10 Books Published by African American Literature Book Club on AALBC — Book Cover Collage

Coming Winter 2025 from the African American Literature Book Club

A Golden Legacy: Faith, Family, and a Life of Purpose by Samuel P. Golden is a deeply moving memoir that blends personal reflection with heartfelt tributes from family and friends. The narrative begins on Samuel’s 70th birthday, where his daughter shares a heartfelt dedication, setting the tone for a story that spans a lifetime of faith, perseverance, and love.

In the opening chapters, Samuel recalls the formative moments of his childhood, including the invaluable lessons imparted by his beloved grandmother, Alice Williams. He also reflects on his courageous battle with prostate cancer, an experience that shaped his outlook on life and faith.

The memoir takes readers through pivotal milestones, from his college years and his enduring relationship with his wife, Valerie, to his distinguished career at the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency. Samuel’s role as the first Ombudsman is a testament to his professional integrity and dedication to service.

Interspersed with powerful testimonials from those who know him best, The Golden Rule offers a rich tapestry of perspectives that highlight Samuel P. Golden’s profound impact on those around him, showcasing the strength of faith, family, and the values that have guided his journey. This inspiring memoir is not just a recount of a life well-lived, but a reflection on the enduring power of purpose and love.

The Mystical Black Genius Time Erased

On the 200^th anniversary of his birth, the African American Literature Book Club presents the mystical account of a real-life figure that time erased…

Mirroring Lincoln: The Cursed Existence of Paschal Beverly Randolph explores the persistent rumors of a close relationship between Abraham Lincoln and Paschal Beverly Randolph, a Black mystic advisor, in the final years of Lincoln’s life. The narrative weaves historical fact with lore while depicting Randolph’s real-life status as a celebrated clairvoyant genius whose significant influence has been largely erased from history. Lauded by President Andrew Johnson for his “very rare and unusual attainments as a scholar and orator,” Randolph was known for his metaphysical abilities during a time of war, slavery, and spiritualism. Mirroring Lincoln captures the enigmatic life of Randolph, his murky parallels with America’s most beloved president, and the curse that hounded him until his mysterious death in 1875.

At a time when many of his race were still enslaved, the real-life Paschal Beverly Randolph was:

• an abolitionist
• a world traveler
• a homeopathic doctor
• a musician & composer
• a speaker of numerous languages
• an author of over 40 published works on science, health, geology, anthropology, spirituality, paleontology, mysticism, politics, the afterlife, marriage, sex & more
• an educator commissioned by the Lincoln administration to establish Freedmen’s Schools
• a popular orator regarded as a masterful speaker by the major media of the day
• a mystic who predicted the 20th century Louisiana oil boom a century before it occurred
• founding leader of American branches of an international esoteric society of powerful men
• lauded by presidents, senators & prominent men for his intellect & community service

The Mystical Black Genius Time Erased

On the 200^th anniversary of his birth, the African American Literature Book Club presents the mystical account of a real-life figure that time erased…

Mirroring Lincoln: The Cursed Existence of Paschal Beverly Randolph explores the persistent rumors of a close relationship between Abraham Lincoln and Paschal Beverly Randolph, a Black mystic advisor, in the final years of Lincoln’s life. The narrative weaves historical fact with lore while depicting Randolph’s real-life status as a celebrated clairvoyant genius whose significant influence has been largely erased from history. Lauded by President Andrew Johnson for his “very rare and unusual attainments as a scholar and orator,” Randolph was known for his metaphysical abilities during a time of war, slavery, and spiritualism. Mirroring Lincoln captures the enigmatic life of Randolph, his murky parallels with America’s most beloved president, and the curse that hounded him until his mysterious death in 1875.

Also Available in Paperback

In The Savion Sequence, historian Brigham Elijah embarks on a mind-bending journey triggered by his uncle's mysterious murder. Delving into his own past, Brigham encounters cryptic clues, forbidden secrets, and a clandestine society guarding ancient knowledge as he is propelled on an epic quest to unveil humanity's concealed legacy. With each revelation, Brigham traverses a web of intrigue where past and present collide, challenging everything he thought he knew. Prepare for a thrilling ride through hidden realms and forbidden wisdom in this gripping tale of destiny and discovery.

Praise for The Savion Sequence
“The Savion Sequence is a masterful blend of mystery and metaphysics, spirituality and social commentary, and is as enlightening as it is engaging. Comparisons between D. Amari Jackson and contemporary authors are inevitable, but he takes us beyond Octavia Butler, Dan Brown and Stephen King into a new world in the pantheon of great fiction writers.” —Anthony T. Browder, Author & Cultural Historian

“An epic journey of discovery.” —Bakari Kitwana Author of Hip-Hop Activism in the Obama Era

“D. Amari Jackson is a skillful writer, adroit in both plotting and character. The Savion Sequence is an engrossing, metaphysical thrill-ride that will keep you reading all night.” —Stephanie Robinson, Author, Harvard Law Lecturer

“Beyond Dan Brown… goes where Brown can’t go.” —Charisse Carney-Nunes, Author, Attorney & Educator

Also Available in Hardcover

In The Savion Sequence, historian Brigham Elijah embarks on a mind-bending journey triggered by his uncle's mysterious murder. Delving into his own past, Brigham encounters cryptic clues, forbidden secrets, and a clandestine society guarding ancient knowledge as he is propelled on an epic quest to unveil humanity's concealed legacy. With each revelation, Brigham traverses a web of intrigue where past and present collide, challenging everything he thought he knew. Prepare for a thrilling ride through hidden realms and forbidden wisdom in this gripping tale of destiny and discovery.

Praise for The Savion Sequence
“The Savion Sequence is a masterful blend of mystery and metaphysics, spirituality and social commentary, and is as enlightening as it is engaging. Comparisons between D. Amari Jackson and contemporary authors are inevitable, but he takes us beyond Octavia Butler, Dan Brown and Stephen King into a new world in the pantheon of great fiction writers.” —Anthony T. Browder, Author & Cultural Historian

“An epic journey of discovery.” —Bakari Kitwana Author of Hip-Hop Activism in the Obama Era

“D. Amari Jackson is a skillful writer, adroit in both plotting and character. The Savion Sequence is an engrossing, metaphysical thrill-ride that will keep you reading all night.” —Stephanie Robinson, Author, Harvard Law Lecturer

“Beyond Dan Brown… goes where Brown can’t go.” —Charisse Carney-Nunes, Author, Attorney & Educator

“Dramatic, daring, and authentic, Jelani’s Key is a page-turning epic chock full of culture, history, and all the things that will enlighten and inspire young readers.”
—Kwame Alexander, #1 New York Times Bestselling Author of The Door of No Return Trilogy

Ta-Ta was now among the ancestors. But he left his grandson, Jelani, a golden key and a note bearing a cryptic riddle—“find Karakhamun.” Mourning his late grandfather, and with little else to go on, now 11-year-old Jelani must set off on his own to fulfill Ta-Ta’s mysterious wishes.

His quest will put him on a collision course with a legendary neighborhood bully and immerse him in a mind-bending overnight challenge that, if navigated successfully, will unveil his grandfather’s true legacy and change Jelani’s life forever.

In honor of the planned 2025 opening of Karakhamun’s burial site in Egypt, 25% of the proceeds of Jelani’s Key will go to the ASA Restoration Project, a non-profit tax-exempt organization. For more information, visit the IKG Cultural Resource Center.

Praise for Jelani’s Key:

“Jelani’s Key is a coming-of-age story about loving relationships between a boy and his father and grandfather, his newfound friend and their Jegna who takes them on a journey of cultural discovery. It is also a profoundly important story about the intergenerational transference of knowledge and the restoration and preservation of ancestral and cultural history.

D. Amari Jackson has a knack for writing novels with positive male role models of African descent which also includes lessons in math, science, mysteries, and history skillfully interwoven into the narrative. I trust that as young Black boys read Jelani’s Key they will aspire to become thoughtful men who appreciate the power of brotherhood, reverence for their ancestors, and understand that they are the inheritors of a cultural legacy they are obligated to preserve and pass on to their descendants.”
—Anthony T. Browder, Author, and Director of the ASA Restoration Project

“Jelani’s Key is a literary and cultural rite of passage for African American middle-graders, both female and male. D. Amari Jackson has managed to carry a real-life phenomenon from ancient Egypt across the endless sands to our urban youth in America using the power of story.”
—Stephanie Robinson, Harvard Law Lecturer, Author, and Former Political Commentator for the Tom Joyner Morning Show

“Poignant, magical, funny, adventurous… Jelani’s Key is a story for our times, one celebrating the promise of our children and recognizing just how high, regardless of where they come from, they can fly.”
—Charisse Carney-Nunes, Author, Speaker & Education Advocate

“Jelani’s Key satisfies the demand for books that make Black boys the hero of the story. D. Amari Jackson is a skilled storyteller whose prose allows the reader to escape into the pages of the book.”
—Vanesse Lloyd-Sgambati, owner, The Literary Cafe Books & Events Bookstore

Related Article: Back to (Mysteries) School by Mel Hopkins ▶

Also Available in Hardcover

“Riveting.” —Amazon Book Review
A 2022 Essence, Bustle and The Root Book Pick

From the award-winning author of Speaking of Summer comes a “breathlessly suspenseful” (Lisa Unger), truthful look into the lives of women who drink to survive or just to cope, with a provocative narrator who carries readers along an emotional journey to acceptance.

Tragedy and Victor Powell have moved to the desirable but dark Grayson Glens enclave of dream homes just outside of Chicago. Stressed urbanites, they’ve got to live large in real life to stay large online. With only a few blacks in their elite gated community, they settle in but never quite feel at home. Then, a missing young black woman floats up in the Grayson River.

Is the spirit of the mysterious scarlet-lettered woman, Raven McCoy, haunting Grayson during the pandemic?

Tragedy, haunted by her own difficult checkered past versus Victor’s sterling history, thinks so. The pressure to manage his image for profit drives her to drink, even when his trying teen daughter visits. But Victor’s ex-wife, the Grayson gossip and a female detective all close in on Tragedy’s unraveling life. Then Tragedy spirals into addiction, past secrets and the local women’s fight for justice for a woman.

Editorial Reviews

2023 Independent Book Publishers Association Award Silver Winner Fiction: Mystery & Thriller
Nominated for Brown Girl Collective’s Favorite 2022 Mystery/Suspense Novel

“Atmospheric, lyrical, and full of surprises, Running to Fall is a mystery wrapped inside a moving story of love, female relationships, and how darkness lurks under even the most idyllic surfaces. Layered characters and beautiful prose pulled me into the gripping narrative, rooting for troubled Tragedy even as her life unravels. Buckhanon is a powerful writer, and one to watch, and her latest outing is as breathlessly suspenseful as it is deep.” —Lisa Unger, New York Times bestselling author of Secluded Cabin Sleeps Six

“Running to Fall is the compelling tale of a complicated woman haunted by her past, in a world haunted by a pandemic. It is the story of a woman named Tragedy, and the story behind her name. Her yearning for connection, refuge, and a stable home is masterfully juxtaposed against the isolation imposed on her by the alienating setting, as one of few Black residents of an Illinois exurb. She encounters a cast of equally complex women with their own secrets and regrets as she faces difficult truths and choices.” —Tiffany Gholar, author of A Bitter Pill to Swallow and The Unforeseeable Future

“With prose so incisive and knowing, you feel the meaning of the words as much as you understand it, Buckhanon can infuse a mystery tale with strands of isolation, addiction, secrets, and women we allow to be forgotten, and it’s riveting.” —Vannessa Cronin, Amazon Book Review

“Buckhanon’s weaving of thriller elements into a literary novel works beautifully… Readers interested in the challenges Black women face in suburban America and in drinking narratives that are not overly redemptive will appreciate this polished, insightful novel.” —BookLife Reviews

“Buckhanon’s writing is evocative as she delves into the complexities of race and belonging in a society that is often hostile to people of color. With its compelling narrative and well-drawn characters, Running to Fall is a must-read for fans of contemporary fiction and social justice.” —KB in Bloom Book Blog

Also Available in Paperback

“Riveting.” —Amazon Book Review
A 2022 Essence, Bustle and The Root Book Pick

From the award-winning author of Speaking of Summer comes a “breathlessly suspenseful” (Lisa Unger), truthful look into the lives of women who drink to survive or just to cope, with a provocative narrator who carries readers along an emotional journey to acceptance.

Tragedy and Victor Powell have moved to the desirable but dark Grayson Glens enclave of dream homes just outside of Chicago. Stressed urbanites, they’ve got to live large in real life to stay large online. With only a few blacks in their elite gated community, they settle in but never quite feel at home. Then, a missing young black woman floats up in the Grayson River.

Is the spirit of the mysterious scarlet-lettered woman, Raven McCoy, haunting Grayson during the pandemic?

Tragedy, haunted by her own difficult checkered past versus Victor’s sterling history, thinks so. The pressure to manage his image for profit drives her to drink, even when his trying teen daughter visits. But Victor’s ex-wife, the Grayson gossip and a female detective all close in on Tragedy’s unraveling life. Then Tragedy spirals into addiction, past secrets and the local women’s fight for justice for a woman.

Editorial Reviews

2023 Independent Book Publishers Association Award Silver Winner Fiction: Mystery & Thriller
Nominated for Brown Girl Collective’s Favorite 2022 Mystery/Suspense Novel

“Atmospheric, lyrical, and full of surprises, Running to Fall is a mystery wrapped inside a moving story of love, female relationships, and how darkness lurks under even the most idyllic surfaces. Layered characters and beautiful prose pulled me into the gripping narrative, rooting for troubled Tragedy even as her life unravels. Buckhanon is a powerful writer, and one to watch, and her latest outing is as breathlessly suspenseful as it is deep.” —Lisa Unger, New York Times bestselling author of Secluded Cabin Sleeps Six

“Running to Fall is the compelling tale of a complicated woman haunted by her past, in a world haunted by a pandemic. It is the story of a woman named Tragedy, and the story behind her name. Her yearning for connection, refuge, and a stable home is masterfully juxtaposed against the isolation imposed on her by the alienating setting, as one of few Black residents of an Illinois exurb. She encounters a cast of equally complex women with their own secrets and regrets as she faces difficult truths and choices.” —Tiffany Gholar, author of A Bitter Pill to Swallow and The Unforeseeable Future

“With prose so incisive and knowing, you feel the meaning of the words as much as you understand it, Buckhanon can infuse a mystery tale with strands of isolation, addiction, secrets, and women we allow to be forgotten, and it’s riveting.” —Vannessa Cronin, Amazon Book Review

“Buckhanon’s weaving of thriller elements into a literary novel works beautifully… Readers interested in the challenges Black women face in suburban America and in drinking narratives that are not overly redemptive will appreciate this polished, insightful novel.” —BookLife Reviews

“Buckhanon’s writing is evocative as she delves into the complexities of race and belonging in a society that is often hostile to people of color. With its compelling narrative and well-drawn characters, Running to Fall is a must-read for fans of contemporary fiction and social justice.” —KB in Bloom Book Blog

Out of Print — Look out for a Future Edition

The African American Literature Book Cub assessed the relative strengths of almost 300 American cities, to determine which ones are best able to provide environments that are supportive of, and conducive to, the enjoyment of African American Literature.

Our 2014 list improves on our original list, first published in 2013, by considering more factors for each city. Some of the factors we considered and evaluated included the:

• number of library visits per capita;
• number of African American book clubs;
• number of African American book stores;
• city having a minimum population of 100,000;
• percentage of African Americans relative to city’s overall population;
• number of book events for African American readers;
• number of African American owned newspapers;
• number of websites dedicated African American books (city of the web site’s founder);
• quality (length of visit, number of pages viewed, duration of stay) to the AALBC.com website, over the past 365 days; and
• more.

We also took points away from cities with strong negative indicators for African American literacy as reflected on reports like, The Schott 50 State Report on Public Education and Black Males 2010.

Finally, rather than ranking these cities, as we did last year, we decided to group the cities into tiers and sort the cities alphabetically within each tier. This article is intended to inform readers which cities are supportive of African American literature by providing the best resources for both readers and authors, and to acknowledge each city’s contribution to that effort.

Founded in 1997, AALBC.com is the largest and most frequently visited website dedicated to books by and about people of African descent.

AALBC.com’s founder, Troy Johnson’s a shares a wealth of information about books written by or about people of African descent. Readers of any background can discover a great read here

Troy also shares his insight on topics ranging from the publishing industry, technology and social media.