America’s 100 Bestselling Black Authors of 2024

The 2024 Bestselling Black Authors list ranks authors by total print sales. Compiled by AALBC using Circana BookScan data. Explore America’s bestselling books written by Black writers.

Percival Everett

#1 Percival Everett

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

James McBride

#2 James McBride

James McBride is a celebrated author and musician.

Rachel Renée Russell

#3 Rachel Renée Russell

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

Malcolm Gladwell

#4 Malcolm Gladwell

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

Kimberly D. Moore

#5 Kimberly D. Moore

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

Toni Morrison

#6 Toni Morrison

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

Bell Hooks

bell hooks, Author, Cultural Critic, Feminist Theorist

Octavia E. Butler

#8 Octavia E. Butler

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

Isabel Wilkerson

#9 Isabel Wilkerson

Isabel Wilkerson - Author and Journalist

Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray

#10 Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray

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

Ta-Nehisi Coates

#11 Ta-Nehisi Coates

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

Vashti Harrison

#12 Vashti Harrison

Vashti Harrison, Author, Illustrator and Filmmaker

James Baldwin

#13 James Baldwin

James Baldwin, Author, Playwright, Poet and Activist

Michelle Obama

#14 Michelle Obama

Former First Lady, Michelle Obama

Colson Whitehead

#15 Colson Whitehead

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

Snoop Dogg

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

Zora Neale Hurston

#17 Zora Neale Hurston

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

Sharon M. Draper

#18 Sharon M. Draper

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

Lorraine Hansberry

#19 Lorraine Hansberry

Lorraine Hansberry, Author and Playwright

Tomi Adeyemi

#20 Tomi Adeyemi

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

N. K. Jemisin

#21 N. K. Jemisin

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

Angie Thomas

#22 Angie Thomas

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

Jason Reynolds

#23 Jason Reynolds

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

Jacqueline Woodson

#24 Jacqueline Woodson

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

Amanda Gorman

#25 Amanda Gorman

Gorman Gorman, Poet and Activist

r.h. Sin

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

Kennedy Ryan

#27 Kennedy Ryan

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

Tia Williams

#28 Tia Williams

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

Trevor Noah

#29 Trevor Noah

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

Sister Souljah

#30 Sister Souljah

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

Maya Angelou

#31 Maya Angelou

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

Fawn Weaver

#32 Fawn Weaver

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

Margot Lee Shetterly

#33 Margot Lee Shetterly

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

Arthur C. Brooks and Oprah Winfrey

#34 Arthur C. Brooks and Oprah Winfrey

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

Sadeqa Johnson

#35 Sadeqa Johnson

Sadeqa Johnson, Author, Motivational Speaker, Meditation Instructor

Sarah Jakes Roberts

#36 Sarah Jakes Roberts

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

Nikole Hannah-Jones

#37 Nikole Hannah-Jones

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

Hanif Abdurraqib

#38 Hanif Abdurraqib

Hanif Abdurraqib, Poet, Author,

Alice Walker

#39 Alice Walker

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

Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah

#40 Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah

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

B. B. Alston

#41 B. B. Alston

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

Kwame Alexander

#42 Kwame Alexander

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

Crystal Hubbard

#43 Crystal Hubbard

Crystal Hubbard romance novelist and picture book author.

S. A. Cosby

#44 S. A. Cosby

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

Matthew A. Cherry

#45 Matthew A. Cherry

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

Jesmyn Ward

#46 Jesmyn Ward

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

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

#47 Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Award Winning Nigeria Author

Nic Stone

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

Renée Watson

#49 Renée Watson

Renée Watson, Writer, Performer, Educator

Yaa Gyasi

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

Ross Gay

Christopher Paul Curtis

#52 Christopher Paul Curtis

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

Whoopi Goldberg

#53 Whoopi Goldberg

Whoopi Goldberg, Comedian, Actress, Author and Television Host

Derrick Barnes

#54 Derrick Barnes

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

Walter Dean Myers

#55 Walter Dean Myers

Walter Dean Myers, Author Winning Children’ Book Author

Wes Moore

Wes Moore, Author, Television Producer, and Political Analyst

Mildred D. Taylor

#57 Mildred D. Taylor

Mildred D. Taylor, Author, YA Literature

Ashley Antoinette

#58 Ashley Antoinette

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

Tracy Deonn

#59 Tracy Deonn

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

Mellody Hobson

#60 Mellody Hobson

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

Lavaille Lavette

#61 Lavaille Lavette

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

Sonya Renee Taylor

#62 Sonya Renee Taylor

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

Joy-Ann Reid

#63 Joy-Ann Reid

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

Frederick Douglass

#64 Frederick Douglass

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

Michael Harriot

#65 Michael Harriot

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

August Wilson

#66 August Wilson

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

Kiley Reid

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

Lebron James

#68 Lebron James

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

Billy Chapata

#69 Billy Chapata

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

Cole Arthur Riley

#70 Cole Arthur Riley

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

Jerry Craft

#71 Jerry Craft

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

Oludara Adeeyo

#72 Oludara Adeeyo

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

Rita Williams-Garcia

#73 Rita Williams-Garcia

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

Angela Y. Davis

#74 Angela Y. Davis

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

Tabitha Brown

#75 Tabitha Brown

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

Shanora Williams

#76 Shanora Williams

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

Kwame Mbalia

#77 Kwame Mbalia

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

Kristina Forest

#78 Kristina Forest

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

Clay Cane

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

Frank Berrios

#80 Frank Berrios

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

Antonia Hylton

#81 Antonia Hylton

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

Jayne Allen

#82 Jayne Allen

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

Ralph Ellison

#83 Ralph Ellison

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

Rio Cortez

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

Ben Carson

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

Brittney Griner

#86 Brittney Griner

Brittney Griner, a renowned basketball player

Sherri L. Smith

#87 Sherri L. Smith

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

K.D. Richards

#88 K.D. Richards

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

Uché Blackstock

#89 Uché Blackstock

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

Kevin Lewis

#90 Kevin Lewis

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

Clint Smith

#91 Clint Smith

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

Zetta Elliott

#92 Zetta Elliott

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

A’ja Wilson

#93 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.

Sunny Hostin

#94 Sunny Hostin

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

Tina Wells

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

Danzy Senna

#96 Danzy Senna

Danzy Senna, a celebrated novelist and essayist, focuses on identity,...

Shasta Clinch

#97 Shasta Clinch

Shasta Clinch is a freelance copy editor and proofreader with nearly two decades of experience in the publishing industry.

Jewell Parker Rhodes

#98 Jewell Parker Rhodes

Jewell Parker Rhodes, Author, Educator

Kekla Magoon

#99 Kekla Magoon

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

Terah Shelton Harris

#100 Terah Shelton Harris

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