America’s 100 Bestselling Black Authors of 2025

We rank authors by total print sales and total number of appearances on the BLK Bestellers list, America’s bestselling books by Black authors. Our rankings are based sales data compiled by AALBC.com using Circana’s BookScan (our methodology).

#1

Percival Everett

Percival Everett

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

2 Titles • 13 BLK Bestsellers Appearances

#2

Kamala Harris

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

1 Titles • 3 BLK Bestsellers Appearances

#3

Kimberly D. Moore

Kimberly D. Moore

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

1 Titles • 11 BLK Bestsellers Appearances

#4

Octavia E. Butler

Octavia E. Butler

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

4 Titles • 36 BLK Bestsellers Appearances

#5

Malcolm Gladwell

Malcolm Gladwell

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

3 Titles • 33 BLK Bestsellers Appearances

#6

Rachel Renée Russell

Rachel Renée Russell

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

12 Titles • 55 BLK Bestsellers Appearances

#7

Toni Morrison

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

5 Titles • 30 BLK Bestsellers Appearances

#8

Jason Reynolds

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

17 Titles • 68 BLK Bestsellers Appearances

#9

Kennedy Ryan

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

3 Titles • 27 BLK Bestsellers Appearances

#10

James McBride

James McBride is a celebrated author and musician.

2 Titles • 17 BLK Bestsellers Appearances

#11

bell hooks

bell hooks, Author, Cultural Critic, Feminist Theorist

4 Titles • 27 BLK Bestsellers Appearances

#12

Michelle Obama

Former First Lady, Michelle Obama

5 Titles • 14 BLK Bestsellers Appearances

#13

Michael Harriot

Michael Harriot

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

1 Titles • 12 BLK Bestsellers Appearances

#14

Sharon M. Draper

Sharon M. Draper

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

5 Titles • 23 BLK Bestsellers Appearances

#15

Trevor Noah

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

3 Titles • 18 BLK Bestsellers Appearances

#16

S. A. Cosby

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

4 Titles • 21 BLK Bestsellers Appearances

#17

Colson Whitehead

Colson Whitehead

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

3 Titles • 21 BLK Bestsellers Appearances

#18

Zora Neale Hurston

Zora Neale Hurston

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

4 Titles • 23 BLK Bestsellers Appearances

#19

Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray

Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray

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

4 Titles • 21 BLK Bestsellers Appearances

#20

Jacqueline Woodson

Jacqueline Woodson

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

4 Titles • 20 BLK Bestsellers Appearances

#21

Isabel Wilkerson

Isabel Wilkerson

Isabel Wilkerson - Author and Journalist

2 Titles • 22 BLK Bestsellers Appearances

#22

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Award Winning Nigeria Author

2 Titles • 12 BLK Bestsellers Appearances

#23

Tina Knowles

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

1 Titles • 7 BLK Bestsellers Appearances

#24

Tananarive Due

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

2 Titles • 14 BLK Bestsellers Appearances

#25

Angie Thomas

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

6 Titles • 35 BLK Bestsellers Appearances

#26

Snoop Dogg and Earl Stevens

Snoop Dogg and Earl Stevens

Calvin 'Snoop Dogg' Broadus and Earl 'E-40' Stevens are iconic figures in the music industry, known for their contributions to rap and hip hop.

1 Titles • 7 BLK Bestsellers Appearances

#27

Tomi Adeyemi

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

2 Titles • 23 BLK Bestsellers Appearances

#28

Vashti Harrison

Vashti Harrison

Vashti Harrison, Author, Illustrator and Filmmaker

5 Titles • 26 BLK Bestsellers Appearances

#29

Mellody Hobson

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

1 Titles • 11 BLK Bestsellers Appearances

#30

Dawn Staley

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

1 Titles • 7 BLK Bestsellers Appearances

#31

Sonya Renee Taylor

Sonya Renee Taylor

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

1 Titles • 11 BLK Bestsellers Appearances

#32

r.h. Sin

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

6 Titles • 48 BLK Bestsellers Appearances

#33

Shanora Williams

Shanora Williams

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

1 Titles • 9 BLK Bestsellers Appearances

#34

Margot Lee Shetterly

Margot Lee Shetterly

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

3 Titles • 21 BLK Bestsellers Appearances

#35

Amanda Gorman

Gorman Gorman, Poet and Activist

6 Titles • 39 BLK Bestsellers Appearances

#36

Crystal Hubbard

Crystal Hubbard

Crystal Hubbard romance novelist and picture book author.

1 Titles • 12 BLK Bestsellers Appearances

#37

Yaa Gyasi

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

1 Titles • 11 BLK Bestsellers Appearances

#38

Nikole Hannah-Jones

Nikole Hannah-Jones

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

3 Titles • 20 BLK Bestsellers Appearances

#39

Jerry Craft

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

1 Titles • 11 BLK Bestsellers Appearances

#40

Tia Williams

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

5 Titles • 17 BLK Bestsellers Appearances

#41

Tracy Deonn

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

1 Titles • 11 BLK Bestsellers Appearances

#42

Wes Moore

Wes Moore, Author, Television Producer, and Political Analyst

2 Titles • 13 BLK Bestsellers Appearances

#43

James Baldwin

James Baldwin, Author, Playwright, Poet and Activist

2 Titles • 13 BLK Bestsellers Appearances

#44

Ta-Nehisi Coates

Ta-Nehisi Coates

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

3 Titles • 17 BLK Bestsellers Appearances

#45

Maya Angelou

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

4 Titles • 28 BLK Bestsellers Appearances

#46

Frederick Douglass

Frederick Douglass

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

1 Titles • 8 BLK Bestsellers Appearances

#47

Keke Palmer

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

1 Titles • 9 BLK Bestsellers Appearances

#48

Bryan Stevenson

Bryan Stevenson

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

1 Titles • 5 BLK Bestsellers Appearances

#49

Charmaine Wilkerson

Charmaine Wilkerson

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

1 Titles • 11 BLK Bestsellers Appearances

#50

Mildred D. Taylor

Mildred D. Taylor

Mildred D. Taylor, Author, YA Literature

2 Titles • 12 BLK Bestsellers Appearances

#51

Alice Walker

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

1 Titles • 6 BLK Bestsellers Appearances

#52

N. K. Jemisin

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

2 Titles • 8 BLK Bestsellers Appearances

#53

Nic Stone

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

3 Titles • 15 BLK Bestsellers Appearances

#54

Victoria Christopher Murray

Victoria Christopher Murray

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

1 Titles • 11 BLK Bestsellers Appearances

#55

Nnedi Okorafor

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

1 Titles • 10 BLK Bestsellers Appearances

#56

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

1 Titles • 11 BLK Bestsellers Appearances

#57

Ross Gay

3 Titles • 20 BLK Bestsellers Appearances

#58

Hanif Abdurraqib

Hanif Abdurraqib

Hanif Abdurraqib, Poet, Author,

2 Titles • 7 BLK Bestsellers Appearances

#59

Walter Dean Myers

Walter Dean Myers

Walter Dean Myers, Author Winning Children’ Book Author

5 Titles • 20 BLK Bestsellers Appearances

#60

Shasta Clinch

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

1 Titles • 8 BLK Bestsellers Appearances

#61

Ketanji Brown Jackson

Ketanji Brown Jackson

Justice Ketanji Onyika Brown Jackson, born September 14, 1970, is...

1 Titles • 2 BLK Bestsellers Appearances

#62

Bob The Drag Queen

Bob The Drag Queen

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

1 Titles • 9 BLK Bestsellers Appearances

#63

B. B. Alston

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

2 Titles • 11 BLK Bestsellers Appearances

#64

Nia Sioux

Nia Sioux is a dancer, singer, and actress.

1 Titles • 1 BLK Bestsellers Appearances

#65

Assata Shakur

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

1 Titles • 5 BLK Bestsellers Appearances

#66

Will Packer

Will Packer: Hollywood Visionary and Cultural Leader

1 Titles • 6 BLK Bestsellers Appearances

#67

Allen Iverson

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

1 Titles • 2 BLK Bestsellers Appearances

#68

Fawn Weaver

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

1 Titles • 8 BLK Bestsellers Appearances

#69

Rio Cortez

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

1 Titles • 12 BLK Bestsellers Appearances

#70

LaDarrion Williams

LaDarrion Williams

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

3 Titles • 17 BLK Bestsellers Appearances

#71

Arshay Cooper

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

1 Titles • 2 BLK Bestsellers Appearances

#72

Christopher Paul Curtis

Christopher Paul Curtis

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

2 Titles • 9 BLK Bestsellers Appearances

#73

Rita Williams-Garcia

Rita Williams-Garcia

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

1 Titles • 9 BLK Bestsellers Appearances

#74

Lavaille Lavette

Lavaille Lavette

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

1 Titles • 6 BLK Bestsellers Appearances

#75

Kekla Magoon

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

4 Titles • 8 BLK Bestsellers Appearances

#76

Kid Cudi

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

1 Titles • 4 BLK Bestsellers Appearances

#77

Cynthia Erivo

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

1 Titles • 1 BLK Bestsellers Appearances

#78

August Wilson

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

1 Titles • 5 BLK Bestsellers Appearances

#79

Frank Berrios

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

2 Titles • 6 BLK Bestsellers Appearances

#80

Sherri L. Smith

Sherri L. Smith

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

2 Titles • 9 BLK Bestsellers Appearances

#81

Danzy Senna

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

1 Titles • 8 BLK Bestsellers Appearances

#82

Rachel Johnson

Rachel Johnson, LMSW, MFT, is a licensed mental health practitioner, doula, speaker, and activist.

1 Titles • 9 BLK Bestsellers Appearances

#83

Billy Chapata

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

2 Titles • 21 BLK Bestsellers Appearances

#84

Ishmael Beah

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

1 Titles • 8 BLK Bestsellers Appearances

#85

Sister Souljah

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

1 Titles • 7 BLK Bestsellers Appearances

#86

Imani Perry

Imani Perry is a Professor of African American Studies at...

1 Titles • 7 BLK Bestsellers Appearances

#87

Sarah Jakes Roberts

Sarah Jakes Roberts

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

1 Titles • 6 BLK Bestsellers Appearances

#88

Matthew A. Cherry

Matthew A. Cherry

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

2 Titles • 6 BLK Bestsellers Appearances

#89

Nikki Grimes

Nikki Grimes is a renowned author, poet, and journalist from...

2 Titles • 13 BLK Bestsellers Appearances

#90

Tabitha Brown

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

1 Titles • 4 BLK Bestsellers Appearances

#91

Dolen Perkins-Valdez

Dolen Perkins-Valdez

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

1 Titles • 8 BLK Bestsellers Appearances

#92

Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah

Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah

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

2 Titles • 7 BLK Bestsellers Appearances

#93

Zeinab Badawi

Sudanese-born Zeinab Badawi, President of the University of London's SOAS,...

1 Titles • 8 BLK Bestsellers Appearances

#94

Tiffany D. Jackson

Tiffany D. Jackson

Tiffany D. Jackson, a TV professional and novelist, is known...

2 Titles • 6 BLK Bestsellers Appearances

#95

Malcolm D. Lee with Jayne Allen

Malcolm D. Lee with Jayne Allen

1 Titles • 2 BLK Bestsellers Appearances

#96

Zetta Elliott

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

2 Titles • 7 BLK Bestsellers Appearances

#97

Shaka Senghor

Shaka Senghor is an inspirational speaker, entrepreneur, and author.

1 Titles • 1 BLK Bestsellers Appearances

#98

Morgan Richard Olivier

Morgan Richard Olivier

Morgan Richard Olivier is an American best-selling author, advocate, and speaker.

2 Titles • 12 BLK Bestsellers Appearances

#99

Clint Smith

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

4 Titles • 11 BLK Bestsellers Appearances

#100

Derrick Barnes

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

4 Titles • 6 BLK Bestsellers Appearances