System Update: AALBC is getting a major speed boost! I’m currently upgrading our infrastructure to serve you better. Please pardon any brief interruptions during the transition.

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

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

#93

Arshay Cooper

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

#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,...

Libro.fm Annual Membership Plan