AALBC Search
Russell Atkins
Russell Atkins 0000000067797174 Russell Atkins, born in 1926, is a Cleveland-based musician, playwright, poet, and national figure in American avant garde poetry. He studied at renowned Cleveland ins...
Pat Cleveland
Pat Cleveland NONE Patricia Cleveland, born on June 23, 1950, is a pioneer in the fashion industry as one of the first prominent Black runway and print models. Discovered by Vogue assistant fashion e...
Richard Morris
Richard Morris 000000002791695X Richard A. Morris is a Harvard Business School alumnus, Vietnam war veteran and former building code specialist turned novelist. Known for his critically acclaimed nov...
Christena Cleveland
Christena Cleveland NONE Christena Cleveland Ph.D., a social psychologist, public theologian, and activist, is the founder of the Center for Justice + Renewal. A former Duke University professor, she...
Lisa Saxton
Lisa Saxton NONE Lisa Saxton, a native of Cleveland, Ohio, is a distinguished author praised for her humorous and fresh approach to crime-writing. A graduate of Chatham College, Saxton is currently b...
Brian Peterson
Brian Peterson 0000000026606618 Brian Petersen is a notable figure who appeared alongside Faith Cottrell at the 2000 National African American Cultural Expo in Philadelphia. Brian Petersen is picture...
Dorothy M. Hazzard
Dorothy M. Hazzard NONE "Dorothy M. Hazzard, pictured with author Tracy Grant at the 2000 National African American Cultural Expo at the Philadelphia Convention Center.” Dorothy M. Hazzard is picture...
Paige Turner
Paige Turner NONE Paige Turner, a lifelong book lover, has over 15 years of marketing experience in Fortune 75 companies. Passionate about sharing ideas from books, she's been writing a weekly book r...
Alan Osi
Alan Osi NONE Alan Osi, a writer hailing from Arlington MA, is known for his compelling storytelling about the new Black American experience. His work, born from his upbringing as the son of civil ri...
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...
Andre R. Thornton
Andre R. Thornton NONE Andre R. Thornton, an African American poet and visual artist, aims to challenge common misconceptions through his work. Based in Columbia, Maryland, his diverse creations rang...
Ann Ingalls
Ann Ingalls NONE Ann Ingalls, born in Cleveland, is an accomplished author and former special education teacher with 24 published books. Her first work, “The Little Piano Girl”, was a Crystal Kite Aw...
Cortney Gee
Cortney Gee NONE Cortney Gee, a comedian from Cleveland, Ohio, has performed on HBO's Def Jam, BET's ComicView, and The Jamie Foxx Show. Known for touring globally and bringing laughter to audiences,...
Harmony Evans
Harmony Evans NONE Harmony Evans, an award-winning Harlequin Romance author based in NYC, is known for her acclaimed debut and is a double-finalist in the 2012 Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice Awards...
Greg Mathis
Greg Mathis 0000000034573270 Judge Mathis is a public servant and advocate for equal justice. His career began in college leading campaigns, later joining Detroit City councilman Clyde Cleveland's st...
Jim Brown
Jim Brown 0000000072514239 James Nathaniel Brown, born February 17, 1936, is a former American football player and actor. Renowned for his time as a fullback with the Cleveland Browns (1957-1965), he...
Neale Sourna
Neale Sourna NONE Neale Sourna is an award-winning author, screenwriter, and game story narrative writer based in Cleveland, Ohio. She has a diverse background, including business banking, wealth man...
James Stewart
James Stewart 0000000121039797 Dr. James Stewart, a native of Cleveland & Professor Emeritus at Penn State University, is the President of ASALH’s Manasota Chapter. He held leadership roles in major ...
Marvin Andrew McMickle
Marvin Andrew McMickle 0000000385076639 Marvin A. McMickle, DMin, PhD, is an experienced pastor and academic. Formerly a senior pastor at Antioch Baptist Church and president of Colgate Rochester Cro...
Monica West
Monica West NONE Monica West, born in Cleveland, is an accomplished author and academic. She earned her BA from Duke University and MA and MFA from New York University and Iowa Writers’ Workshop resp...
Hari Ziyad
Hari Ziyad NONE Hari Ziyad, a bestselling author, screenwriter, and Editor-in-Chief of RaceBaitr, hails from Cleveland and currently resides in Brooklyn. They are known for their book, Black Boy Out ...
Eryka Parker
Eryka Parker NONE Eryka is the moderator of AALBC’s Black Don’t Crack… Book Spines book club. Eryka Parker is an award-winning book coach and developmental editor who assists diverse writers in storyt...
Marissa Meyer
Marissa Meyer 0000000385984098 Marissa Meyer, an author based near Seattle, is a fan of geek culture, enjoys costuming, and loves color-coordinating her books. She lives with her husband and three ca...
Geneva Bowers
Geneva Bowers NONE Geneva Bowers is a self-taught illustrator from North Carolina, known for children’s books like Beyoncé Shine Your Light and Curls. Her work, blending whimsy, realism and color, w...
Jazz Taylor
Jazz Taylor NONE Jazz Taylor, a writer and receptionist from Alabama, is the author of 'Meow or Never'. A huge cat fan, she enjoys cooking shows and lives with her humorous grandmother. Jazz Taylor i...
Leonard Jenkins II
Leonard Jenkins II NONE Leonard Jenkins II, an author from Birmingham, AL, is a passionate sports fan and writer. He self-published “Relationships (volume 1): Lessons Before Dying” using his skills i...
Travis Hunter
Travis Hunter 000000001976938X Travis Hunter, author and mentor, gained recognition with his debut novel, The Hearts of Men. His published works include several successful novels and a young adult se...
Burrel Lee Wilks III
Burrel Lee Wilks III 0000000036967740 Burrel Lee Wilks III Born May 6, 1967 (pictured with AALBC founder in 2006 during Book Expo America) is a life coach, businessman, and the author of Tattoos On ...
Geri Spencer Hunter
Geri Spencer Hunter NONE Geri Spencer Hunter is an award-winning writer and co-founder of The Sacramento Black Nurses Association. A retired nurse from Iowa, she has authored two novels and contribut...
Bernette Ford
Bernette Ford 0000000038486553 Bernette Ford, founder of COLOR-BRIDGE BOOKS, was a renowned children's book packager and consultant, and an advocate for diversity in children's literature. She held s...
Tony Dungy
Tony Dungy 0000000036530143 Tony Dungy, the first African American coach to lead the Indianapolis Colts to a Super Bowl victory, has an impressive coaching history with multiple teams. Prior to coach...
Stacey Marie Robinson
Stacey Marie Robinson NONE Stacey Marie Robinson is the founder of Kya Publishing, where she directs operations including creating and promoting her Urban Toronto Tales novels. She holds degrees in C...
Hallema
Hallema NONE Hallema, a Miami-born writer and lawyer, holds degrees from Florida State University and Stetson University College of Law. Known for her spoken word poetry in South Florida, she's also ...
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...
Kazembe
Kazembe NONE Lasana Kazembe is a renowned poet, essayist, and lecturer, recognized for his performances at literary venues across Chicago. Garnering accolades such as the 1st Place Winner of the Gwen...
Tananarive Due
Tananarive Due 0000000114453527 “The Queen of Black Horror” Tananarive Due, American Book Award-winning author of nine books, holds a B.S. in Journalism and M.A. in English literature. A s...
Thomas Glave
Thomas Glave NONE Bronx-born author Thomas Glave, educated at Bowdoin College and Brown University, is recognized for his contribution to LGBT literature. A Fulbright Scholar, he co-founded Jamaica's...
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...
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...
Steve Harvey
Steve Harvey 000000012031905X Broderick Steven Harvey, born in 1956, is a renowned comedian who started his career in the mid-1980s. He gained fame in 1994 as the host of “It's Showtime at the Apollo...
Saundra
Saundra 0000000497397250 Saundra Jones, an author from Mississippi, now living in Indiana, is known for her stories about fearless females. Her acclaimed debut novel, Her Sweetest Revenge, kickstarte...
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 ...
Bill Campbell
Bill Campbell 0000000079841312 Bill Campbell, a Pittsburgh native and Northwestern University alumnus, has led a diverse career from bookkeeping in Atlanta to teaching English in the Czech Republic. ...
Cherlyn Michaels
Cherlyn Michaels NONE Cherlyn Michaels is a self-published author and chemical engineer who began writing in grade school. She pursued her passion for writing after graduating from university, bravel...
Joanna Conners
Joanna Conners NONE Joanna Connors is an acclaimed journalist featured in various publications, including LA Times and Glamour. Her noteworthy accolades include the 2008 Medill Medal for Courage in J...
Chester Himes
Chester Himes 0000000109316077 Chester Bomar Himes (July 29, 1909 – November 12, 1984) was an American writer. His works include If He Hollers Let Him Go and the Harlem Detective series. Ch...
Antwone Fisher
Antwone Fisher 0000000120179050 Antwone Fisher is an American screenwriter, poet, lecturer, and best-selling author known for his autobiographical book and film, “Antwone Fisher.” Born in an Ohio pri...
Brett T. Brown
Brett T. Brown NONE Brett Tyler Brown, born in 1997, is a talented self-taught artist inspired by Chicago's architecture. His passion for art extends to architecture, animation, and writing. He wrote...
J. Everett Prewitt
J. Everett Prewitt NONE J. Everett Prewitt, a distinguished alumnus and Vietnam veteran, has received numerous awards for his novels, including “Snake Walkers” and “A Long Way Back.” His works have b...
George C. Fraser
George C. Fraser 0000000035434555 George Fraser, CEO of FraserNet, Inc., overcame adversity to lead a global networking movement for people of African descent. Born into a large family and orphaned a...
Ben Crump
Ben Crump NONE Renowned civil rights attorney Ben Crump is nationally recognized for representing high-profile cases such as Trayvon Martin and Michael Brown. Named 2014 NNPA Newsmaker of the Year, a...
Joy M. Copeland
Joy M. Copeland NONE Joy M. Copeland, a Harlem-born author with a diverse career in government and business, now focuses on her writing. Notably, she has written two novels and several horror and cri...
Echo Brown
Echo Brown NONE Echo Brown is a renowned storyteller, author, and performer known for her one-woman show, 'Black Virgins Are Not for Hipsters'. She's also the author of 'Black Girl Unlimited'. Echo f...
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 ...
Kelly Harris-DeBerry
Kelly Harris-DeBerry NONE Kelly Harris-DeBerry is an award-winning poet and the author of Freedom Knows My Name. Known for her gift to bring poems to life by using her voice as an instrument, audienc...
Emmanuel Acho
Emmanuel Acho NONE Emmanuel Acho, a former NFL player turned Fox Sports Analyst and Host/Producer of “Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man.” He is also Forbes' 30 under 30 honoree and the you...
Nicole R. Fleetwood
Nicole R. Fleetwood 0000000077155263 Dr. Nicole R. Fleetwood, a renowned writer, curator, and professor at Rutgers University, is recognized for her influential work on art and mass incarceration. Sh...
Bill Bellamy
Bill Bellamy 0000000039637261 Bill Bellamy, renowned for hosting and producing TV One's “Who’s Got Jokes?”, is a former MTV VJ and host. He's starred in films and TV shows like Fled, Love Jones, and ...
Langston Hughes
Langston Hughes 0000000121303076 “Democracy will not come / Today, this year, nor ever / Through compromise and fear.” Langston Hughes, The Poet Laureate of Harlem: Author, Poet, Essayist, Novelist, P...
Clothilde Ewing
Clothilde Ewing NONE Clothilde “Clo” Ewing, a former journalist and TV producer, is now a dedicated writer aiming to inspire adults to rediscover their childlike wonder. A proud Syracuse University l...
justin a. reynolds
justin a. reynolds NONE Justin A. Reynolds is an acclaimed author renowned for his debut YA novel, “Opposite of Always,” and second novel “Early Departures.” His work includes a Marvel graphic novel ...
Louise Story and Ebony Reed
Louise Story and Ebony Reed MULTIPLE Louise Story is a renowned investigative journalist and Yale professor, known for her work at The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal, and for her investig...
Quartez Harris
Quartez Harris NONE Quartez Harris, Ohio's Poet of the Year and Baldwin House fellow, is renowned for his acclaimed poetry and book, We Made It to School Alive. A former second-grade teacher, he now ...
Leah Lewis
Leah Lewis 0000000436814452 Reverend Dr. Leah Carol Lewis, J.D., is a serial entrepreneur and nonprofit executive. Leah is the Founder and Executive Director of Little Lumpy’s Center for Educational...
Tiffany L. Warren
Tiffany L. Warren NONE Tiffany L. Warren is a bestselling author, playwright, and songwriter. She's written over 15 novels, including two YA series under the pen name Nikki Carter. Alongside her husb...
Hilary Beard
Hilary Beard NONE Hilary Beard has been a book collaboration specialist helping leaders, visionaries, creatives, and gamechangers amplify their voice to empower humanity for more than 20 years. The ...
Keith C. Holmes
Keith C. Holmes NONE Keith C. Holmes was born in Queens, New York and currently lives in Brooklyn. For over thirty years Mr. Holmes has worked professionally in the satellite communications industry...
Regie Gibson
Regie Gibson NONE Regie Gibson is a poet, songwriter, author, workshop facilitator, and educator. Regie has performed, taught, and lectured at schools, universities, theaters and various other ve...
Sony Ton-Aime
Sony Ton-Aime NONE Sony Ton-Aime is a Haitian poet, essayist, translator, and the executive director of Pittsburgh Arts and Lectures. Previously, he served as the Michael I. Rudell Director of Liter...
Torman Jahi
Torman Jahi NONE Torman Jahi, for the last 27 years, has been known as an international hip-hop artist, born and raised in East Cleveland, Ohio, and calling Oakland home for the last 25 years. Jahi,...
Robert Fleming
Robert Fleming 0000000073689743 Support Robert Fleming’s Dialysis Journey Interested in psychology and sociology, I came to writing as a fluke in the early 1970s when a friend, Willard Je...
Mark Whitaker
Mark Whitaker 0000000027724069 Mark Whitaker (born September 7, 1957) worked for 30 years at Newsweek, rising to become the magazine’s top editor. After that, he spent five years in television news,...
Victor McGlothin
Victor McGlothin NONE Victor McGlothin, a bestselling author and filmmaker from Dallas, overcame early reading struggles to complete a Masters degree and leave his banking career for literature. Know...
Kai Soremekun
Kai Soremekun NONE Actor, writer, and filmmaker Kai Soremekun is a lover of storytelling and a believer in everyday magic. Given her decades long career in Hollywood, this makes perfect sense. Her a...
Stephanie Renee Bell
Stephanie Renee Bell NONE Stephanie Renée Bell, an author of 5 books and a gifted musician, dedicated her life to her faith and art until her passing in 2010. Renowned for her Christian rap songs, p...
Jan Wahl
Jan Wahl 0000000081287816 Jan Boyer Wahl, an award-winning author of over 100 children's books including “Pleasant Fieldmouse” and “Humphrey's Bear.” Known as “Dr. Mouse”, Wahl is a Cornell Universit...
Duane Fernandez
Duane Fernandez NONE Duane Fernandez is a professional author recognized for his extensive contribution in literature. His remarkable storytelling skills and captivating narratives have made him a fa...
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...
Cerece Rennie Murphy
Cerece Rennie Murphy NONE Cerece Rennie Murphy, a science fiction enthusiast since age seven, has a rich background in social work and international relations. She transitioned into creative writing ...
Ayana Gray
Ayana Gray NONE Ayana Gray, a speculative author known for her love of monsters and myths, hails from Atlanta and now resides in Florida. She is a passionate reader, Formula One fan, and caretaker of...
E.K. Robertson
E.K. Robertson NONE E.K. Robertson is a LA-born author now living in Richmond, Virginia, with her family and pets. A fan of Mexican food and reality TV, she's currently working on her next novel. E.K...
Rowan Ricardo Phillips
Rowan Ricardo Phillips 0000000077578485 Rowan Ricardo Phillips, an acclaimed poet and author, is recognized for books like Heaven and The Ground. Winner of the 2015 Guggenheim Fellowship, his work ha...
Seth Rogers
Seth Rogers NONE Seth Rogers was born and raised in the Finger Lakes region of New York. After obtaining his bachelor’s degree at SUNY Cortland, he moved to New York City where he taught elementary ...
Mihret Sibhat
Mihret Sibhat NONE Mihret Sibhat was born and raised in a small town in western Ethiopia before moving to California when she was seventeen. A graduate of California State University, Northridge, an...
Cydney Rax
Cydney Rax NONE Cydney Rax, an influential author known for her provocative love triangle novels, has been passionate about books since childhood. Her debut novel, My Daughter's Boyfriend, sparked co...
Nah’Sun
Nah’Sun NONE Born in Lilbourn, Missouri, Nah’Sun would later move around the Midwest before temporarily settling in Chicago. An aspiring cartoonist, Nah’Sun never gave writing a thought until him an...
Damon Tweedy
Damon Tweedy NONE Damon Tweedy, a Duke Medical and Yale Law graduate, is a professor of psychiatry and staff physician. He's published numerous articles on race and medicine and has written for vario...
Angie Martinez
Angie Martinez 0000000367767831 Angie Martinez, known as “The Voice of New York,” is an American radio personality, former rapper, and actress. She excels in personal interviews with iconic figures, ...
Claudia Alexander
Claudia Alexander NONE Claudia Alexander, Ph.D., was a respected NASA scientist, studying planets and flying spacecraft. She contributed to missions to Jupiter, Saturn, and comets. An author, she wro...
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...
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...
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...
Gloria Naylor
Gloria Naylor 0000000117658077 Gloria Naylor, a prize-winning author, known for her novels like 'The Women of Brewster Place', 'Linden Hills', and 'Mama Day', also wrote essays, screenplays, and stag...
Skyler Houston
Skyler Houston NONE Skyler “Skye” Houston is a Mississippi-born, Georgia-raised author with a Master's in Organizational Leadership. Her love for children and writing inspired her to pen “I Want to b...
Jayne Cortez
Jayne Cortez 0000000080983190 Jayne Cortez (1936-2012) was a celebrated poet and performance artist, known for her political and surrealistic lyricism. She authored eleven books of poetry and present...
L.L. McKinney
L.L. McKinney NONE L.L. McKinney is a writer and poet deeply involved in the kidlit community. She advocates for equality in publishing, co-founded the Juneteenth Book Fest, and created popular hasht...
Noel A. Obiora
Noel A. Obiora NONE Noel A. Obiora, originally from Nigeria, is a law graduate from the University of Texas and a Senior Public Utilities Counsel in California. He also holds an M.A. in Text and Perf...
Clarence N.M. Coggins
Clarence N.M. Coggins NONE Clarence N.M. Coggins is a Japanese Anime enthusiast, Kean University Economics graduate, and IT professional. He is a Radio Personality, known for hosting “A New Day is He...
David H. Rothman
David H. Rothman 0000000373908303 David H. Rothman, author of 'Drone Child', is known for his advocacy of both traditional and digital libraries and efforts to close the digital divide. Rothman, who ...
Ianna A. Small
Ianna A. Small NONE Ianna A. Small, founder and executive editor of midnight & indigo, a platform dedicated to promoting Black women's literature, oversees both digital and print platforms and the Wr...