AALBC Search
Karen Eubanks Jackson
Karen Eubanks Jackson NONE Karen Eubanks Jackson, a 27-year, four-time breast cancer survivor, is the founder and CEO of Sisters Network Inc., the only nationwide African American breast cancer survi...
M. Nicole Bryant
M. Nicole Bryant NONE M. Nicole Bryant, born in Missouri, is a breast cancer survivor and advocate turned author. After her diagnosis at 42, she was driven to raise awareness, especially amongst Afri...
Cynt Marshall
Cynt Marshall NONE Cynt Marshall is the first Black female CEO of an NBA team, the Dallas Mavericks. She's also a former SVP of human resources and chief diversity officer for AT&T, a cancer survivor...
Charron Walker
Charron Walker NONE Breast cancer conqueror. Brings 25 plus years of first-hand experience in the Human Services Field. She is an active volunteer with The American Cancer Society, Reach To Recovery ...
Charlie Wilson
Charlie Wilson 0000000055156329 Charlie Wilson, renowned R&B and soul musician, has earned multiple Grammy nominations and acclaim for his distinct voice and timeless hits. Despite struggles with hom...
Audre Lorde
Audre Lorde 0000000115569521 Audre Lorde, a black, gay female poet and activist, fought against racial and sexual discrimination and for gay rights. A renowned writer, she authored 18 books and won t...
Rudolph Elliot Willis
Rudolph Elliot Willis NONE Rudolph Elliot Willis brings a deep, personal perspective to his writing, drawing from his own experiences growing up in Chicago—in Cabrini-Green. He performed his undergr...
Tiffany Hammond
Tiffany Hammond NONE Tiffany “Tiffy” Hammond, is the voice behind Fidgets and Fries, a popular social media Autism advocacy account. She is an Autistic mother, advocate, and storyteller who uses her...
Etheridge Knight
Etheridge Knight 0000000066439498 Etheridge Knight, born on April 19, 1931, was a renowned poet who began writing while incarcerated and published his notable collection, Poems from Prison, in 1968. ...
Lillie Patterson
Lillie Patterson NONE Lillie Patterson, a retired Baltimore teacher, wrote 16 children's books, including biographies, history, and poetry. Known for her vivid characters and moral stories, her works...
Uzo Aduba
Uzo Aduba 0000000367234787 Uzo Aduba, born in 1981, is an acclaimed actress in TV, film and theater. She's also a dedicated advocate for women's and human rights, serving as an ambassador for Heifer ...
Tyler Merritt
Tyler Merritt NONE Tyler Merritt is a multi-talented actor, musician, comedian, and activist known for The Tyler Merritt Project. With a career spanning 20 years, he has worked in TV shows like ABC's...
Marisa Renee Lee
Marisa Renee Lee NONE Marisa Renee Lee is a rabble-rouser of social healing: a former appointee in the Obama White House; managing director of My Brother’s Keeper Alliance; co-founder of the di...
Regina Tisdale
Regina Tisdale NONE Regina Tisdale is the widow of Wayman Tisdale, a renowned basketball player and jazz musician from Oklahoma, who tragically passed away from cancer at age 44 in 2009. Regina Tisda...
Joaquim Paulo
Joaquim Paulo 0000000083970053 Joaquim Paulo, a Portuguese consultant for major record labels and radio station director, is a passionate vinyl collector with over 25,000 LPs. He travels globally to ...
Sandra W. Headen
Sandra W. Headen NONE Dr. Sandra W. Headen is a Social and Community Psychologist turned children's historical fiction author. After an accomplished career in public health research and academia, she...
Raakhee Mirchandani
Raakhee Mirchandani NONE Raakhee Mirchandani is a journalist, children’s book author, activist and mom — not necessarily in that order. Previously a feature writer and columnist for the New York ...
Neoma Nwasike
Neoma Nwasike NONE Neoma Nwasike, born in Manhattan and raised in a Nigerian household in Long Island, is a hardworking undergraduate student at Medgar Evers College. Despite her father's death, she ...
Brittney Brackett
Brittney Brackett NONE Brittney Brackett is a multifaceted professional with over 17 years of experience in acting, voice talent, and authoring children's books. She is the Operations Manager at b dy...
William “Damani” Keene and Carole “Ife” Keene
William “Damani” Keene and Carole “Ife” Keene MULTIPLE William “Damani” Keene and Carole “Ife” Keene, a couple with a long history together, have turned to historical fiction to tell the captivating ...
Ralph Ellison
Ralph Ellison 0000000121178826 Ralph Ellison, Pulitzer Prize–winning author of Invisible Man, whose powerful prose and profound insights on race, identity, and the human spirit continue to shape Amer...
K. Kofi Moyo
K. Kofi Moyo 0000000041199256 Karega Kofi Moyo is a photojournalist, gemologist, and community activist. He and his wife founded the Real Men Cook for Charity event and he's a member of several food ...
Charreah K. Jackson
Charreah K. Jackson NONE Charreah K. Jackson is a globally recognized love and success coach, Essence Senior Editor, and author of Boss Bride. She's a certified family life educator known for her wor...
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...
Robin Roberts and Veronica Chambers
Robin Roberts and Veronica Chambers MULTIPLE Robin Roberts is a renowned television broadcaster and cancer survivor, known for her work on ABC's Good Morning America. Veronica Chambers is a prolific ...
Hoda Kotb
Hoda Kotb 0000000077594610 Hoda Kotb is the award-winning co-anchor of NBC News’ TODAY and co-host of TODAY with Hoda & Jenna. She is also the New York Times bestselling author of seven books. Hoda K...
Kwame Ture
Kwame Ture 0000000368554192 Kwame Ture, previously Stokely Carmichael, was a pivotal figure in the civil rights and Black Power movements. He led the SNCC and served as the Honorary Prime Minister of...
Marsha Hunt
Marsha Hunt 0000000117741647 Marsha Hunt, born 1946, is a British-based actress, singer, and novelist, best known for her role in the rock musical 'Hair'. She has written autobiographies and novels, ...
Meena Harris
Meena Harris NONE Meena Harris, a lawyer and entrepreneur from a family of influential women, including VP Kamala Harris, founded the Phenomenal Woman Action Campaign. She advocates for social causes...
Captain Nia Gilliam
Captain Nia Gilliam NONE Captain Nia Gilliam is an accomplished airline pilot with more than 25 years of experience and type ratings in the Boeing 737, 757, 767, 777, 787, and Airbus A320. A trailbl...
Jennifer Jones
Jennifer Jones 0000000121452274 Jennifer Jones is a Tony Award-winning dancer and activist known for her pioneering role as the first Black Rockette. Jennifer Jones is a Tony Award-winning dancer and...
Robin Allison Davis
Robin Allison Davis NONE Robin Allison Davis is an Emmy Award-winning journalist, writer, and producer based in Paris and born and raised in the Washington, DC, area. After a ten-year television car...
John Oliver Killens
John Oliver Killens 0000000081741003 “The Godfather of the Black Arts Movement” John Oliver Killens was an important figure in the Black Arts Movement of the 1960s, Killens was a close ...
Robin Roberts
Robin Roberts 0000000081478575 Robin Roberts, anchor of ABC's “Good Morning America,” is a three-time Emmy Award winner. A cum laude graduate in communications and standout basketball player from Sou...
Doris Jean Austin
Doris Jean Austin 0000000084312407 Doris Jean Austin (1949-1994) was an accomplished journalist from Mobile, Alabama, known for her contributions to Essence magazine and her novel, “After the Garden”...
Jason Griffin
Jason Griffin NONE Jason Griffin, the artist for “My Name Is Jason. Mine Too”, is a globally recognized artist and collaborator. Notable works include a mural at Montefiore Hospital and a residency a...
Richard B. Moore
Richard B. Moore 0000000082432341 Moore was an early advocate for the use of “African American” as opposed to “Negro” or “Black.” Richard Benjamin Moore was an infl...
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...
Asia Hill
Asia Hill NONE Asia Hill, a highly gifted author, earned a rare publishing deal with Good2go Publishing in 2015 from a federal correctional facility, impressively with her debut book, My Besties PT 1...
Mazaradi Fox
Mazaradi Fox NONE Mazaradi Fox, born Jamal Green, was a childhood friend of 50 Cent and a prominent figure in Queens, New York. Known for his love of cars and “dum out” lifestyle, which he often refl...
Judith Ortiz Cofer
Judith Ortiz Cofer 0000000120330160 Judith Ortiz Cofer is a renowned Puerto Rican American author known for her award-winning work across various literary genres. She is a former English and Creative...
Christopher Chambers
Christopher Chambers NONE Born and raised in DC, Christopher Chambers is an honors graduate of Princeton University and the University of Baltimore School of Law. He served with the US Justice Depart...
Crystal Allen
Crystal Allen 0000000114492278 Crystal Allen, born in Germany and raised in Indiana, is a prolific author and inspirational figure in the education system. She conducts writing workshops globally, en...
Denise Turney
Denise Turney NONE Denise Turney is an experienced novelist, journalist, and editor with over 30 years of writing experience. She hosts an internationally recognized radio program and writes for seve...
Michael R. French
Michael R. French NONE Michael R. French, a Stanford English graduate and Northwestern Journalism master's holder, is an acclaimed author of over 20 books and award-winning screenplays. A former US A...
Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture
Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture 000000040525486X Troy Johnson, founder of AALBC.com, is involved with the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, a NYPL research library and ar...
Dambisa Moyo
Dambisa Moyo 0000000109517047 Dambisa Moyo is a renowned global economist and author. She advises on investment decisions, risk management, and capital allocation, translating market trends into thei...
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...
Nicholas Boggs
Nicholas Boggs 000000049899943X Nicholas Boggs was an undergraduate when he discovered James Baldwin’s out-of-print children’s book, Little Man, Little Man: A Story of Childhood, in the Beinecke Rar...
Barbara Chase-Riboud
Barbara Chase-Riboud 0000000110251688 Barbara Chase-Riboud is an award-winning poet and author known for her historical novels like 'Sally Hemings'. She was knighted by the French government in 1996 ...
Osonye Tess Onwueme
Osonye Tess Onwueme 0000000114408785 Dr. Osonye Tess Onwueme, a University Professor of Global Letters at the University of Wisconsin, is a renowned author with several prestigious awards including t...
William Demby
William Demby 000000011041394X William Demby was a prominent author born on December 25, 1922, and passed away on May 23, 2013. William Demby (December 25, 1922 – May 23, 2013) was an African-A...
Aleshea Harris
Aleshea Harris NONE Aleshea Harris, an award-winning playwright known for her epic western revenge play “Is God Is,” and her critically acclaimed work “What to Send Up When It Goes Down.” She's a rec...
Sonya Atkins
Sonya Atkins NONE Sonya Atkins: "I am a twenty-five-year-old English instructor at Northeast Louisiana University. However, I received my undergraduate and graduate degrees from Grambling State...
Lenny McAllister
Lenny McAllister NONE Lenny McAllister’s journey embodies the American Second Act. After leaving Davidson College in 1992 and returning to graduate in 2002, he built a defining career bridging bu...
Ernest J. Gaines
Ernest J. Gaines 0000000114766881 Ernest J. Gaines, born in Louisiana in 1933, is a celebrated author known for his unique historical resonance. His works, which earned him numerous awards including ...
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, ...
Ciara and Russell Wilson
Ciara and Russell Wilson MULTIPLE Founded by Russell Wilson and Ciara in 2014, the Why Not You Foundation is a nonprofit focused on fighting poverty through education and empowering youth. The founda...
Dionne Brand
Dionne Brand 0000000109071487 “The best poetry jolts and shocks, it mines language for what we have not seen, have not heard.” Dionne Brand is an acclaimed poet and novelist, known for win...
C. Kelly Robinson
C. Kelly Robinson NONE C. Kelly Robinson is a Howard and Washington University graduate, who self-published his first novel, “Not All Dogs,” in 1999. The book was re-released in 2001 as “Between Brot...
Khara Campbell
Khara Campbell NONE A Q&A, from December 2013, with novelist Khara Jhanielle Campbell: Not My Will is your first novel. Sex before marriage, such a hot evergreen topic among the number o...
Neely Fuller, Jr.
Neely Fuller, Jr. MULTIPLE AALBC Mourns the Passing of Neely Fuller, Jr. Neely Fuller, Jr., born in 1929, is an author and activist committed to combating racism. His work, influenced by personal expe...
Leye Adenle
Leye Adenle 000000045959996X Leye Adenle, a Nigerian author based in London, is a Prix Marianne winner and agile coach. He has numerous short stories and satirical pieces to his credit, appearing in ...
bell hooks
bell hooks 000000011072449X “I will not have my life narrowed down. I will not bow down to somebody else’s whim or someone else’s ignorance.” bell hooks (Sep. 25, 1952 –...
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...
C.T. Vivian
C.T. Vivian 0000000114902644 Dr. C.T. Vivian was a civil rights leader, known for working with Martin Luther King Jr., and for developing VISION, an educational program that helped 700 Alabama studen...
Tybre’ana Eaddy
Tybre’ana Eaddy NONE Tybre’ana Eaddy writes for children who are still learning to name what they feel, and for adults who have stopped noticing what has been caring for them all along. Her debut pi...
Thumper
Thumper 000000011496815X Thumper Unveiled? Not Quite Yet by Leah Mullen For as long as I’ve been writing about the publishing industry, interviewing authors, editors, publicity people and o...
Joan Morgan
Joan Morgan NONE Joan Morgan, born in 1965, is an acclaimed author and journalist, noted for her transformative work inspired by women's empowerment. Known for her career at The Village Voice, she ha...
Countee Cullen
Countee Cullen 0000000081534450 Countée Porter Cullen (1903-1946) was a prominent figure of the Harlem Renaissance, known for his poetry books “Color” and “Copper Sun.” He taught and mentored James ...
Erik Campano, Isabel Esteviz, Sheila Taylor-Downer, and Robyn Williams
Erik Campano, Isabel Esteviz, Sheila Taylor-Downer, and Robyn Williams MULTIPLE Robyn Williams is a bestselling author, non-profit founder, and business development associate focused on literacy and ...
Les Brown
Les Brown 0000000116420577 Leslie “Les” Brown, born February 17, 1945, is a renowned motivational speaker, author, and former radio host. Despite his challenging upbringing, Brown has inspired millio...
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 ...
Rufus and Jenny Triplett
Rufus and Jenny Triplett MULTIPLE Rufus and Jenny Triplett, Ebony Magazine’s Couple of the Year 2012, are a professional husband and wife team thriving in various fields together. With over 25 years ...
Mark Makabi
Mark Makabi NONE Mark Makabi is an accomplished author from Brockton, Massachusetts, who is passionate about education, justice, religion, and history. The seventh of ten children, Makabi founded Bit...
Evangeline M. Mitchell
Evangeline M. Mitchell 0000000052415145 Evangeline M. Mitchell, a New Orleans native and Houston-raised lawyer, studied at prestigious institutions like Harvard and the University of Iowa. She priori...
Christopher C. Bell Jr.
Christopher C. Bell Jr. NONE Chris Bell Jr., a Black poet, essayist, educationist, novelist, and retired army Major, holds a Doctorate in Education. Born and raised in Norfolk, Virginia during racial...
Tato Laviera
Tato Laviera 0000000078432517 Jesus “Tato” Laviera Sanchez (1950-2013) was a renowned Nuyorican poet and human rights advocate. Born in Puerto Rico, he immigrated to the U.S. where he became known fo...
Melinda Merritt
Melinda Merritt NONE Author Melinda Merritt, born in a small southern GA town, was known as the “miracle baby” after her birth defied medical expectations. Raised by three women known for their heali...
Glenda R. Taylor
Glenda R. Taylor 0000000034034410 Glenda R. Taylor is a blind author, scholar, critic and cultural historian who overcame her disability to intensify her studies. She holds a M.A. degree in History a...
Jenin Mohammed
Jenin Mohammed NONE Jenin Mohammed, a talented illustrator from Florida, is renowned for her humorous and captivating art. Winner of the 2020 Summer Spectacular Illustration Grand Prize, her unique s...
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...
Steven Van Patten
Steven Van Patten NONE Steven Van Patten, a Brooklyn-born author, is renowned for his Brookwater's Curse trilogy and Killer Genius series. His short fiction contributions include horror anthologies a...
Fred W. Kennedy
Fred W. Kennedy 0000000062844912 Fred W. Kennedy is a former secondary school teacher and principal who has transitioned into writing Jamaican historical fiction. His latest work, “Huareo: Story of a...
Elizabeth Nunez
Elizabeth Nunez 0000000080832288 Elizabeth Nunez, a Trinidad-born, award-winning author, wrote ten novels and a memoir, with several recognized by the New York Times and Oprah's book club. Her works,...
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, ...
Christopher Paul Curtis
Christopher Paul Curtis 0000000114691891 Christopher Paul Curtis, born in Flint, Michigan, worked in a car factory before turning to writing. Inspired by a family history of entertainers, he authored...
Cozbi A. Cabrera
Cozbi A. Cabrera NONE I wanted to express something that was really beautiful… —Cozbi A. Cabrera Cozbi A. Cabrera, a Brooklyn native, is a multidisciplinary creative best known for design...
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...
Jaron Lanier
Jaron Lanier 0000000118753199 Lanier is a globally renowned technology writer known for his humanistic approach. Awarded the 2014 Peace Prize of the German Book Trade, his internationally bestselling...
Annette Gordon-Reed
Annette Gordon-Reed 0000000035723517 Annette Gordon-Reed, a professor of law and history, authored “Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemings: An American Controversy.” She delves into the complex and intim...
Jamaica Kincaid
Jamaica Kincaid 0000000081560368 Jamaica Kincaid, born as Elaine Potter Richardson in Antigua, is a renowned novelist and essayist. She migrated to the US at 17, worked as an au pair, and later atten...
Ty Allan Jackson
Ty Allan Jackson NONE Ty Allan Jackson is a celebrated author and publisher, renowned for his children's book 'Danny Dollar Millionaire: The Lemonade Escapade.' Inspired by his son's curiosity about ...
Amos Ferguson
Amos Ferguson 0000000078904406 Amos Ferguson, born in 1920, was a self-taught Bahamian artist best known for his vibrant Bible and Bahamian scenes. He started painting in his 40s, inspired by a nephe...
Sonya Renee Taylor
Sonya Renee Taylor 0000000503825515 Sonya Renee Taylor is the founder of 'The Body Is Not an Apology', a company promoting self-love and body empowerment. She's been featured on numerous media outlet...
John Riddick, Jr.
John Riddick, Jr. MULTIPLE John Riddick, Jr., editor of Rhapsody in Black, a quarterly literary magazine, showcased selected national writers and artists' talents. This publication aimed to promote d...
Dennis A. Williams
Dennis A. Williams NONE Dennis A. Williams is a Syracuse-born author and educator. Raised in a multicultural neighborhood, his experiences shaped his writing, including his 1973 novella “Them That’s ...
Johnathan Isom
Johnathan Isom NONE Johnathan Isom, a Memphis-based anesthesiologist, turned novelist, was driven to write a book he'd enjoy. Tired of deceit-focused contemporary fiction, he sought to create a diffe...
Henry Louis Gates, Jr., Valerie Smith, William L. Andrews, Frances Foster, Brent Hayes Edwards, Deborah E. McDowell, Hortense J. Spillers, Kimberly W. Benston, Farah Jasmine Griffin, and Jesse McCarthy
Henry Louis Gates, Jr., Valerie Smith, William L. Andrews, Frances Foster, Brent Hayes Edwards, Deborah E. McDowell, Hortense J. Spillers, Kimberly W. Benston, Farah Jasmine Griffin, and Jesse McCarth...
Karen English
Karen English NONE Karen English, renowned for her children's books, is a multiple award-winning author recognized for addressing racial injustice. Raised in 1960s Los Angeles, she began writing at a...