America’s 100 Bestselling Black Authors of 2025

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

#1

Percival Everett

Percival Everett

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

#2

Kamala Harris

Kamala D. Harris, Author, U.S. Vice President, and Attorney

#3

Kimberly D. Moore

Kimberly D. Moore

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

#4

Octavia E. Butler

Octavia E. Butler

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

#5

Rachel Renée Russell

Rachel Renée Russell

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

#6

Michelle Obama

Former First Lady, Michelle Obama

#7

Toni Morrison

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

#8

Jason Reynolds

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

#9

Kennedy Ryan

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

#10

Bell Hooks

bell hooks, Author, Cultural Critic, Feminist Theorist

#11

Michael Harriot

Michael Harriot

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

#12

Sharon M. Draper

Sharon M. Draper

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

#13

James McBride

James McBride is a celebrated author and musician.

#14

Malcolm Gladwell

Malcolm Gladwell

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

#15

James Baldwin

James Baldwin, Author, Playwright, Poet and Activist

#16

S. A. Cosby

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

#17

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Award Winning Nigeria Author

#18

Zora Neale Hurston

Zora Neale Hurston

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

#19

Colson Whitehead

Colson Whitehead

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

#20

Jacqueline Woodson

Jacqueline Woodson

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

#21

Trevor Noah

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

#22

Maya Angelou

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

#23

N. K. Jemisin

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

#24

Lorraine Hansberry

Lorraine Hansberry

Lorraine Hansberry, Author and Playwright

#25

Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray

Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray

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

#26

Angie Thomas

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

#27

Tananarive Due

Tananarive Due, American Book Award-winning author of nine books, holds...

#28

Isabel Wilkerson

Isabel Wilkerson

Isabel Wilkerson - Author and Journalist

#29

Tina Knowles

Tina Knowles is an American businesswoman, fashion designer, art collector, and activist.

#30

Vashti Harrison

Vashti Harrison

Vashti Harrison, Author, Illustrator and Filmmaker

#31

Tia Williams

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

#32

r.h. Sin

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

#33

Nikole Hannah-Jones

Nikole Hannah-Jones

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

#34

Shanora Williams

Shanora Williams

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

#35

Margot Lee Shetterly

Margot Lee Shetterly

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

#36

Sister Souljah

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

#37

Kwame Alexander

Kwame Alexander

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

#38

Tomi Adeyemi

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

#39

Ta-Nehisi Coates

Ta-Nehisi Coates

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

#40

Dawn Staley

Dawn Staley is the NCAA national championship–winning head coach of the University of South Carolina

#41

Christopher Paul Curtis

Christopher Paul Curtis

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

#42

Frederick Douglass

Frederick Douglass

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

#43

Amanda Gorman

Gorman Gorman, Poet and Activist

#44

Yaa Gyasi

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

#45

Mellody Hobson

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

#46

Crystal Hubbard

Crystal Hubbard

Crystal Hubbard romance novelist and picture book author.

#47

Jerry Craft

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

#48

Renée Watson

Renée Watson, Writer, Performer, Educator

#49

Sonya Renee Taylor

Sonya Renee Taylor

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

#50

Cynthia Erivo

Cynthia Erivo is a Grammy, Emmy, and Tony Award-winning actress, singer, author, and producer

#51

Derrick Barnes

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

#52

Alice Walker

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

#53

Mildred D. Taylor

Mildred D. Taylor

Mildred D. Taylor, Author, YA Literature

#54

Nia Sioux

Nia Sioux is a dancer, singer, and actress.

#55

Snoop Dogg

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

#56

B. B. Alston

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

#57

Nic Stone

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

#58

Ross Gay

#59

Wes Moore

Wes Moore, Author, Television Producer, and Political Analyst

#60

August Wilson

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

#61

Tracy Deonn

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

#62

Kekla Magoon

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

#63

Ashley Antoinette

Ashley Antoinette

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

#64

Bryan Stevenson

Bryan Stevenson

Bryan Stevenson, Author and Executive Director of the Equal Justice Initiative.

#65

Hanif Abdurraqib

Hanif Abdurraqib

Hanif Abdurraqib, Poet, Author,

#66

Charmaine Wilkerson

Charmaine Wilkerson

Charmaine Wilkerson is a New York-based author with Jamaican roots,...

#67

Assata Shakur

Assata Shakur, also known as JoAnne Chesimard, was a prominent activist.

#68

Danielle Allen

Danielle Allen is an esteemed American political theorist and Harvard...

#69

Walter Dean Myers

Walter Dean Myers

Walter Dean Myers, Author Winning Children’ Book Author

#70

Rita Williams-Garcia

Rita Williams-Garcia

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

#71

Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah

Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah

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

#72

Angela Y. Davis

Angela Y. Davis

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

#73

Jewell Parker Rhodes

Jewell Parker Rhodes

Jewell Parker Rhodes, Author, Educator

#74

Nnedi Okorafor

Nnedi Okorafor, Ph.D., is a Nigerian-American novelist known for blending...

#75

Clint Smith

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

#76

Allen Iverson

Allen Iverson is an NBA All-Star and Reebok’s Vice President of Basketball.

#77

Victoria Christopher Murray

Victoria Christopher Murray

Victoria Christopher Murray, a Queens native, turned from a successful...

#78

Ralph Ellison

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

#79

Sadeqa Johnson

Sadeqa Johnson, Author, Motivational Speaker, Meditation Instructor

#80

Sherri L. Smith

Sherri L. Smith

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

#81

Zetta Elliott

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

#82

Dolen Perkins-Valdez

Dolen Perkins-Valdez

Dolen Perkins-Valdez, a Memphis-born novelist, is renowned for her New...

#83

Bob the Drag Queen

Bob the Drag Queen

Bob The Drag Queen is the alter ego of non-binary comic/actor Caldwell Tidicue

#84

Will Packer

Will Packer: Hollywood Visionary and Cultural Leader

#85

Quan Millz

Quan Millz prolific urban fiction author.

#86

Matthew A. Cherry

Matthew A. Cherry

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

#87

Keke Palmer

Keke Palmer is an Emmy award-winning actress, singer/songwriter, producer, author, television host.

#88

Martin Luther King, Jr.

Martin Luther King, Jr.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, Baptist Minister, Author, Prominent Leader in the African-American Civil Rights Movement.

#89

Tabitha Brown

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

#90

Ladarrion Williams

Ladarrion Williams

LaDarrion Williams is a LA-based playwright and author, leading a...

#91

Jesmyn Ward

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

#92

Kristina Forest

Kristina Forest

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

#93

Arshay Cooper

Arshay Cooper is a rower, author, and motivational speaker dedicated...

#93

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

#95

Kid Cudi

Kid Cudi is a Grammy Award-winning Artist, Actor, Designer, and Cultural Trailblazer

#96

Ishmael Beah

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

#97

Nella Larsen

Nella Larsen was the first AA woman to receive a...

#98

Malcolm D. Lee

Malcolm D. Lee is an award-winning writer, director, and producer.

#99

Rio Cortez

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

#100

Oludara Adeeyo

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

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