AALBC Search
Gigi Best
Gigi Best NONE Gigi Best, a prolific author, historian, and genealogist, is also the owner of Best Books & Rich Treasures. She possesses rich academic credentials and is a member of various historica...
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 ...
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...
Fanita Pendleton
Fanita Pendleton NONE Fanita “Moon†Pendleton, originally from Oakland, is a parole officer based in Norfolk, Virginia. She's an experienced criminal justice instructor with a Masters in Public A...
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 ...
Janice Pernell
Janice Pernell NONE Janice Pernell, a prestigious editor for multiple bestsellers, transitioned into writing with her debut in “Baring It All: The Ins and Outs of Publishing” and her first fiction “N...
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...
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...
Rosheena Beek
Rosheena Beek NONE Rosheena Beek (1969-2019) was a successful author and bookstore owner known for her best-selling book, “I Find It So Hard.” Her works, including the popular second edition “Mommy S...
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...
Kevin McGruder
Kevin McGruder 0000000071766805 Kevin McGruder is an Assistant Professor of History at Antioch College with interests in African American institutions, urban history, and gay and lesbian history. He ...
Krystle Parker
Krystle Parker NONE Krystle Parker, an Adult Gerontologist Nurse with 15 years of experience, is the owner of Absolute Care Services and ILashpark. She is also a community benefactor, hosting annual ...
Sandra Neil Wallace and Rich Wallace
Sandra Neil Wallace and Rich Wallace MULTIPLE Sandra Neil Wallace and Rich Wallace are acclaimed authors known for their nonfiction works such as First Generation and Blood Brother, which have earned...
Blanche Richardson
Blanche Richardson NONE Blanche Richardson, a seasoned book editor and manager of Marcus Books, one of the oldest African American owned bookstores in the US, has contributed significantly to literat...
Debra Owsley
Debra Owsley NONE Debra Owsley, avid reader and hairstylist, transformed her passion into a business, Simply Said Reading Accessories and LitVersation. She collaborates with bestselling authors, book...
Simba Sana
Simba Sana NONE Simba Sana overcame hardships in Washington, D.C. to graduate with degrees in Accounting, Business and Finance, and African Studies. He left his auditing job to join Karibu Books, gro...
Oprah Winfrey
Oprah Winfrey 0000000114891842 Oprah Winfrey, a multi-billionaire and influential media owner, is best known for her highest-rated TV show, The Oprah Winfrey Show. She also runs the renowned Oprah Bo...
Kelly Starling Lyons
Kelly Starling Lyons NONE Kelly Starling Lyons is a children's book author from Pittsburgh. Inspired by her mother's storytelling and her grandparents' creativity, she started writing at a young age....
Hugh Holton
Hugh Holton NONE Hubert “Hugh” Holton, son of a police officer, was a prolific author who passed away in 2001. Raised in Woodlawn, he attended Saint Anselm elementary school and Mount Carmel high sch...
Nikole Hannah-Jones
Nikole Hannah-Jones 0000000454752515 Nikole Hannah-Jones, Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter for The New York Times, is known for her work on racial injustice and the 1619 Project. A MacArthur Genius Gr...
Maura Cheeks
Maura Cheeks NONE Maura Cheeks, renowned author featured in The New York Times, The Atlantic and others, won a masthead reporting residency with The Atlantic in 2019. 'Acts of Forgiveness' is her deb...
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...
Stubbs
Stubbs 0000000109147509 OHIO PLAYER Coming Of Age… When I was nine-years-old, I’d known early on in my heart that I was my own man. While most of my friends in Cleveland were running to ...
Fannie Lou Hamer
Fannie Lou Hamer 0000000072528286 “I am sick and tired of being sick and tired.” —Fannie Lou Hamer Fannie Lou Hamer was a significant civil rights leader and voting rights activist. ...
Shanna Tiggs
Shanna Tiggs NONE Shanna L. Tiggs is an accomplished author and the proprietor of Serenity Book Shop in Columbus, Ohio. Author Shanna L. Tiggs is also the owner of the Serenity Book Shop in Columbus,...
Tiffani Quarles-Sanders
Tiffani Quarles-Sanders NONE Tiffani Quarles-Sanders, a Montgomery native, is an acclaimed author of African-American fiction and owner of Hollow Bridge Publishing. Known for her Unthinkable Sins ser...
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...
Alexander Smalls
Alexander Smalls 0000000458935095 Alexander Smalls, an iconic American chef and owner of award-winning NYC restaurants, is also a co-author of a James Beard award-winning cookbook and a globally reco...
Rich Benjamin
Rich Benjamin 0000000065214377 Rich Benjamin is a cultural anthropologist and the author of Searching for Whitopia. His writing has appeared in The New Yorker, The New York Times, and elsewhere, and...
Dana Kaye
Dana Kaye NONE Dana Kaye, owner of Kaye Publicity Inc., is a PR expert and author with a background in fiction writing. Renowned for her industry insight and innovative ideas, she frequently speaks o...
Cheryl Robinson
Cheryl Robinson NONE Cheryl Robinson, a Detroit-born author, transformed her life from a career in marketing to writing. She began with self-publishing, before transitioning to Penguin Books' imprint...
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...
Sierra Kay
Sierra Kay 0000000461326725 Sierra Kay is an award-winning author with a love for the written word. Encouraged by her mother to read widely, she has a fondness for everything from classical literatur...
LaTonya Yvette
LaTonya Yvette NONE LaTonya Yvette is the owner and steward of The Mae House, an upstate New York rental property and the home of Rest as Residency, which offers BIPOC families a no-cost place for re...
Alexander Smalls with Veronica Chambers
Alexander Smalls with Veronica Chambers MULTIPLE Alexander Smalls is a renowned American chef, former owner of NYC restaurants including the award-winning Cecil, and a Grammy and Tony-winning opera s...
Silk White
Silk White NONE Silk White, a best-selling urban fiction author from Harlem, New York, is also a co-owner of Good2Go Publishing and Films. He has credit for films like No Way Out & Black Barbie, and ...
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,...
Georgia A. Hill and Diane Proctor Reeder
Georgia A. Hill and Diane Proctor Reeder MULTIPLE Rev. Dr. Georgia A. Hill, writer for Our Daily Bread Publishing and pastor of LifeChurch Riverside, is deeply involved in women's ministry and Christ...
Crystal Swain-Bates
Crystal Swain-Bates NONE Crystal Swain-Bates, an Atlanta native, is an author and the owner of Goldest Karat Publishing. She has a Master's degree in International Affairs and aims to diversify tradi...
Maloyd Ben Wilson
Maloyd Ben Wilson NONE Maloyd “Ben” Wilson is the entrepreneurial force behind Black Chronicle book, holding multiple roles including Owner, CEO, Publisher, and Founder. Maloyd “Ben” Wilson is the Ow...
Rhonda McKnight
Rhonda McKnight NONE Rhonda McKnight, owner of Legacy Editing and Urban Christian Fiction Today, is a dedicated fiction writer and editor based in Atlanta. Originating from New Jersey, her passion li...
William L. Ingram
William L. Ingram NONE William “Bill” L. Ingram, a retired entrepreneur, and successful small business owner, is now a writer focused on spiritual and personal growth. A resident of Tampa Bay, Florid...
Armstrong Williams
Armstrong Williams 0000000035375700 Armstrong Williams, born in 1962, is a recognized conservative voice, entrepreneur, philanthropist, and author. He hosts a weekly TV show and is the founder and CE...
Diane Proctor Reeder
Diane Proctor Reeder NONE Diane Proctor Reeder is a spiritual author, editor, playwright and business owner. She has served as an editor for various publishing houses and owns Written Images. Diane P...
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...
Teresa Kemp
Teresa Kemp NONE Teresa R. Kemp, a 5th-generation quilter and military historian, is a passionate advocate for cultural preservation and anti-human trafficking. She's a graduate of WVSU and DeVry Uni...
Wil Shelton
Wil Shelton NONE Wil Shelton, President & CEO of Wil Power Integrated Marketing, has transformed the company into a global marketing agency specialized in the beauty and grooming industries. Leveragi...
Erika Council
Erika Council NONE Erika Council is a renowned baker, food writer, and owner of Bomb Biscuits. She contributes to various cookbooks and runs the Southern Soufflé website. Her work has appeared in nu...
Jake Sloan
Jake Sloan NONE Jake Sloan is a civil rights advocate and owner of Davillier-Sloan, Inc., a major California labor-management consulting firm. He began as a pipefitter, later focusing on equality in ...
Michael Jordan
Michael Jordan 0000000114554934 Michael Jordan, former professional basketball player, played 15 seasons in NBA for Chicago Bulls and Washington Wizards. He's also a businessman, owner and chairman o...
Stephanie Casher
Stephanie Casher NONE Stephanie Casher is a freelance editor, author of multi-cultural women's fiction, and co-owner of The Pantheon Collective. She holds a BA in Sociology from the University of Cal...
Joanne Chang
Joanne Chang NONE Joanne Chang, Harvard graduate in applied mathematics and economics, is the chef-owner of Flour Bakery in Boston. She was previously a pastry chef at Payard Patisserie and Mistral. ...
Prince Joel Makonnen
Prince Joel Makonnen NONE “Doing well in business and doing good in society are inseparable missions” Prince Joel Makonnen, a direct descendant of Emperor Haile Selassie I of Ethiopia, is ...
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...
Ida Walker
Ida Walker NONE Ida Walker, since 2011, is the Owner and Publisher of Beauty Talk Illustrated Magazine, an online lifestyle resource for women. Since, January 2011 Ida Walker has been the Owner and P...
Porsha Olayiwola
Porsha Olayiwola NONE Porsha Olayiwola, is the City of Boston’s poet laureate and the co-owner of Just Bookish a literary gathering space in Fields Corner in Dorchester. Porsha Olayiwola is the City ...
Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson
Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson 0000000110665899 Curtis James Jackson III, known as 50 Cent, is a renowned rapper, actor, and entrepreneur, raised in South Jamaica, Queens. Overcoming early life struggles a...
J. California Cooper
J. California Cooper 000000011687953X J. California Cooper was a renowned author and playwright, named Black Playwright of the Year in 1978. Encouraged by Alice Walker, she transitioned to fiction, w...
Azarel
Azarel NONE Tressa “Azarel” Smallwood, former teacher and now CEO of Life Changing Books, is a successful author and publisher. With over 31 titles including the popular 'Teenage Bluez' series, her w...
Sidi
Sidi NONE Sidibe Ibrahima, known as Sidi, is a multilingual entrepreneur from Ivory Coast who started as a book vendor in Harlem. Now a well-known figure in New York's African American literary scene...
Ezra Jack Keats
Ezra Jack Keats 0000000370477827 Ezra Jack Keats (1916-1983) was a pioneering children's book author and illustrator known for introducing multiculturalism into mainstream American literature. Despit...
Christine Pauls
Christine Pauls NONE Christine Pauls, from Wilmington, DE, is an accomplished author of novels including her latest release “One Good Thing” (2017). Besides being a writer, she's an accountant in the...
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...
Jahquel J.
Jahquel J. NONE Jahquel J. has been writing since the spring of 2014 and has an impressive catalog of titles under her belt. She's best known for her Delgato Family series, Staten Island Love Letter...
M.E. Waters
M.E. Waters NONE M.E. Waters is an author, speaker, and business etiquette consultant with a master's degree in business management. Inspired by authors like Maya Angelou, she writes women's business...
Honeyb
Honeyb NONE Best-selling author HoneyB, also known as Mary B. Morrison, writes empowering novels addressing social and sexual issues. She self-published her debut novel “Soulmates Dissipate” in 2000 ...
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...
Akilah Trinay
Akilah Trinay NONE Oakland native Sharifa Akilah Trinay Parr, M.Ed. is a passionate educator and entrepreneur. She holds a B.A. in Communications and an M.A. in Education and is pursuing her doctora...
Erick S. Gray
Erick S. Gray NONE Erick S. Gray, an accomplished author since 1997, is known for his engaging mix of street style, comedy, and intricate plots. Born in Jamaica, Queens, his first book, Booty Call, w...
Harrine Freeman
Harrine Freeman NONE Harrine Freeman is a financial expert, speaker, writer, and CEO of H.E. Freeman Enterprises, a firm offering personal finance consulting services. She's a best-selling author kno...
M. E. Holland
M. E. Holland 0000000014470645 M.E. Holland, a Harlem-native filmmaker and writer, uses his storytelling skills to highlight Black women's experiences. Inspired by Spike Lee, he filled a gap in Holly...
Ric Murphy
Ric Murphy NONE Ric Murphy, an award-winning author and historian from Boston, specializes in genealogical research and African American history. With a family lineage dating back to early colonial A...
Marc Lamont Hill
Marc Lamont Hill 0000000055257314 In November 2017 Marc Opened a boostore in Philadelphia Uncle Bobbie’s Coffee & Books Dr. Marc Lamont Hill is a renowned intellectual voice, anthropologist of e...
National Museum of African American History and Culture
National Museum of African American History and Culture MULTIPLE The National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC), established by Congress in 2003, is devoted to documenting Afric...
Marc Lamont Hill and Todd Brewster
Marc Lamont Hill and Todd Brewster MULTIPLE Marc Lamont Hill is a media personality, educator, and entrepreneur, hosting BET News and Black News Tonight, and holding a chair at Temple University. He ...
Walt Goodridge
Walt Goodridge NONE The “Passion Prophet” Walt F.J. Goodridge is a versatile individual with a passion for teaching. He has worked as an artist, engineer, DJ, author, and speaker among oth...
Brian Egeston
Brian Egeston NONE Brian Egeston, a writer and former engineer, uses his jovial demeanor and humor to transfer emotion through his words. He began writing to combat boredom, turning his short stories...
Katherine Dempsey
Katherine Dempsey NONE Go On Girl! Book Club, Unpublished Writer Award 2021 Winner Atlanta-born author Katherine Dempsey aims to illuminate Southern Gothic themes and Black mysticism in her writing. A...
Zetta Brown
Zetta Brown NONE Zetta Brown, owner of the successful L-L Publications based in Scotland, boasts an impressive portfolio including acclaimed books and a sister imprint, Logical-Lust. Also a Developme...
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...
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 ...
Charles W. Chesnutt
Charles W. Chesnutt 0000000120998195 1928 winner of the NAACP’s Spingarn Award for Highest achievement by a black American Charles Waddell Chesnutt (1858-1932) was a prominent African-American a...
Albert B. Cleage, Jr.
Albert B. Cleage, Jr. MULTIPLE Albert B. Cleage Jr., also known as Jaramogi Abebe Agyeman, was a Black nationalist Christian minister, author, and political organizer. He founded the Shrine of the Bl...
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...
Don Fulton
Don Fulton NONE Don Fulton, a Washington D.C. native, is a screenwriter inspired by the lack of quality and diverse Christmas films in Hollywood. His screenplay, “Please Come Home for Christmas,” is ...
Endy
Endy 0000000012374705 Endy was born in Newark, NJ. Like most inner city children she was fascinated by the noise of the busy streets in the "hood. Raised in a two parent home with her younger...
Michelle Cliff
Michelle Cliff 0000000110018763 Michelle Carla Cliff (1946-2016) was a renowned Jamaican-American author known for her explorations of colonialism and racism through novels, short stories, and poetry...
Diana Murray
Diana Murray NONE Diana Murray, award-winning poet and former art director at Theory, transitioned from graphic design to writing. Known for her impressive sock collection, she now resides in a subur...
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...
David Anthony Geary
David Anthony Geary NONE David Anthony Geary, a versatile artist with a 25-year career in mediums such as painting, sculpture, and photography. Trained at Xavier University, his work is showcased in ...
Irene Smalls
Irene Smalls NONE Irene Smalls, a Harlem native and Cornell University graduate, is a renowned children's author, inspired by her personal experiences and heritage. Her diverse career spans modelling...
Jamarhl Crawford
Jamarhl Crawford NONE Jamarhl Crawford, also known as UNO The Prophet, is a Boston-based artist and poet deeply rooted in the city's Black communities. Coming from a family rich in artistic history, ...
LaQuitta Barnes
LaQuitta Barnes NONE LaQuitta Barnes is a seasoned educator with over 13 years of experience. She has served as a Literacy Coach, District Mentor, and Campus Administrator. She's also an author, real...
Charlamagne Tha God
Charlamagne Tha God 0000000486501489 Charlamagne Tha God, born Lenard McKelvey, is a renowned media personality and co-host of The Breakfast Club radio show and Brilliant Idiots podcast. He's also a ...
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...
Kris Rose
Kris Rose NONE Kris Rose, a Tulsa native, was an active figure in the punk scene and the previous owner of Bound for Glory Books. An avid traveler and writer, her work has appeared in the Tulsa Voice...
Bethany Hegedus
Bethany Hegedus NONE Bethany Hegedus, an award-winning author of children's books and middle-grade novels, is a former educator who loves mentoring young writers. She owns the Writing Barn, a writing...
Ahmad Aleem Williams
Ahmad Aleem Williams NONE Ahmad Williams, a graduate of Trinity Lutheran Seminary & The Ohio State University, is the CEO of Mortified Books. He is also an ordained member of WCICC and serves as an o...
Toyomi Igus
Toyomi Igus NONE Toyomi Igus, a celebrated author and communications strategist, has had a varied career in publishing, corporate, and marketing communications. Known for her work in academic book pu...