven, global strategy designed to give Black communities the tools to compete, build, and win — not just in America, but across the world.
137. Jazz – A passionate and deep look into love and obsession, Nobel Prize laureate Toni Morrison jumps through time and back in “Jazz” to uncover the hopes, fears, and realities of community and life in Black America in 1926.
138. The Between – Hilton was just a boy when he watched his grandmother die — twice. Thirty years later, Hilton begins to think his own time is running out. Can he save himself and his family? From horror legend Tananarive Due, this gripping, psychological horror story uncovers the true meaning of sacrifice.
139. The Cancer Journals – In this moving memoir, award-winning author Audre Lorde fuses the personal and political as she reflects on her experience coping with breast cancer. With courage and grace, Lorde shares what it means to face death without looking away.
140. Blk Grl Sick: Tales from the Library Burned – In this debut collection, storyteller Goddess X offers poems on Blackness, the African diaspora, queerness, trans womanhood, mental illness, and joy.
141. Well Read Black Girl: Finding Our Stories, Discovering Ourselves – In this anthology, Glory Edim brings together essays by Black women writers to highlight how we search for ourselves in literature, and why representation and diversity in literature are so important.
142. Hood Feminism: Notes from the Women That a Movement Forgot – In this book, Mikki Kendall moves away from the mainstream feminist practice of increasing privilege for the few to instead focus on the survival of the many. Through essays and research, Kendall argues that a lack of basic needs, including food insecurity, access to quality education, and safe neighborhoods, are all feminist issues.
143. You Are Your Best Thing: Vulnerability, Shame Resilience, and the Black Experience – This New York Times Bestseller from “Me Too” movement founder Tarana Burke and researcher and writer Dr. Brené Brown brings together Black writers, organizers, artists, academics, and cultural figures to “discuss the topics the two have dedicated their lives to understanding and teaching: vulnerability and shame resilience.”
144. The Black Guy Dies First: Black Horror Cinema from Fodder to Oscar – From scholars Robin R. Means Coleman and Mark H. Harris, this book delves into the themes, tropes, and traits that have come to characterize Black roles in horror since 1968, and how movies like Get Out are breaking the mold.
145. Asylum: A Memoir & Manifesto – On the eve of Edafe Okporo’s twenty-sixth birthday, he was awoken by a violent mob outside his window in Abuja, Nigeria. They had discovered his secret: Okporo is a gay man. “Asylum” documents his experiences growing up gay in Nigeria, fleeing to America, navigating the immigration system, and making a life for himself as both an immigrant and activist.
146. Blue Heat: A Portfolio of Poems and Drawings – A collection of poems and drawings, Alexis DeVeaux’s “Blue Heat” is praised as a Sapphic Classic that ignites power, joy, and justice in Black feminist communities.
147. The Invention of Women: Making an African Sense of Western Gender Discourse – Through rethinking gender as a Western construction, Oyèrónkẹ́ Oyěwùmí’s “The Invention of Women” offers a new way of understanding both Yoruban and Western cultures — and offers the possibility of an “after-gender” world.
148. Plain Jayne: A Memoir – In 1978, Jayne Kennedy became the first Black woman to co-anchor The NFL Today. Now, she’s sharing her story through “Plain Jayne,” an inspiring and honest memoir.
149. Joy Goddess: A’Lelia Walker and the Harlem Renaissance – Written by her great-granddaughter, “Joy Goddess” tells the story of A’Lelia Walker, whose legendary parties and Dark Tower salon made her a central figure of the Harlem Renaissance.
150. Who’s That Girl?: A Memoir – Eve Jihan Cooper made history in 1999 when her solo debut album, “Let There Be Eve…Ruff Ryders’ First Lady,” reached number one on the Billboard 200, marking her as the third female rapper to ever obtain that position. Now, she’s sharing her story with “Who’s That Girl?“, an intimate memoir about breaking into the male-dominated music industry, motherhood, and battling mental health struggles.
151. 107 Days – In this political memoir, Kamala Harris, the 49th vice president of the United States, offers reflections and lessons from her 107-day-long 2024 presidential campaign.
152. Arc of the Universe – In Nikki Alexander’s “Arc of the Universe,” Black, queer professor Carrie is tasked with creating a constitution for a civilization in space. Can she craft the “government of the future” and prevent the prejudices of Earth from tainting human life beyond?
153. Excuse or Circumstance – Through his memoir, “Excuse or Circumstance,” Adrian Muldrow turns trauma into testimony, honoring the struggle of those wrongfully convicted and still fighting for justice.
154. The Black Family Who Built America: The McKissacks, Two Centuries of Daring Pioneers – From slavery to $50 billion. With her new book, author Cheryl McKissack Daniel chronicles her family’s journey from slavery to founding America’s leading Black construction firm.
155. Assata – Since the passing of revolutionary leader Assata Shakur in September 2025, her autobiography has gained renewed popularity. “Assata” offers a moving and deeply personal account of her life and struggle as a Black thinker and activist.
156. I Accidentally Summoned a Demon Boyfriend – The last single friend in her group, a drunken Rayna jokingly casts a spell from a book and gets more than she bargained for. This romantacy from best-selling author Jessica Cage combines humor, love, and otherworldly frights for a book that both scares and delights.
157. Little Rot – What if one weekend changed your entire life? In this thrilling novel from the award-winning writer Akwaeke Emezi, five friends must survive the elite underbelly of a Nigerian city.
