10 Books By Black Women Authors You Should Be Reading
We’re diving into the most fiercely written books in a variety of genres by contemporary Black women authors that we’ve read over the past year. This book list is important to us because it features a diverse range of voices and narratives that explore numerous aspects of the Black experience, both within the United States and beyond. Each title plays a role in Black history and culture, highlighting unique characters with experiences that reflect on the impact of systemic injustice and the Black identity.
At Our Galaxy Publishing, we believe one of the most influential ways to broaden your perspective about the Black experience is to read books by Black authors. These authors’ contributions to the literary community span far beyond the books they’ve written; delving into themes of identity, race, family, resilience, and societal challenges faced by Black individuals and communities.
“If you don't understand, ask questions. If you're uncomfortable about asking questions, say you are uncomfortable about asking questions and then ask anyway. It's easy to tell when a question is coming from a good place. Then listen some more. Sometimes people just want to feel heard. Here's to possibilities of friendship and connection and understanding.”
― Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Americanah
About Americanah: The story follows Ifemelu and her lover, Obinze, who separately flee military-ruled Nigeria to head West. Once Ifemelu arrives at her destination, she is faced with the harsh reality of being Black in America. Obinze, on the other hand, is forced to settle in London where a dangerous path awaits him. When the two reunite 15 years later back in Nigeria, sparks fly once more, though things are vastly different. Will their love survive all that has changed? The novel won the 2013 U.S. National Book Critics Circle Award for fiction.
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is a critically acclaimed Nigerian writer of multiple genres known for her insightful exploration of themes such as identity, feminism, and post-colonialism in her novels and essays. She has received international acclaim for works such as Half of a Yellow Sun, and her manifesto Dear Ijeawele, or A Feminist Manifesto in Fifteen Suggestions, and is celebrated for her powerful storytelling and advocacy for gender equality. Adichie's TED Talk "We Should All Be Feminists" further solidified her reputation as a prominent feminist thinker and speaker.
“When you write about you and me? Just tell the truth. Your truth. Don’t worry about nobody’s feelings, especially not mine. You gotta be tough to tell your truth, but it’s the only thing worth doing next to loving somebody.”
― Ashley C. Ford, Somebody's Daughter
About Somebody’s Daughter: In this poignant and honest New York Times best-selling memoir, Ashley C. Ford discusses her complex, impoverished childhood in Indiana with an incarcerated father and an emotionally detached mother. The book covers Ford’s journey to self-acceptance, trying to navigate a world that offered her little support in her most formative years. The prose is descriptive, heavy, and skillfully written with challenging topics from abuse and rape to loss and financial hardship.
Ashley C. Ford is is a prominent writer, podcast host, and speaker known for her insightful commentary on topics such as race, identity, and culture. She has contributed to publications such as The Guardian, ELLE, BuzzFeed, and The Washington Post. She is also the former co-host of The HBO companion podcast Lovecraft Country Radio.
“That was the thrill of youth, the idea that you could be anyone. That was what had captured her in the charm shop, all those years ago. Then adulthood came, your choices solidifying, and you realize that everything you are had been set in motion years before. The rest was aftermath.”
― Brit Bennett, The Vanishing Half
About The Vanishing Half: Desiree and Stella are twin sisters with totally different identities. Both light-skinned, Black young women, Stella takes on a white-passing identity and Desiree chooses to embrace her Black identity. The book unravels the layers of their varying human experiences, and how the choices they make will impact the generations to follow. Told from multiple points of view, Bennett masterfully writes compelling characters whose psyche is explored beyond the scope of race and acceptance but complex familial ties and the relationships between women and the men that surround them.
Brit Bennett is an acclaimed American author known for her exploration of race, identity, and community in contemporary literature. Her debut novel, The Mothers, established her as a rising talent in the literary world. Bennett's subsequent novel, The Vanishing Half, further solidified her reputation, winning awards such as the Goodreads Choice Award for Historical Fiction and earning her recognition as a National Book Foundation "5 Under 35" honoree, highlighting her significant contributions to literature.
“I want to tell her that God is not a cement building of stones and sand. That God is not for all that putting inside a house and locking Him there. I want her to know that the only way to know if a person find God and keep Him in their heart is to check how the person is treating other people, if he treats people like Jesus says--with love, patience, kindness, and forgiveness.”
― Abi Daré, The Girl with the Louding Voice
About The Girl with the Louding Voice: Hard-hitting and awe-inspiring, in this book you’ll meet the courageous and resilient Adunni, a young Nigerian woman who wants nothing more than to earn an education and get out of poverty. But when her father sells her to an older man for marriage, she escapes only to become a housemaid to a rich family who mistreats her. The story exposes difficult truths about how women in Nigeria are viewed, all while remaining authentic and honoring the culture. Adunni never loses hope for a better future and refuses to stop fighting no matter what comes her way.
About Abi Dare: Abi Daré is a Nigerian author known for her impactful storytelling and exploration of social issues, particularly those affecting women and girls in Nigeria. Her debut novel, The Girl with the Louding Voice, gained widespread acclaim for its compelling narrative and powerful portrayal of a young Nigerian woman's struggle for education and independence amidst adversity. In 2020 it won a Litsy Awards for Debut of the Year.
“To anyone who has ever felt unappreciated, uninvited, or invisible… Your voice is more powerful than you think. You are allowed to exist without explanation. Never let the world convince you that your struggles are invalid.”
― Lola Akinmade Åkerström, In Every Mirror She's Black
About In Every Mirror She’s Black: This Good Morning America Book Club Buzz Pick follows three Black women connected only through one influential white man in Stockholm. Prominently focusing on the Black woman’s experience in a mostly white society, it covers themes from sexism and racism to mental health and sexuality. The story does well to give us complex, imperfect characters who must overcome inherent challenges and obstacles in a flawed society.
Lola Akinmade Åkerström is a Nigerian-born travel writer, photographer, and author celebrated for her captivating storytelling and evocative imagery that explores culture, identity, and the natural world. Through her work, she illuminates the beauty and complexity of diverse landscapes and communities across the globe. She’s earned awards such as the Travel Photographer of the Year Award from the Society of American Travel Writers and the NATJA Gold Prize for Best Travel Photography.
“Home ain't always about a place. The house I grew up in is gone, ain't nothin' but a field and some woods but even if the house was still there - it ain't about that. I don't know. Home is about the earth. Whether the earth open up to you. Whether it pull you so close the space between you and it melt and y’all one and it beats like your heart. Same time.”
― Jesmyn Ward, Sing, Unburied, Sing
About Sing, Unburied, Sing: A haunting ghost story with rich, dimensional characters and hypnotizing writing, in this book you’ll meet a young bi-racial boy named Jojo and his dysfunctional family. With a drug-addicted mother, a grandmother dying of cancer, a three-year-old innocent little sister, and a father about to come out of prison, Jojo grows up all too quickly amidst his small town in poor, rural, Mississippi. This poetically written novel is told through multiple perspectives that bring to light a family in crisis and a racist, unforgiving society.
Jesmyn Ward is known for writing that delves into the lives of marginalized communities, particularly those in the American South. She is celebrated for her ability to depict the complexities of race, poverty, and family dynamics with empathy and insight. Ward's novels, including Salvage the Bones and Sing, Unburied, Sing, have earned her numerous accolades, including the National Book Award for Fiction twice, making her the first woman to win the prestigious award twice. She’s also the author of Let Us Descend, Where the Line Bleeds, and Men We Reaped: A Memoir.
“A woman doesn't always have a choice, not in a meaningful way. Sometimes there is a debt that must be paid, a comfort that she is obliged to provide, a safe passage that must be secured. Every one of us has lain down for a reason that was not love.”
― Tayari Jones, An American Marriage
About An American Marriage: Just when you think you have it all… Celestial and Roy are newlyweds whose lives are turned upside down when Roy goes to prison for a crime they swear he didn’t commit. But when Celestial takes comfort in Roy’s best friend while he’s away, life becomes even more complex when he’s released. This intimate, juicy story does more than give us passion and drama. It discusses the intricacies of marriage, loyalty, and how the injustices of Black men in America impact the entire family.
Tayari Jones is known for her lyrical prose, nuanced characterizations, and exploration of complex interpersonal relationships against the backdrop of larger societal forces, especially as it relates to race, family, and social issues. Her novels include Silver Sparrow and An American Marriage, which won the Women's Prize for Fiction.
“The discussion of representation is one that has been repeated over and over again, and the solution has always been that it’s up to us to support, promote, and create the images that we want to see.”
― Issa Rae, The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl
About The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl: This witty, hilarious collection of essays dives right into the core of Issa’s awkward, anxiety-ridden life experiences with no holds barred. A creative, entrepreneurial Black woman, Issa’s honesty about the struggles to uncover her authentic sense of individuality is relatable to anyone. She’s not afraid to admit all of her failed attempts to “be cool” in a world where she feared being herself. It’s fun and comedic with serious undertones about the stereotypes of Black people and what it means to embrace one’s Black identity.
Issa Rae is a writer, actress, and producer widely recognized for her groundbreaking work in television and film. She first gained prominence with her web series Awkward Black Girl, which garnered a dedicated following for its witty humor and authentic portrayal of the Black female experience. Rae's success continued with the critically acclaimed HBO series Insecure, which she co-created, co-writes, and stars in, earning her widespread praise for its realistic depiction of contemporary Black life. Throughout her career, Rae has received numerous awards and nominations, including Golden Globe and Emmy nominations for her work on Insecure.
“You want to know what weakness is? Weakness is treating someone as though they belong to you. Strength is knowing that everyone belongs to themselves.”
― Yaa Gyasi, Homegoing
About Homegoing: Written as a collection of essays, this saga gives voice to a round-up of complex characters in two families from Ghana to New York City across centuries in time. Told by two half-sisters, Effia and Esi, one captures the truths of an enslaved America, and the other tells of the grinding warfare in Ghana. Each chapter introduces a new descendant of one of the sisters, unweaving a gut-wrenching depiction of their experiences in segregated cultures over the span of 250 years.
Yaa Gyasi is a Ghanaian-American author acclaimed for her profound exploration of the African diaspora and its intergenerational impacts. She gained widespread recognition with her debut novel, Homegoing, which traces the lineage of two half-sisters and their descendants across generations, spanning from 18th-century Ghana to contemporary America. The novel received critical acclaim and was honored with numerous awards and nominations, including the National Book Critics Circle's John Leonard Award for Best First Book, the PEN/Hemingway Award for a distinguished debut novel, and the American Book Award. She is also the author of Transcendent Kingdom.
“Some people don't believe you can meet and know that's the person for you for the rest of your life. I'm not going to try to argue with them on that. I know what I know.”
― Jacqueline Woodson, Red at the Bone
About Red at the Bone: A coming-of-age tale like no other, this generational family drama brings you Melody, a Black young woman from Brooklyn whose 16th birthday ceremony stirs up memories of a complicated family history. A raw telling of how the choices we make as young people follow us into adulthood with themes of gentrification, class, racism, and teen pregnancy. This urban family offers an emotionally captivating story as you find out how they got to where they are today.
Jacqueline Woodson is a writer of numerous books who explores themes of identity, family, and social justice, particularly within the context of the African American experience. She is best known for her ability to capture the complexities of childhood and adolescence with sensitivity and depth. Woodson is the author of Brown Girl Dreaming, which won the National Book Award for Young People's Literature, as well as her picture book Each Kindness, which was a recipient of the Coretta Scott King Award. Some of her other titles also include Remember Us, The Day You Begin, Another Brooklyn, and more.
Want to read more books by Black women?
Check out our blog,120 Years of Poetry: 16 Influential Black Women Poets from Then to Now, highlighting 120 years of Black women excellence in poetry and literature, showcasing famous Black women poets whose work has left its mark on the literary, and political, world. Each of these women has used their poetry, essays, and spoken word to create a lasting impact on the awareness and advocacy of the Black experience—and for women overall.
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