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America’s 100 Bestselling Black Authors of 2024

America’s 100 Bestselling Black Authors of 2024

Authors are ranked by total print sales. Compiled by AALBC using BookScan data. Discover America’s bestselling books written by Black writers.

#1

James McBride

James McBride is a celebrated author and musician.

#2

Percival Everett

Percival Everett

Percival Everett, a Distinguished Professor of English at the University of Southern California.

#3

Rachel Renée Russell

Rachel Renée Russell

Rachel Renee Russell, Attorney, Author of the bestselling Dork Diaries series.

#4

Kimberly D. Moore

Kimberly D. Moore

Dr. Kimberly D. Moore, a native of Abbeville, SC, is...

#5

Malcolm Gladwell

Malcolm Gladwell

Malcolm Gladwell is an acclaimed English-Canadian journalist and author.

#6

Toni Morrison

Toni Morrison: One of America’s Most Beloved Writers. A Nobel Prize-Winning Author

#7

Bell Hooks

bell hooks, Author, Cultural Critic, Feminist Theorist

#8

Isabel Wilkerson

Isabel Wilkerson

Isabel Wilkerson - Author and Journalist

#9

Octavia E. Butler

Octavia E. Butler

Butler was the first science fiction writer to be awarded a MacArthur Foundation Fellowship.

#10

Ta-Nehisi Coates

Ta-Nehisi Coates

Ta-Nehisi Coates is the most critically acclaimed and journalist of his generation.

#11

Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray

Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray

Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray are co-authors of bestselling books

#12

Vashti Harrison

Vashti Harrison

Vashti Harrison, Author, Illustrator and Filmmaker

#13

James Baldwin

James Baldwin, Author, Playwright, Poet and Activist

#14

Michelle Obama

Former First Lady, Michelle Obama

#15

Colson Whitehead

Colson Whitehead

Colson Whitehead, born in 1969, is an acclaimed writer who...

#16

Zora Neale Hurston

Zora Neale Hurston

“One of the greatest writers of our time.” —Toni Morrison

#17

Lorraine Hansberry

Lorraine Hansberry

Lorraine Hansberry, Author and Playwright

#18

Tomi Adeyemi

Tomi Adeyemi, a Nigerian-American author and creative writing coach, is...

#19

Angie Thomas

Angie Thomas, a Mississippi-based author, gained fame with her debut...

#20

Jacqueline Woodson

Jacqueline Woodson

Jacqueline Woodson, author of young adult, children's literature and poetry

#21

Jason Reynolds

Jason Reynolds, an acclaimed author and professor, aims to engage readers, especially young boys, with his exciting books.

#22

Sharon M. Draper

Sharon M. Draper

Sharon M. Draper, Award Winning Children's Book Author

#23

N. K. Jemisin

Nora K. Jemisin, born in 1972, is a renowned speculative...

#24

Amanda Gorman

Gorman Gorman, Poet and Activist

#25

r.h. Sin

Reuben Holmes, known as r.h. Sin, is a New York...

#26

Tia Williams

Tia Williams, hailed as a style insider, is a renowned...

#27

Trevor Noah

Trevor Noah, a successful African comedian and host of the...

#28

Kennedy Ryan

Kennedy Ryan, an award-winning author, uses her work to empower women.

#29

Sister Souljah

Sister Souljah (Lisa Williamson), Wife, Author, Recording Artist and Activist

#30

Margot Lee Shetterly

Margot Lee Shetterly

Margot Lee Shetterly, a writer, researcher, and entrepreneur, is known...

#31

Fawn Weaver

Fawn Weaver, founder of HappyWivesClub.com, is a renowned marriage advocate...

#32

Sadeqa Johnson

Sadeqa Johnson, Author, Motivational Speaker, Meditation Instructor

#33

Maya Angelou

Maya Angelou, born Marguerite Johnson on April 4, 1928, was...

#34

Arthur C. Brooks and Oprah Winfrey

Arthur C. Brooks and Oprah Winfrey

Oprah Winfrey and Arthur C. Brooks Co-authored Build the Life You Want

#35

Sarah Jakes Roberts

Sarah Jakes Roberts

Sarah Jakes Roberts is a successful businesswoman, bestselling author, and...

#36

Alice Walker

Alice Walker, born 1944 in Georgia, is a Pulitzer Prize-winning...

#37

Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah

Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah

Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah, hailing from Spring Valley, NY, is a...

#38

Snoop Dogg

Calvin Broadus, known as Snoop Dogg, is a renowned rapper from Long Beach, California.

#39

Kwame Alexander

Kwame Alexander

Kwame Alexander, Award Winning Children’s Book Author, Poet, and Literary Activist

#40

Nikole Hannah-Jones

Nikole Hannah-Jones

Nikole Hannah-Jones is a Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter and creator of the landmark 1619 Project.

#41

Crystal Hubbard

Crystal Hubbard

Crystal Hubbard romance novelist and picture book author.

#42

B. B. Alston

B.B. Alston is a South Carolina-based author known for his...

#43

S. A. Cosby

Shawn A. Cosby, an Anthony Award-winning writer from Southeastern Virginia,...

#44

Nic Stone

Nic Stone, a New York Times bestselling author, is acclaimed...

#45

Hanif Abdurraqib

Hanif Abdurraqib

Hanif Abdurraqib, Poet, Author,

#46

Matthew A. Cherry

Matthew A. Cherry

Matthew A. Cherry, Author, Director, Producer, Editor

#47

Jesmyn Ward

Jesmyn Ward, a Mississippi-born author and University of South Alabama...

#48

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Award Winning Nigeria Author

#49

Christopher Paul Curtis

Christopher Paul Curtis

Christopher Paul Curtis, born in Flint, Michigan, worked in a...

#50

Whoopi Goldberg

Whoopi Goldberg

Whoopi Goldberg, Comedian, Actress, Author and Television Host

#51

Renée Watson

Renée Watson, Writer, Performer, Educator

#52

Yaa Gyasi

Yaa Gyasi, a Ghana-born author raised in Alabama, is an...

#53

Walter Dean Myers

Walter Dean Myers

Walter Dean Myers, Author Winning Children’ Book Author

#54

Derrick Barnes

Derrick D. Barnes, a Kansas City native and Jackson State...

#55

Wes Moore

Wes Moore, Author, Television Producer, and Political Analyst

#56

Mildred D. Taylor

Mildred D. Taylor

Mildred D. Taylor, Author, YA Literature

#57

Joy-Ann Reid

Joy-Ann M. Lomena-Reid, born in 1968, is a renowned TV...

#58

Ross Gay

#59

Ashley Antoinette

Ashley Antoinette

Ashley Antoinette is an acclaimed author known for her collaborative...

#60

Sonya Renee Taylor

Sonya Renee Taylor

Sonya Renee Taylor is the founder of 'The Body Is...

#61

Tracy Deonn

Tracy Deonn, a North Carolina-based writer and fangirl, combines her...

#62

Frederick Douglass

Frederick Douglass

Frederick Douglass (1818-1895), born into slavery, was an influential abolitionist...

#63

Lavaille Lavette

Lavaille Lavette

Lavaille Lavette is a bestselling author, social entrepreneur, and leadership...

#64

August Wilson

August Wilson (1945-2005), two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning African American playwright, is...

#65

Kiley Reid

Kiley Reid, Iowa Writers' Workshop MFA graduate and Truman Capote...

#66

Lebron James

LeBron James, an acclaimed basketball player with three NBA championships,...

#67

Mellody Hobson

Mellody Hobson is co-CEO and president of Ariel Investments, the first African American-owned mutual fund company in the United States.

#68

Michael Harriot

Michael Harriot

Michael Harriot is a renowned poet, journalist, and broadcaster, currently...

#69

Tabitha Brown

Tabitha Brown, Author and “America”s Mom.”

#70

Cole Arthur Riley

Cole Arthur Riley

Cole Arthur Riley, a New York Times bestselling author, is...

#71

Billy Chapata

Billy Chapata is a Zimbabwean poet and author based in...

#72

Rita Williams-Garcia

Rita Williams-Garcia

Rita Williams-Garcia, a PEN/Norma Klein Award winner, is known for...

#73

Jerry Craft

Jerry Craft is a renowned cartoonist, children's book illustrator, and...

#74

Shanora Williams

Shanora Williams

Shanora Williams is a NY Times and USA Today bestselling...

#75

Clay Cane

Clay Cane is an award-winning journalist, author, and radio host.

#76

Oludara Adeeyo

Oludara Adeeyo, a Los Angeles-based psychotherapist and psychiatric social worker,...

#77

Antonia Hylton

Antonia Hylton, an award-winning journalist at NBC News, reports on...

#78

Angela Y. Davis

Angela Y. Davis

Angela Davis is a renowned American political activist, scholar, and...

#79

Kwame Mbalia

Kwame Mbalia, previously a part-time pharmaceutical calibration tech, is now...

#80

Ben Carson

Dr. Benjamin Carson, once a child from a poor, single-parent...

#81

Kristina Forest

Kristina Forest

Kristina Forest, a critically acclaimed author of teen and adult...

#82

Frank Berrios

Frank Berrios is a prolific children's book author, known for...

#83

Ralph Ellison

Ralph Ellison, National Book Award and Pulitzer Prize–winning author.

#84

Rio Cortez

Rio Cortez is a Pushcart-nominated poet and writer, recognized with...

#85

Brittney Griner

Brittney Griner

Brittney Griner, a renowned basketball player

#86

Jayne Allen

Jayne Allen, pen name of Jaunique Sealey, is a Duke...

#87

Sunny Hostin

Sunny Hostin is a three-time Emmy-winning journalist, author, ABC's The...

#88

A’ja Wilson

A'ja Wilson, two-time MVP and professional basketball player for the Las Vegas Aces, is a gold medalist with the USA Women’s National Team.

#89

Uché Blackstock

Uché Blackstock

Dr. Uche Blackstock is a Harvard-educated physician and leader in addressing bias and racism in health care.

#90

K.D. Richards

K.D. Richards is a bestselling author and two-time Daphne du Maurier Award finalist.

#91

Sherri L. Smith

Sherri L. Smith

Sherri L. Smith is a renowned author of young adult,...

#92

Zetta Elliott

Zetta Elliott, a Canadian-born Black feminist writer, is known for...

#93

Clint Smith

Clint Smith is an award-winning author and staff writer at...

#94

Jewell Parker Rhodes

Jewell Parker Rhodes

Jewell Parker Rhodes, Author, Educator

#95

Kevin Lewis

Kevin Lewis is the author of many children’s picture books for toddler and early elementary grades.

#96

Tina Wells

Tina Wells, founder of RLVNT Media, is a celebrated entrepreneur...

#97

Kekla Magoon

Kekla Magoon, an award-winning author of eight YA novels, including...

#98

Janay Brown-Wood

Janay Brown-Wood

JaNay Brown-Wood, Author & Educator

#99

Ishmael Beah

Ishmael Beah, a Sierra Leonean author and human rights activist,...

#100

Terah Shelton Harris

Terah Shelton Harris

Terah Shelton Harris is an Alabama-based librarian and freelance writer...