AALBC Search
Donna M. Gray-Banks
Donna M. Gray-Banks NONE Donna M. Gray-Banks, founder of F.R.E.S.H. Book Festival, is a successful author known for her suspense erotic trilogy and a guest columnist for various outlets. She hosts tw...
Derek Triplett
Derek Triplett NONE Bishop Derek T. Triplett, founding pastor of Hope Fellowship Church in Daytona Beach, is a seasoned minister with over 25 years experience in preaching and pastoral ministry. A Br...
Evelyn Bethune
Evelyn Bethune NONE Evelyn Bethune is Mary McLeod Bethune’s Granddaughter Dr. of Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune and commitment to uplifting others, emphasizing the power of heritage, and ensuring the l...
Cheryl Woodruff-Brooks
Cheryl Woodruff-Brooks NONE Cheryl Woodruff-Brooks, a legislative assistant at the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, is a passionate writer and author of the 2017 book “Chicken Bone Beach.” She ...
Tamara Shiloh
Tamara Shiloh NONE Tamara Shiloh, a Northern California native, owns the Multicultural Bookstore and Gifts in Richmond. She is a mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother residing in Point Richmond,...
Marcus Dewan Williams
Marcus Dewan Williams NONE Marcus Dewan Williams, more than just the owner of Nubian Books bookstore, is an active advocate for African and African-American culture and education. As a publisher and ...
Faith Ringgold
Faith Ringgold 0000000078615604 Faith Ringgold was a multi-disciplinary artist and professor emeritus at the University of California, San Diego. Known for her work in painting, writing, and sculptur...
Michelle Donice
Michelle Donice NONE Michelle Donice, an Indianapolis native, is an accomplished academic and author dividing her time between inspiring youth and writing fiction in central Florida. She credits her ...
Hugh Mulzac
Hugh Mulzac 0000000399996487 Hugh Nathaniel Mulzac (1886-1971), the first African American ship commander, served on British and American ships during WWI. A graduate of Swansea Nautical College, he ...
Diane Marie Brown
Diane Marie Brown NONE Diane Marie Brown is a professor at Orange Coast College, public health professional, and author. Holding degrees from UCLA and USC, her debut novel is “Black Candle Women.” Sh...
James F. Daniels
James F. Daniels NONE James F. Daniels, author of 'Metamorphosis: From Cotton Picker to Community Leader', shares his journey from growing up as a sharecropper in the Jim Crow South to becoming a com...
Kymone
Kymone NONE Kymone Freeman is an award-winning writer, activist, and entrepreneur known for his works in poetry, playwriting, and media. He co-founded We Act Radio, a progressive station in Washingto...
KR Bankston
KR Bankston NONE KR Bankston is an accomplished Fiction Novelist, Publishing Consultant, and CEO of Kirabaco Media Group. Known for her commercial publishing debut, 'A Deadly Encounter' in 2008, she ...
Nia Damali
Nia Damali NONE Nia Damali, owner of Medu Bookstore and a prominent figure in the Black Book Ecosystem, is dedicated to promoting literacy and knowledge within the Black community. Editor of historic...
Victoria Scott-Miller
Victoria Scott-Miller NONE Victoria Scott-Miller is an acclaimed entrepreneur, author, and owner of North Carolina's first black-owned children's bookstore. She's notable for creating 'The Museum Liv...
Patricia A. Saunders
Patricia A. Saunders NONE Patricia A. Saunders, an author from Connecticut, now based in San Francisco, began her writing journey after her mother's passing. She released her first book in 2012 and i...
Vernon Kitabu Turner
Vernon Kitabu Turner NONE Vernon “Kitabu” Turner, an African-American spiritual guru, Zen master, and martial artist, was raised Christian but became a Zen initiate after meeting master Nomura Roshi ...
Beth Ferry
Beth Ferry NONE Beth Ferry is a cherished author of various picture books like Stick and Stone. An avid explorer and beach enthusiast, she resides by the sea with her husband and three children. Beth...
Elise Bryant
Elise Bryant NONE Elise Bryant, a Southern California native, is a former special education teacher turned romance author. Now based in Long Beach, she spends her days crafting swoony love stories an...
Seina Wedlick
Seina Wedlick NONE Seina Wedlick is an avid reader and writer, often found exploring or at the beach with her family. She loves pairing books with snacks, visiting bookstores, and collecting postcard...
Heidi Tyline King
Heidi Tyline King 0000000110757224 Heidi Tyline King is an accomplished author known for her adult literature. She ventured into children's books with “Saving American Beach: The Biography of African...
Issac J. Bailey
Issac J. Bailey NONE Issac J. Bailey is a seasoned journalist with a psychology degree from Davidson College. Trained at Poynter Institute, he has taught ethics at Coastal Carolina University and jou...
Tamiya Davis
Tamiya Davis NONE Tamiya Davis, a Virginia native, is a longshoreman, fashion entrepreneur, author, and motivational speaker. Her achievements include running a rights restoration chapter, owning a f...
Jaquira Diaz
Jaquira Diaz NONE Puerto Rican-born author Jaquira DÃaz's work, featured in Rolling Stone, The Guardian, and The New York Times Style Magazine, has earned her two Pushcart Prizes and numerous fellow...
Snoop Dogg
Snoop Dogg 0000000120269646 Calvin Broadus, known as Snoop Dogg, is a renowned rapper from Long Beach, California. After overcoming legal struggles, he launched his career with Dr. Dre, achieving qua...
Meta Smith
Meta Smith NONE "MÑta Smith is a multi-talented individual from Chicago with experience in acting, dancing, DJing, and writing. Having served in various roles in music, film, and philanthropy, she h...
Angela S. Medearis
Angela S. Medearis NONE Angela Shelf Medearis combines a general love for children‘s literature with a particular attention to the reading needs of young African Americans. “I write the kinds ...
Monique S. Hall
Monique S. Hall NONE Monique S. Hall, former basketball scholar, overcame a turbulent past involving crime and prison to become a bestselling author. Her debut novel, 'Two Tears In A Bucket', caught ...
Willis Nathaniel Huggins
Willis Nathaniel Huggins 0000000064958315 Willis Nathaniel Huggins, Ph.D. (1886-1940) was a renowned historian, activist, and mentor. He owned the Blyden Bookstore in Harlem and was a key member of t...
Danielle Jackson
Danielle Jackson 0000000485185680 Danielle Jackson, a contemporary romance author and avid reader, balances her love for books with hosting a podcast and coordinating author events at an indie bookst...
Harvey Stein, Herb Boyd, and Miss Rosen
Harvey Stein, Herb Boyd, and Miss Rosen MULTIPLE Harvey Stein, Herb Boyd, and Miss Rosen are renowned authors. Stein, captured during a book signing at Rizzoli Bookstore in 2013, collaborates with Bo...
Christina Benton
Christina Benton NONE Christina Benton is a Las Vegas-based crime author, forensic anthropologist, and bookstore owner. She penned the debut novel featuring Noel Patterson, a forensic anthropologist ...
Kimberly Jones
Kimberly Jones 0000000072499091 “They are lucky that what Black people are looking for is equality, not revenge!” Kimberly Latrice Jones, born March 18, 1976, is a former bookstore manager...
April Sinclair
April Sinclair NONE April Sinclair, a Chicago native, is a renowned author and community activist. Known for her dedicated activism in Oakland and her unique approach to her literary debut, Sinclair'...
R. Gregory Christie
R. Gregory Christie 000000011492849X R. Gregory Christie is a seasoned commercial artist with over 20 years of experience. He's illustrated 50+ children's books, designed album covers and worked with...
Isis Asare
Isis Asare NONE Isis Asare is the CEO/Founder of Sistah Scifi, the first Black-owned US bookstore focused on science fiction and fantasy in the US. She also serves as Exec. Director of Aunt Lute Book...
Jeannine A. Cook
Jeannine A. Cook NONE Jeannine A. Cook (left) is the founder and owner of three avant-garde bookshop concepts: Harriett’s in Philadelphia, Ida’s in South Jersey, and Josephine’s, a literary installa...
Phyllis R. Dixon
Phyllis R. Dixon NONE Phyllis R. Dixon, acclaimed author of notable works including Intermission and Down Home Blues, is a contributor to various publications. A graduate of the University of Wiscons...
camika c. spencer
camika c. spencer NONE Camika C. Spencer, a Dallas native, is a best-selling author known for her unique storytelling. After studying broadcasting, she discovered her writing talent at Black Images B...
Louise Borden
Louise Borden 0000000067578502 Louise Borden, a Cincinnati native, is a history enthusiast turned writer and speaker, inspired by her grandmother's love for history. Prior to writing, she worked in e...
Clara Villarosa
Clara Villarosa 0000000060242379 Clara Villarosa, a celebrated entrepreneur and business coach, founded Hue-Man Experience Bookstore in Denver and New York. She's also co-founder of Villarosa Media, ...
Marie Brown
Marie Brown 0000000376893266 Marie Brown is the first inductee into the Publishing Hall of Fame Marie Dutton Brown, President of Marie Brown Associates, is a highly experienced literary agent with ove...
DuEwa M. Frazier
DuEwa M. Frazier NONE DuEwa Frazier is an accomplished writer, educator, and poet, renowned for her literary contributions and educational initiatives. Born in Brooklyn and raised in St. Louis, she f...
Wayétu Moore
Wayétu Moore 0000000474741880 Wayétu Moore is the founder of One Moore Book, a non-profit publishing culturally relevant books to promote literacy in countries with low rates. She opened her first b...
Meredith Davis and Rebeka Uwitonze
Meredith Davis and Rebeka Uwitonze MULTIPLE Meredith Davis, a former bookstore worker and children's book writers' society founder from Austin, Texas, holds an MFA from Vermont College of Fine Arts. ...
David Ruggles
David Ruggles 0000000078894447 David Ruggles was a pioneer in black activism, journalism, and entrepreneurship in the 1800s. He led 600+ slaves to freedom, including Frederick Douglass, and owned the...
Leah Johnson
Leah Johnson NONE Leah Johnson, a Midwestern writer and editor, is a graduate of Indiana University and Sarah Lawrence College. She teaches writing, authored her first novel in 2021, and owns Loudmou...
Itah Sadu
Itah Sadu NONE Itah Sadu, an award-winning author and bookstore owner, is known for sharing diverse oral traditions and creating youth programs. She's a founder of several initiatives like the Emanci...
Katie Mitchell
Katie Mitchell 0000000368018699 Katie Mitchell is a writer, owner of Atlanta-based online and pop-up Black bookstore Good Books. She's been featured on media outlets like The NYT, Oprah Daily, NPR, a...
Aimée Felone
Aimée Felone NONE Aimée Felone, Founder and Managing Director of Knights Of, a multi-award-winning inclusive children's publisher, focuses on amplifying underrepresented voices. Her team, primarily w...
Talia Whyte
Talia Whyte NONE Talia Whyte has been a freelance journalist since 1998. Prospective clients seeking story assignments, nonfiction ghostwriting, copywriting commissions, story ideas, or licensing in...
L’Oreal Thompson Payton
L’Oreal Thompson Payton NONE L’Oreal Thompson Payton is an award-winning journalist, author, and wellness advocate whose work lives at the intersection of mental health, identity, and culture, with ...
Rick Ross
Rick Ross 0000000058867353 "Born in 1976, Rick Ross, also known as William Leonard Roberts II, rose from the rough streets of Miami, amid the city's crack epidemic. Despite numerous setbacks, Ross ne...
Patrice Gaines
Patrice Gaines 0000000031432130 Patrice Gaines, despite a stable upbringing, found herself in jail at 21, charged with drug-related felonies. As a convicted felon and single mother, she faced job str...
Ingrid M. Ellis
Ingrid M. Ellis NONE Ingrid M. Ellis, a New York-born, California-educated author, turned a passion for writing into a 20-year career. From children’s series to a stirring memoir, she bravely self-pu...
Evelyn Carter
Evelyn Carter NONE Evelyn Carter, Ph.D. is a social psychologist who studies how people detect and discuss racial bias, and how both can be done more effectively. Her research has been funded by the...
Elizabeth Zunon
Elizabeth Zunon NONE Elizabeth Zunon is a bilingual artist raised in the Ivory Coast, West Africa. She nurtured her love for drawing and painting from a young age, leading to her focus on children's ...
Thomas Long
Thomas Long 0000000376122955 Thomas Long, a self-published poet from Baltimore, transitioned to urban fiction, reflecting his experiences growing up in the inner city. His debut novel, Dayvon’s Story...
Ebony Dawn
Ebony Dawn NONE Ebony Dawn, also known as Pat Ebron, is a Newark native writer with a romantic perspective on life, influenced by old movies and diverse music. She has written plays, children's stori...
Cupcake Brown
Cupcake Brown NONE Cupcake Brown, born in 1964, overcame a troubled youth involving violence, drugs, and gang activities. Despite her struggles, she transformed her life and became a successful autho...
Toni Asante Lightfoot
Toni Asante Lightfoot NONE Toni Asante Lightfoot, a Cave Canem graduate and writing workshop teacher, is a co-founder of the Modern Urban Griots and a leader in the Blackout Arts Collective. She serv...
Brenda Woods
Brenda Woods NONE Brenda Woods, an award-winning author and artist, is known for her children's books like The Red Rose Box and Zoe in Wonderland. A graduate from California State University, she has...
Raissa Figueroa
Raissa Figueroa NONE Raissa Figueroa, based in San Diego, is a renowned illustrator who enjoys beach-combing for treasures. She has illustrated numerous children's books, including “Oona” by Kelly Di...
Gabrielle Douglas
Gabrielle Douglas NONE Gabrielle Douglas, born 1995, is a celebrated gymnast known for her historic achievements at the 2012 London Olympics. She's the first African-American and woman of color to wi...
Guy LeCharles Gonzalez
Guy LeCharles Gonzalez NONE Guy LeCharles Gonzalez is a publishing professional and poetry enthusiast with a diverse background, including service in the US Army and political campaigns. A firm belie...
Starr T. Balmer
Starr T. Balmer NONE Starr T. Balmer, a senior editor at a marketing agency and owner of two businesses, is a passionate writer with a BA in Journalism from California State University. She developed...
Christine Platt
Christine Platt NONE Christine Platt Patrick, also known as CP Patrick, is a Florida-born author specializing in African Diaspora narratives interlacing fiction and fantasy. She holds degrees in Afri...
Helene Cooper
Helene Cooper 0000000045708150 Helene Cooper, born in Liberia, is a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist for The New York Times. She has served as a Pentagon Correspondent, diplomatic correspondent, and...
La Jill Hunt
La Jill Hunt NONE La Jill Hunt, a best-selling author from Mobile, AL, is known for her urban chic-lit novels and contributions to the 'Around the Way Girls' series. Also an erotica writer, her works...
Shaun Sinclair
Shaun Sinclair NONE Shaun Sinclair, a South Carolina native and Army veteran, is a renowned author known for blending crime and erotica in his novels. Leveraging his experience as a law clerk, his wo...
Joe Cepeda
Joe Cepeda NONE Joe Cepeda, an award-winning illustrator, is known for adding a sparkle to his illustrations that resonates with children. With a BFA in illustration, he began his career in New York,...
Shimira Cole
Shimira Cole NONE Shimira Cole, an African-Bahamian writer and director, creates faith-based content focusing on minority voices. With a background in Hollywood, she now writes Christian fantasy nove...
Deborah Juniper-Frye
Deborah Juniper-Frye NONE “A grieving heart is full of emotions, struggles, and great despair. Hold on to Love, Hope, and Faith.” —Deborah Frye Deborah Juniper-Frye, with 20 years of...
Albert J. Raboteau
Albert J. Raboteau 0000000081058642 Albert J. Raboteau (1943-2021) was a renowned professor of religion at Princeton University. Born into a Catholic family in segregated Mississippi, his experiences...
Bernadette Baillie
Bernadette Baillie NONE Bernadette Baillie, a Filipina American writer and speaker, grew up in a sports-loving family, selling signature athlete shoes. A graduate of Pepperdine University, she worked...
Violet Lemay
Violet Lemay NONE Violet Lemay, an award-winning author and illustrator, is known for children's books like 100 Pablo Picassos and the Local Baby series. Formerly a professor at SCAD, her work is pub...
Kamaryn Hunt
Kamaryn Hunt NONE Kamaryn Hunt, a Virginia native and Southern University graduate, is an emerging author inspired by her mother, La Jill Hunt. Known for her passion for reading, she also enjoys phot...
Dominique Furukawa
Dominique Furukawa NONE Dominique Furukawa, a licensed clinical social worker in LA, co-founded We Foster LA to aid foster care children. She enjoys gardening and cooking with her family. As an autho...
Kiyah Wright and Shirley Neal
Kiyah Wright and Shirley Neal MULTIPLE Kiyah Wright, a two-time Emmy Award-winning hairstylist and entrepreneur, has over 20 years of experience in hair care. Shirley Neal is a renowned journalist an...
Joseph Earl Thomas
Joseph Earl Thomas NONE Joseph Earl Thomas is an author known for his unique and poignant storytelling. His first major work, Sink: A Memoir, published in 2022, explores his challenging upbringing i...
Ashleigh Shanti
Ashleigh Shanti NONE Ashleigh Shanti, chef-owner of Good Hot Fish in Asheville, North Carolina. She was named an Eater Young Gun in 2019 and was a finalist for the James Beard Rising Star Chef of the...
Leticia Moreno
Leticia Moreno 0000000131756052 Letícia Moreno (Born, April 1993) is an illustrator and comic artist from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. She graduated in Art History in the School of Fine Arts of th...
Lisa Springer
Lisa Springer NONE Lisa Springer is a writer from Barbados currently living in New York with her family. She is passionate about writing thrillers and horror fiction for young people. Her...
Ryan Douglass
Ryan Douglass NONE Ryan Douglass is a queer author and poet from Atlanta, Georgia. He is the author of the New York Times bestselling YA horror novel, The Taking of Jake Livingston, which was an ALA...
jkm Mbdw
jkm Mbdw NONE jkm Mbdw is not a professional writer, and he does not want to be. History of Creation: The Announcement is his first book, and there may not be a second. He has a master’s degree, ...
Ersula Knox Odom
Ersula Knox Odom NONE Ersula Knox Odom is a renowned legacy writer and author with over 100 published articles and two biographies. She's also a motivational speaker, prize-winning lyricist, and port...
Chance Arradondo
Chance Arradondo NONE Chance Arradondo is a versatile writer, born in 1989 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He writes novels, poetry, short stories, and lyrics, inspired by his life experiences and love fo...
Kim Fields
Kim Fields 000000002538577X Kim Fields is a renowned actress known for starring in NBC's Facts of Life and Fox's Living Single, with a 40-year career spanning TV, film, and stage. Notable performance...
Roderick D. Talley
Roderick D. Talley NONE Roderick D. Talley created this company as a hub for positive-oriented books and artwork, while fostering a welcoming environment for all people. A firm believer in “practici...
Sha•
Sha• NONE Brooklyn-born author Sha, is a Psychology graduate, currently pursuing her Masters. Known for her distinct perspective in writing, she started with poetry at nine and now authors fiction. H...
Velma Maia Thomas
Velma Maia Thomas NONE Velma Maia Thomas is an award-winning author known for her nonfiction books on African American history. She is also the creator of the Black Holocaust Exhibit. With degrees fr...
Cheryl Clarke
Cheryl Clarke 0000000383377198 Cheryl L. Clarke, born in 1947, is a lesbian poet, essayist, and a Black feminist activist. Her work emphasizes African-American women's literature and black lesbian fe...
George Padmore
George Padmore 0000000110573433 George A. Padmore, born Malcolm Nurse, was a renowned Pan-Africanist, journalist, and author from Trinidad. He was a key figure in the 5th Pan African Congress and an ...
Jonathan Anthony Burkett
Jonathan Anthony Burkett NONE Jonathan Anthony Burkett, born in 1987, is an inspirational writer who persevered through life's trials and a life-changing surgery in 2005. Despite lack of formal educa...
Andrew Feiler
Andrew Feiler NONE Author and fifth-generation Jewish Georgian is driven by community and the complexities of the American South. His art, shaped by history, culture, race, and tradition, aims to mak...
Jessica Ramos
Jessica Ramos NONE Jessica Ramos, a Medgar Evers College student with an Associate's degree in Education, is driven by her passion for teaching children. Raised in a Mexico-origin family in Brooklyn,...
Derrick Ferguson
Derrick Ferguson NONE "Derrick Ferguson, a Brooklyn native, is an author and podcast co-host with a love for classic pulps, comic books, and pop culture. Married for over 30 years, he enjoys explorin...