It is hard to imagine, in the late 1990s, I could keep up with every book written by a Black writer and published by one of the then “Big Six” publishers* (Random House, Penguin Group, HarperCollins, Macmillan, Simon & Schuster, Hachette Book Group). A lot has changed since then. Today my hands are full keeping track of a fraction of the new books published each year.

The books highlighted in these images are all coming out in April of 2023. Visit AALBC to ensure you are up on the best books coming out — you can even preorder these books. Also, check out our Recently Published Books page for excellent new titles.

Black Folk Could Fly: Selected Writings by Randall Kenan

Some of our literary greats fly under the radar. The unexpected death of the late great author Randall Kenan in 2020 at age 57 brought him well-deserved attention and sent readers scurrying to find works by “this country boy and man of the world.” Along with the treasury of books by Kenan, a posthumous collection of his writings, Black Folk Could Fly, has emerged as a final celebrated tribute to the author, who has earned a Guggenheim Fellowship, a Whiting Award, and the John Dos Passos Prize.

A Brooklyn native, Kenan was sent to a small town to live with his grandparents, who ran a dry cleaning business, in rural North Carolina. His grandmother taught kindergarten, providing his inspiration for books and storytelling, More ?

Medu Bookstore to Celebrate its 32nd Anniversary

Medu Bookstore, one of the oldest Black-owned bookstores in the nation, will celebrate its 32nd anniversary in December. Located inside Southwest Atlanta’s Greenbriar Mall, the nationally recognized store is known for its diverse collection of books written by Black authors and centered on the Black experience. Its rich history includes visits by the late Congressman John Lewis, Sister Souljah, Reverend Al Sharpton, and more. Owner Nia Damali (pictured center) appreciates the community’s continued support.

After More Than 33 Years, Eso Won Bookstore Closes

“I just hope we continue to have stores that will support Black Classic Press and Africa World Press and Afrikan World Books. We are going to need bookstores that make sure those smaller companies are part of the supply chain, and not just the majors.” —James Fugate

Founded by Tom Hamilton and James Fugate, in 1988 Eso Won was named PW’s Bookstore of the Year in 2021. Eso Won bookstore’s closure, while a significant loss for the Black Book Ecosystem today, has contributed a great deal to the community for more than three decades. Eso Won’s website will continue to operate.

24 New Bookstores Have Opened Since 2020

Amazingly, since the start of the pandemic at least 24 new bookstores have opened! The pandemic was a period where many independent bookstores feared closure. Thanks to the support of readers, of all backgrounds, existing stores experienced an increase in book sales, creating a fertile environment for new stores to open.

Baldwin & Co. Coffee & Bookstore opened in 2021 and is a fine example of one of the terrific new stores. “Based in New Orleans’ historic Marigny neighborhood, Baldwin & Co. is a vibrant community hub, and a center for intellectual discovery where authors, readers, artists, and activists gather in a welcoming and supportive environment.”

One of the pleasures of selling books is providing people with books that enrich their lives. The winner of our latest raffle is one such case.

Ashley Harding, of Santa Monica, CA won a Deluxe Signed copy of A Promised Land by President Barack Obama. She is pictured with her grandmother Ella Ruth Jones (93 years old) holding the prize. Ms. Jones considers Barack Obama her 4th “son.” Ashley, a huge fan of the Obamas, was very happy to win and her joy touched my heart.

Congrats to Ashley, and thanks to everyone who entered the raffle. Your entries will help us enrich the lives of many others with great books.

Dear Reader,

*The “Big Six” became the “Big Five” in July 2013 with the merger of Penguin Group and Random House (forming Penguin Random House). Further consolidation almost led to the “Big Four,” with Penguin Random House’s plan to buy Simon & Schuster, for $2.2 billion. The Justice Department is suing to block this dealing saying it “would likely harm competition in the publishing industry.” Penguin Random House and Simon & Schuster plan to defend the deal in court,

Despite the growth in the number of books published by Black writers in 2022 compared to 30 years ago, this growth is not guaranteed to continue. There are indications that the number of Black books published, in 2022, by the “Big Five” has decreased since 2020.

The only way to ensure that our stories are told is to buy the books that tell our stories. The best place to buy these books is from the biggest advocates for these books AALBC and your local indie bookstore.

Your support is crucial to helping us improve AALBC.com. Your paid subscriptions, book purchases, suggestions, engagement on the site, social sharing, advertisements, and feedback help support AALBC’s mission of celebrating Black culture through books.

Peace and Love,
Troy Johnson
President, AALBC.com ,LLC