Top 7 Books Written by Black Authors

“I think all black people who smile are beautiful. You know what it took to get theme there?” Books are always the best way to know about the culture and history of countries, gender, classes, and races. One of the best ways to know about the history and distress of Black people is to read about them. Thank you to the African-American authors for providing us with the culture and struggles with the help of words. In this article, we are going to read about the top 7 books written by black authors.

The Color Purple – Alice Walker

Alice Walker’s The Color Purple sketches the lives of African-American women in early 20th century rural Georgia. The story talks about several themes focusing on the main character. With the help of female characters, Walker managed to depict men and their misogyny, domestic and sexual abuse, companionship and growth, and more. The Color Purple is also my favorite book and I would recommend it to anyone seeking a good read about feminism and a less depressing LGBT story.

Beloved – Toni Morrison

Are you free from slavery if you managed to escape? Sethe was born a slave. She managed to escape to Ohio. It’s been 18 years and she still does not have her freedom. She is still held captive of some memories – the memories of the beautiful farm in Sweet Home. Sethe’s house is still haunted by the angry ghost of her baby. Her baby died without a name and the tombstone just says one word – Beloved.

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings – Maya Angelou

This autobiographical writing of Maya Angelou describes her early days and her childhood. It is a coming-of-age story and rather an inspirational one. Because these seven-volume series books will help the readers understand that we can survive trauma and racism with the strength of the soul and love for literature.

Things Fall Apart – Chinua Achebe

Chinua Achebe through this book managed to break the bubble that Africans had no culture before they were colonized. This is a story of a man whose life is dominated by anger and fear. Achebe is well aware of human qualities, especially of a man and we can see it in this story. It deals with a lot – tradition and colonialism, fate, faith, masculinity, femininity, animism, and Christianity. Okonkwo is one of the most popular, raw, and intriguing characters in African fiction.

The Hate U Give – Angie Thomas

16-year-old Starr Carter is between two different worlds. On one hand, she lives in a poor neighborhood, and on the other hand she attends a fancy suburban school. The uneasy balance got shattered when she witnessed the deadly shooting of her childhood best friend Khalil at the hands of an officer. For the record, Khalil was unarmed. Are you surprised? I am sure not. This news is soon a huge headline. People are both protesting and blaming. But, Starr is the only one who knows what precisely happened that day. Her answer will have a lot of consequences on her life and also her community.

Kindred – Octavia E. Butler

Kindred is the first sci-fi book written by a black woman. This book is a blend of fantasy, historical fiction, and slave memoir and is rich with literary complexity. This book raises a lot of questions regarding race. The story is about Dana. She and her husband settled in their first house. But, she disappeared. Yes, she disappeared. She is rescuing Rufus, a drowning white boy. She is being called n- by her parents. Then she zips back to her husband and the future world. She realizes the drowning boy was her ancestor. Kindred portrays the real world and its raw reality.

Go Tell It on the Mountain – James Baldwin

Go Tell It on the Mountain is James Baldwin’s semi-autobiographical novel. The story sketches the struggle of a Black family for their survival in Harlem. Baldwin records a 14-year-old boy named John and his discovery of his identity as a queer stepson of the minister of a storefront Pentecostal church in Harlem in March 1935. Baldwin through the portrayal of his protagonist and the themes of moral, spiritual, and sexual struggle opened the doors for new opportunities in the African language.

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