America’s 100 Bestselling Black Authors of 2025

The 2025 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.

Kamala Harris

#1 Kamala Harris

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

Percival Everett

#2 Percival Everett

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

Kimberly D. Moore

#3 Kimberly D. Moore

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

Octavia E. Butler

#4 Octavia E. Butler

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

Rachel Renée Russell

#5 Rachel Renée Russell

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

Michelle Obama

#6 Michelle Obama

Former First Lady, Michelle Obama

Toni Morrison

#7 Toni Morrison

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

Jason Reynolds

#8 Jason Reynolds

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

Kennedy Ryan

#9 Kennedy Ryan

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

Bell Hooks

bell hooks, Author, Cultural Critic, Feminist Theorist

Michael Harriot

#11 Michael Harriot

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

Sharon M. Draper

#12 Sharon M. Draper

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

James McBride

#13 James McBride

James McBride is a celebrated author and musician.

Malcolm Gladwell

#14 Malcolm Gladwell

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

James Baldwin

#15 James Baldwin

James Baldwin, Author, Playwright, Poet and Activist

S. A. Cosby

#16 S. A. Cosby

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

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

#17 Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Award Winning Nigeria Author

Zora Neale Hurston

#18 Zora Neale Hurston

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

Colson Whitehead

#19 Colson Whitehead

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

Jacqueline Woodson

#20 Jacqueline Woodson

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

Trevor Noah

#21 Trevor Noah

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

Maya Angelou

#22 Maya Angelou

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

N. K. Jemisin

#23 N. K. Jemisin

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

Lorraine Hansberry

#24 Lorraine Hansberry

Lorraine Hansberry, Author and Playwright

Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray

#25 Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray

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

Angie Thomas

#26 Angie Thomas

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

Tananarive Due

#27 Tananarive Due

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

Isabel Wilkerson

#28 Isabel Wilkerson

Isabel Wilkerson - Author and Journalist

Tina Knowles

#29 Tina Knowles

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

Vashti Harrison

#30 Vashti Harrison

Vashti Harrison, Author, Illustrator and Filmmaker

Tia Williams

#31 Tia Williams

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

r.h. Sin

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

Nikole Hannah-Jones

#33 Nikole Hannah-Jones

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

Shanora Williams

#34 Shanora Williams

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

Margot Lee Shetterly

#35 Margot Lee Shetterly

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

Sister Souljah

#36 Sister Souljah

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

Kwame Alexander

#37 Kwame Alexander

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

Tomi Adeyemi

#38 Tomi Adeyemi

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

Ta-Nehisi Coates

#39 Ta-Nehisi Coates

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

Dawn Staley

#40 Dawn Staley

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

Christopher Paul Curtis

#41 Christopher Paul Curtis

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

Frederick Douglass

#42 Frederick Douglass

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

Amanda Gorman

#43 Amanda Gorman

Gorman Gorman, Poet and Activist

Yaa Gyasi

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

Mellody Hobson

#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.

Crystal Hubbard

#46 Crystal Hubbard

Crystal Hubbard romance novelist and picture book author.

Jerry Craft

#47 Jerry Craft

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

Renée Watson

#48 Renée Watson

Renée Watson, Writer, Performer, Educator

Sonya Renee Taylor

#49 Sonya Renee Taylor

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

Cynthia Erivo

#50 Cynthia Erivo

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

Derrick Barnes

#51 Derrick Barnes

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

Alice Walker

#52 Alice Walker

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

Mildred D. Taylor

#53 Mildred D. Taylor

Mildred D. Taylor, Author, YA Literature

Nia Sioux

Nia Sioux is a dancer, singer, and actress.

Snoop Dogg

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

B. B. Alston

#56 B. B. Alston

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

Nic Stone

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

Ross Gay

Wes Moore

Wes Moore, Author, Television Producer, and Political Analyst

August Wilson

#60 August Wilson

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

Tracy Deonn

#61 Tracy Deonn

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

Kekla Magoon

#62 Kekla Magoon

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

Ashley Antoinette

#63 Ashley Antoinette

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

Bryan Stevenson

#64 Bryan Stevenson

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

Hanif Abdurraqib

#65 Hanif Abdurraqib

Hanif Abdurraqib, Poet, Author,

Charmaine Wilkerson

#66 Charmaine Wilkerson

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

Assata Shakur

#67 Assata Shakur

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

Danielle Allen

#68 Danielle Allen

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

Walter Dean Myers

#69 Walter Dean Myers

Walter Dean Myers, Author Winning Children’ Book Author

Rita Williams-Garcia

#70 Rita Williams-Garcia

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

Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah

#71 Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah

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

Angela Y. Davis

#72 Angela Y. Davis

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

Jewell Parker Rhodes

#73 Jewell Parker Rhodes

Jewell Parker Rhodes, Author, Educator

Nnedi Okorafor

#74 Nnedi Okorafor

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

Clint Smith

#75 Clint Smith

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

Allen Iverson

#76 Allen Iverson

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

Victoria Christopher Murray

#77 Victoria Christopher Murray

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

Ralph Ellison

#78 Ralph Ellison

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

Sadeqa Johnson

#79 Sadeqa Johnson

Sadeqa Johnson, Author, Motivational Speaker, Meditation Instructor

Sherri L. Smith

#80 Sherri L. Smith

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

Zetta Elliott

#81 Zetta Elliott

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

Dolen Perkins-Valdez

#82 Dolen Perkins-Valdez

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

Bob the Drag Queen

#83 Bob the Drag Queen

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

Will Packer

#84 Will Packer

Will Packer: Hollywood Visionary and Cultural Leader

Quan Millz

Quan Millz prolific urban fiction author.

Matthew A. Cherry

#86 Matthew A. Cherry

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

Keke Palmer

#87 Keke Palmer

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

Martin Luther King, Jr.

#88 Martin Luther King, Jr.

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

Tabitha Brown

#89 Tabitha Brown

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

Ladarrion Williams

#90 Ladarrion Williams

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

Jesmyn Ward

#91 Jesmyn Ward

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

Kristina Forest

#92 Kristina Forest

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

Arshay Cooper

#93 Arshay Cooper

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

Arthur C. Brooks and Oprah Winfrey

#93 Arthur C. Brooks and Oprah Winfrey

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

Kid Cudi

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

Ishmael Beah

#96 Ishmael Beah

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

Nella Larsen

#97 Nella Larsen

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

Malcolm D. Lee

#98 Malcolm D. Lee

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

Rio Cortez

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

Oludara Adeeyo

#100 Oludara Adeeyo

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