AALBC Search
Jamise Harper and Jane Mount
Jamise Harper and Jane Mount MULTIPLE Jamise Harper and Jane Mount are renowned authors known for their compelling literary works. Harper, an avid reader, uses her platform to uplift diverse voices. ...
Jane Mount
Jane Mount 0000000371396068 Jane Mount is a multi-talented illustrator, designer, and writer who founded Ideal Bookshelf in 2008, a company dedicated to bibliophiles. She presently resides in a Hawai...
Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o and Ngugi Wa Mirii
Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o and Ngugi Wa Mirii MULTIPLE Born in Kenya in 1938, Ngugi wa Thiong’o is a leading East African novelist, essayist, playwright, and academic. Educated in Kenya, Uganda, and Britain, ...
Kenya Hunt
Kenya Hunt NONE Kenya Hunt, Fashion Director at Grazia UK, has a vast career in media, working with top women's titles in the US and UK. An accomplished writer, her work is featured in various public...
Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o and Timothy J. Reiss
Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o and Timothy J. Reiss MULTIPLE Ngugi wa Thiong’o, born in Kenya 1938, is a leading East African novelist, educated in Kenya, Uganda, and Britain. A recipient of seven Honorary Doctor...
Elliot Fratkin
Elliot Fratkin 0000000108584950 Elliot Fratkin, Professor Emeritus of African Studies & Anthropology at Smith College, is renowned for his extensive research on Samburu and Maa-speaking pastoralists ...
Peter Kimani
Peter Kimani 000000004389720X Dr. Peter Kimani, a renowned African author and poet, has contributed to literature, journalism, and academia. Born in Kenya (1971), he began as a journalist, wrote seve...
Jomo Kenyatta
Jomo Kenyatta 0000000121015234 Mzee Jomo Kenyatta, born in 1897, was a prominent leader of African nationalism. He studied anthropology at the London School of Economics. As the first native-born Pre...
Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o
Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o 0000000109301051 AALBC Mourns the passing of Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o May 28, 2025 Kenyan-born Ngugi wa Thiong’o was a leading East African novelist, educated in Kenya, ...
Beverly Daniel Tatum
Beverly Daniel Tatum 0000000082603083 Dr. Beverly Daniel Tatum is a renowned psychologist and educator, known for her research and publications on race and education. She was the ninth president of S...
Mona Sutphen
Mona Sutphen 000000004776341X Mona K. Sutphen, a partner at Macro Advisory Partners LLP, is a former White House Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy in the Obama administration and an ex-American diplom...
Yvonne Adhiambo Owuor
Yvonne Adhiambo Owuor 0000000049060048 Yvonne Adhiambo Owuor is a renowned Kenyan writer, recognized for her contribution to literature and arts in Kenya. She won the 2003 Caine Prize for her story “...
Stanley Gazemba
Stanley Gazemba 0000000045040728 Stanley Gazemba, born 1974 in Kenya, is a renowned author of three novels and eight children's books, with his work recognized by the Jomo Kenyatta Prize for fiction....
Lupita Nyong’o
Lupita Nyong’o 0000000065421480 Lupita Nyong'o, born March 1, 1983, is a Kenyan-Mexican actress. Raised in Kenya and educated in the U.S., she began her career in Hollywood, made her acting debut in ...
Ndirangu Githaiga
Ndirangu Githaiga NONE Ndirangu Githaiga, a Kenya-born, Virginia-based physician and author, uses the power of storytelling to change perspectives. His debut novel, The People of Ostrich Mountain, wa...
Marguerite W. Davol
Marguerite W. Davol NONE Marguerite W. Davol, a former teacher at Gorse Child Study Center, Mount Holyoke College, is an acclaimed author known for children's books like Heart of the Wood, How Snake ...
Frankie Lennon
Frankie Lennon NONE Frankie Lennon is a creative writer, teacher, and jewelry designer from Knoxville, Tennessee. She holds a B.A. in English and an M.A. in Creative Writing from Indiana University. ...
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...
Ilyasah Shabazz
Ilyasah Shabazz 000000004150744X Ilyasah Al-Shabazz, community organizer, activist, and daughter of Malcolm X, advocates for at-risk youth and interfaith dialogue. She's developed programs promoting ...
Joan Potter
Joan Potter NONE Joan Potter is a co-author of three books, a prolific article writer, and an essayist featured in anthologies and literary journals. She's also a memoir workshop instructor based in ...
Jacqueline Jones LaMon
Jacqueline Jones LaMon NONE Jacqueline Jones LaMon is an award-winning author and poet. An educator at Adelphi University, she holds degrees from Mount Holyoke College, UCLA School of Law, and Indian...
Lenard D. Moore
Lenard D. Moore 0000000079037447 Lenard D. Moore is a celebrated poet, anthologist, and U.S. Army Veteran, known globally for his works published in 15+ countries and translated into multiple languag...
Wangari Maathai
Wangari Maathai 0000000121279889 “You cannot enslave a mind that knows itself, that values itself, that understands itself.” Dr. Wangari Maathai was a renowned Kenyan environmental, politi...
Joan Sikand
Joan Sikand NONE Joan Sikand is a lawyer and poet based in Nairobi, Kenya, where she lives with her husband. Joan Sikand is a poet and lawyer. She and her husband reside in Nairobi, Kenya
Sam Chege
Sam Chege NONE Sam Chege is a Kenya-born Associate Professor of Journalism and Mass Communications at Kansas State University. He moved to the US in his thirties and has lived there for 20 years. Sam...
Aliona L. Gibson
Aliona L. Gibson NONE Aliona L. Gibson is an author and filmmaker with a passion for creativity and service. She published her first book, Nappy, and later the self-published For Black Writers. Inspi...
John S. Mbiti
John S. Mbiti 0000000110268607 “The Father of Contemporary African Theology... Canon John Samuel Mbiti, a Kenyan-born Anglican priest, is a renowned theologian, educator, and author. Formerly a...
Mona Ombogo
Mona Ombogo 0000000062004139 Kenyan author and scriptwriter, Mona Ombogo, is known for her award-winning films and novels. With a global education and exposure to diverse cultures, her work addresses...
Ali Mazrui
Ali Mazrui 0000000119710676 “One of the Top 100 Intellectuals in the World” Ali Al’amin Mazrui (1933-2014), a distinguished Kenyan academic and political writer, specialized in African and...
Darshana Khiani
Darshana Khiani NONE Darshana Khiani is a Kenya-born author and engineer, now based in the San Francisco Bay Area. Known for her advocacy for South Asian children's literature, she delights in educat...
Mũkoma wa Ngũgĩ
Mũkoma wa Ngũgĩ 0000000048742231 Mũkoma wa Ngũgĩ, an acclaimed novelist, poet, and essayist, is an Assistant Professor of English at Cornell University. He was shortlisted for the Caine Prize and Pen...
Soraya Palmer
Soraya Palmer NONE Soraya Palmer is a writer and licensed social worker who advocates for survivors of gender-based violence who are facing criminal charges related to their abuse. Soraya Palmer is a...
Robert Jackson
Robert Jackson 000000003829384X Robert Jackson, author of “The No More Excuses Curriculum,” is a renowned speaker, educator, and consultant specializing in issues facing African-American and Latino s...
Elizabeth White
Elizabeth White 0000000114807460 Elizabeth White is a Harvard and Johns Hopkins-educated author, aging advocate, and adjunct professor. She specializes in financial jeopardy and uncertain work situat...
Doni Glover
Doni Glover NONE Doni Glover is the founder of the Original Black Wall Street SERIES and blackwallstreetnews.com. He's an influential voice in Maryland's black community, often sought for insights on...
Zetta Elliott
Zetta Elliott 000000003627950X Zetta Elliott, a Canadian-born Black feminist writer, is known for her poetry, plays, essays, and children's novels. She earned a PhD in American Studies from NYU, taug...
Sharon Langley
Sharon Langley NONE Sharon Langley, the first African-American to ride the carousel at Gwynn Oak Park in 1963, is a Clark Atlanta University graduate with a Master's in Educational Leadership. She no...
Courtne Comrie
Courtne Comrie NONE Courtne Comrie is a poet and writer who prefers tackling heavy topics through simplistic and beautiful verse. Born in Toronto, Canada, but raised in the Bronx and Mount Vernon, N...
C. Alexandra Allen
C. Alexandra Allen NONE C. Alexandra Allen was born in Mount Vernon, New York and raised in the borough of Queens, New York. In 1992, she began her studies at Spelman College in Atlanta, Georg...
Roxane Orgill
Roxane Orgill NONE Roxane Orgill is a seasoned music critic and author with over 20 years of experience, having worked with The Wall Street Journal and The Milwaukee Journal. She is known for her bio...
Sarah L. Delany and A. Elizabeth Delany
Sarah L. Delany and A. Elizabeth Delany MULTIPLE Sarah Delany, the last of the Delany sisters, passed away at 109. Born to a former slave, she was the first colored woman to teach home economics in w...
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...
The Last Poets
The Last Poets 0000000109403584 The Last Poets, formed in 1969, are influential street poets who gained fame with their debut LP in 1970, reaching the U.S. Top 10 album charts. Members include Abiodu...
Elizabeth Ross Haynes
Elizabeth Ross Haynes NONE Elizabeth Ross Haynes (1883-1953) was a former valedictorian and graduate of Fisk University and Columbia University. Notable for her study on black women's employment, she...
Kipjo K. Ewers
Kipjo K. Ewers NONE Kipjo K. Ewers, born in 1975, has always had a vivid imagination, crafting stories from a young age. His passion for writing continued through his education and into his career. D...
Juanita Havill
Juanita Havill 0000000082638702 Juanita Havill, born in 1949, is an acclaimed children's author with over 30 books including award-winning “Jamaica's Find.” She was raised in Illinois and now resides...
Jerald LeVon Hoover
Jerald LeVon Hoover NONE Jerald L. Hoover is a multi-talented author and entertainment figure, known for his best-selling novella “My Friend, My Hero.” He has received various accolades, including th...
Augustus G. Parker III
Augustus G. Parker III NONE Dr. Augustus Garland Parker III is a renowned obstetrician from Columbus, Ohio. He has served both Ohio and North Carolina communities, contributing significantly to women...
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 ...
Evelyn Collins
Evelyn Collins NONE Dr. Evelyn Collins is a renowned luminary in theater, African American history, and arts education with over 35 years of experience. As CEO of Onyx Production Company and the forc...
Sherri Lewis
Sherri Lewis NONE Sherri Lewis, a former Family Physician, is a Howard University and University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine graduate. Now a full-time minister and bestselling Christian fictio...
Tanya Wright
Tanya Wright 0000000395292597 Tanya Wright, a Bronx native, is an acclaimed actor known for roles in HBO's True Blood and Netflix's Orange Is the New Black. A Vassar graduate and former New York Time...
Uwem Akpan
Uwem Akpan 0000000051528850 Nigerian writer Uwem Akpan, author of award-winning collection 'Say You're One of Them', is known for his academic background in humanities, philosophy and theology, with ...
JP Foster
JP Foster NONE Dr. John-Paul C. Foster serves as Senior Pastor at Faithful Central Bible Church, one of the largest African American churches in Los Angeles. His leadership and Biblical exposition h...
Michael Machira Mwangi
Michael Machira Mwangi NONE Michael Machira Mwangi is a renowned author known for his insightful works. With a passion for literature, he's made significant contributions to the field. His writing re...
LJ Alonge
LJ Alonge NONE LJ Alonge has played pick-up basketball in Oakland, Los Angeles, New York, Kenya, South Africa, and Australia. Basketball’s always helped him learn about his community, settle conflic...
Stephanie Wambugu
Stephanie Wambugu NONE Stephanie Wambugu lives in New York City. She was born in Mombasa, Kenya and grew up in New England. Her work appears in The Nation, Granta, frieze, Bookforum, and The Drift. ...
Sarah Ladipo Manyika
Sarah Ladipo Manyika 0000000062634157 Sarah Ladipo Manyika is a Nigerian-raised author and literature professor at San Francisco State University. Educated at the University of California, Berkeley, ...
Zuksiwa Wanner
Zuksiwa Wanner NONE Zukiswa Wanner, born to South African and Zimbabwean parents in Zambia, is a celebrated author known for award-nominated novels like “Men of the South.” As an essayist, she focuse...
Ayobami Adebayo
Ayobami Adebayo 0000000468271405 Ayá»Ì€baÌmi AdeÌbaÌyá»Ì€ is a Nigerian author, best known for her debut novel, “Stay with Me.” Her work, published across the globe, has been shortlisted for the...
Jamil Jivani
Jamil Jivani 0000000499249737 Jamil Jivani, a Toronto native, is a visiting professor at Osgoode Hall Law School, focusing on youth, immigrants and low-income family issues. He founded the Citizen Em...
Elinor Des Verney Sinnette
Elinor Des Verney Sinnette 000000008088669X Elinor Des Verney Sinnette, former Acting Director of Howard University's Research Center and staff member of The New York Public Library, was a renowned e...
Jeffery Renard Allen
Jeffery Renard Allen 0000000114593327 Jeffery Renard Allen, an award-winning author of poetry, short stories, and novels, is known for his celebrated novel, 'Rails Under My Back'. He's a fellow at pr...
Barack Obama
Barack Obama 0000000121331026 Barack Obama, born in Hawaii in 1961, was the 44th President of the United States. Raised in a middle-class family, he worked his way through college and became the firs...
Linda Ravin Lodding and Dipesh Pabari
Linda Ravin Lodding and Dipesh Pabari MULTIPLE Linda Ravin Lodding is an acclaimed author of children's books and a children's rights advocate based in Sweden. Dipesh Pabari is a Kenyan environmental...
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...
papi kymone freeman
papi kymone freeman NONE Papi Kymone Freeman is a renowned writer, activist, and entrepreneur known for his award-winning plays and debut fiction novel, NINEVEH. He co-founded We Act Radio, a progres...
Maaza Mengiste
Maaza Mengiste 0000000079072875 Ethiopian-born author Maaza Mengiste, known for her novel 'Beneath the Lion’s Gaze', is a celebrated academic at Queens College and Princeton University. A Fulbright S...
Caroline Elkins
Caroline Elkins 0000000114903858 Caroline Elkins is a Harvard professor and founding director of its Center for African Studies. She won the 2006 Pulitzer Prize for her first book, Imperial Reckoning...
Halifu Osumare
Halifu Osumare 0000000031536722 Dr. Halifu Osumare, Professor Emerita at UC Davis, is a renowned dancer, choreographer, and scholar of black popular culture with over 40 years of experience. She has ...
DMarie Barclay
DMarie Barclay NONE DMarie Barclay is a lifelong educator and community advocate with deep roots in both the Caribbean and New York City. Raised in Brooklyn, she is a proud product of New York City ...
William Kamkwamba
William Kamkwamba 0000000109290196 William Kamkwamba’s inspiring story is told in his New York Times bestselling memoir The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind, co-authored with Bryan Mealer, and in the Netf...
Tonya Bolden
Tonya Bolden 0000000116508683 Tonya Bolden, a Princeton and Columbia University graduate, is an award-winning author/editor of over 40 books, including children's nonfiction and historical novels. He...
Yusef Komunyakaa
Yusef Komunyakaa 000000011440862X Yusef Komunyakaa the first African American male to win the Pulitzer Prize for poetry Yusef Komunyakaa, born on April 29, 1947, is a Pulitzer Prize-winning poet recog...
Resmaa Menakem
Resmaa Menakem NONE Resmaa Menakem, MSW LICSW, has over 20 years of experience in helping individuals to address life challenges. As a nationally recognized leader in diversity, strategic planning, a...
Jamillah Lamb and David Lamb
Jamillah Lamb and David Lamb MULTIPLE David and Jamillah Lamb are the dynamic duo behind Between The Lines Productions, Inc. The couple co-authored the book Perfect Combination: Seven Key Ingredients...
Bakari Kitwana
Bakari Kitwana 0000000114584527 Bakari Kitwana is a renowned journalist, activist, and political analyst, known for his commentary on politics and youth culture. He has been a consultant on hip-hop, ...
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 ...
Molefi Kete Asante
Molefi Kete Asante 0000000108973825 Dr. Molefi Kete Asante is Professor and Chair, Department of African American Studies at Temple University. Considered by his peers to be one of the most distingu...
Susan Moore
Susan Moore 0000000081813898 Rev. Dr. Susan Moore is a seasoned pastor, teacher, and author with a 36-year career focused on urban America's challenges. Ordained in 1983, she has served as a communit...
Leila Aboulela
Leila Aboulela 0000000108556255 Sudanese-born author Leila Aboulela writes in English, exploring identity, migration and Islamic spirituality. Her work, influenced by her move from Sudan to Scotland ...
Marita Kinney
Marita Kinney NONE Dr. Marita L Kinney is a successful publisher, metaphysical practitioner, and entrepreneur who has helped thousands overcome adversity. She coaches people to become published autho...
Daaimah S. Poole
Daaimah S. Poole NONE Daaimah S. Poole, author of Yoyo Love, began writing to produce stories relatable to her own experiences. Despite balancing motherhood and work, she devoted time to her writing,...
C. S. Whitehurst
C. S. Whitehurst NONE C. S. Whitehurst is a psychology-based UX/UI designer, computer programmer, and certified IT project manager. A student of science and philosophy, he uses his knowledge to help ...
Bernadette Y. Connor
Bernadette Y. Connor NONE Bernadette Y. Connor, a former AT&T communications technician, turned adversity into opportunity, becoming a successful author. Despite facing personal tragedy and health is...
Arturo Alfonso Schomburg
Arturo Alfonso Schomburg 0000000111353723 Arturo Alfonso Schomburg, born in Puerto Rico, was an Afro-Puerto Rican author, researcher, and activist who made significant contributions to the Harlem Ren...
Jesus Colon
Jesus Colon 0000000022976005 Jesus Colon, widely recognized as the Father of the Nuyorican, was a distinguished Puerto Rican author and political activist. Born in 1901, he developed a passion for st...
Tonya Barbee
Tonya Barbee NONE Tonya Barbee, born 1962, is a storyteller from Durham, NC who shares her personal trials to empower others. Now based in Bowie, MD, she uses her experiences and perseverance to insp...
Carolina Maria de Jesus
Carolina Maria de Jesus 0000000083875208 Carolina Maria de Jesus, born in 1914, was a Brazilian writer who highlighted life in favelas through her diaries. Despite facing extreme poverty and social o...
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 ...
Thomas Sankara
Thomas Sankara 0000000109098487 “There is no true social revolution without the liberation of women.” Thomas Sankara, born in 1949, was a central figure in Burkina Faso's democratic revolu...
Karlos K. Hill
Karlos K. Hill NONE Dr. Karlos K. Hill is an Associate Professor at the University of Oklahoma, specializing in African and African-American Studies. He's authored books on Black culture and history,...
Omar Scott
Omar Scott NONE Omar Scott, originally from Los Angeles, grew up in a single-family home in Dallas. After facing struggles with crime, he turned his life around and discovered his passion for writing...
Jen Reid
Jen Reid NONE Jen Reid, a Bath native and Windrush immigrant's daughter, faced racism from an early age as the only Black child in her school. Her experiences of daily racial inequalities extended in...
Lynn Nottage
Lynn Nottage 0000000080050112 Congrats to Lynn Nottage: Winner 2017 Pulitzer Prize for Drama Lynn Nottage, a distinguished playwright and lecturer, is celebrated for her outstanding plays and awarded ...
Fenton Johnson
Fenton Johnson 0000000038623095 Fenton Johnson (1888-1958) was an African American poet, essayist, and editor who significantly contributed to the Harlem Renaissance. His work, including his well-kno...
Nawal El Saadawi
Nawal El Saadawi 0000000120296695 Nawal El Saadawi was an Egyptian feminist writer, activist, and physician renowned globally for her fearless advocacy for women's rights. Her writings, including “Wo...
Dieudonne Mayi
Dieudonne Mayi NONE DieudonnÑ Mayi, originally from Cameroon, is a Computer Engineering graduate who later earned a Master's in Political Sciences. He founded SARNA, a community-based organization f...
James A. Forbes
James A. Forbes 0000000384654492 Reverend Dr. James Alexander Forbes, Jr., born in 1935, is the first African American leader of the Riverside Church, NY. Despite facing racial discrimination, he com...
Tamara Morgan
Tamara Morgan NONE Tamara Morgan, a Berkeley native and Stanford Law School alumna, is an accomplished Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Leader and employment law attorney. Known for her resilience, s...