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...

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