AALBC Search
John A. Williams
John A. Williams 0000000081606231 “…arguably the finest African-American novelist of his generation.” John Alfred Williams (1925-2015), a renowned author and professor, had a distin...
Alfred L. Brophy
Alfred L. Brophy 000000005569053X Alfred L. Brophy, a law professor at the University of North Carolina, is known for his work on reparations and his contributions to the Tulsa Race Riot Commission. ...
John A. Williams and Dennis A. Williams
John A. Williams and Dennis A. Williams MULTIPLE John A. Williams and Dennis A. Williams are acclaimed authors, known for their remarkable contribution to literature. Their insightful works have garn...
Coretta Scott King
Coretta Scott King 000000012032932X Coretta Scott King (1927-2006) was a prominent American civil rights activist and author, and the wife of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. After her husband's assassinat...
Yolanda Renee King
Yolanda Renee King NONE Yolanda Renee King, the only grandchild of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King, is a young activist from Atlanta, Georgia. Inspired by her grandparents' legacy o...
Dexter Scott King
Dexter Scott King 0000000050308792 Dexter Scott King, a civil rights activist, attorney, author, actor, and film producer, worked to preserve the legacy of his father, Martin Luther King Jr., through...
John A. Williams and Lori Williams
John A. Williams and Lori Williams MULTIPLE John A. Williams is a celebrated author, happily married to his wife Lori Isaac (neé) for 50 years. John A. Williams with his wife of 50 years Lori Isaac...
Tracy K. Smith and John Freeman
Tracy K. Smith and John Freeman MULTIPLE Tracy K. Smith is a Pulitzer-winning poet, author of four books, including 'Life on Mars', and editor of 'American Journal'. She served as the US Poet Laureat...
Joy Deja King
Joy Deja King NONE Joy Deja King, raised in various states across the US, is a modern author known for her young and edgy street-life novels. A journalism graduate from North Carolina Central Univers...
John Conyers III
John Conyers III NONE John Conyers III, as the son of former Congressman John Conyers, Jr., and former City Council President Monica Conyers, John brings a unique perspective to community service and...
Jeffrey Allen Tucker and John A. Williams
Jeffrey Allen Tucker and John A. Williams MULTIPLE Jeffrey Allen Tucker and John A. Williams are renowned authors contributing significantly to their respective fields. Tucker's work is marked by his...
Clarence B. Jones
Clarence B. Jones 0000000036182118 AALBC mourns the passing of Clarence B. Jones Dr. Clarence Benjamin Jones (January 8, 1931 – May 22, 2026) the lawyer who served as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s pe...
Al Sharpton
Al Sharpton 0000000031507112 Reverend Alfred Charles Sharpton, Jr. is a renowned civil rights leader, born in 1954. Called to ministry early on, he was ordained at 9 and later dedicated his life to a...
Wendy Williams
Wendy Williams 0000000114422456 Wendy Williams, a New Jersey native and Northeastern University graduate, is a renowned radio personality and author. She has worked at notable stations like WQHT-FM a...
Martin Luther King, Jr.
Martin Luther King, Jr. MULTIPLE Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., a Nobel laureate, was a key figure in the nonviolent civil rights movement and one of the most influential figures of the 20th century. A ...
John B. King Jr.
John B. King Jr. 0000000499301320 John B. King Jr. (born January 5, 1975) served in President Barack Obama’s cabinet as the tenth U.S. Secretary of Education. Over the course of his extensive and in...
John Lewis
John Lewis 0000000114586629 Born to sharecroppers, John Robert Lewis became a key figure in the US Civil Rights Movement. As chairman of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee and a speaker at...
Kwame Nkrumah
Kwame Nkrumah 0000000110549118 Kwame Nkrumah, Ghana's first prime minister and president, led the country to independence from Britain in 1957 and ruled until a 1966 coup. His time in the U.S. greatl...
Herbert G. McCann
Herbert G. McCann NONE Herbert G. McCann, an Associated Press sports and business writer, is a former Chicago Defender editor and collaborator of Alfred Duckett, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s speechwr...
Chancellor Williams
Chancellor Williams NONE Dr. Chancellor James Williams (1898-1992) was a pivotal scholar in the study of Nile Valley Civilization. Born to former slaves, he became an acclaimed author, university pro...
John Joven
John Joven NONE John Joven, a Colombian illustrator known for works like The Plan for the Gingerbread House and Preschool, Here I Come! A graphic design graduate who enjoys soccer, movies, travel, an...
Brittany N. Williams
Brittany N. Williams NONE Brittany N. Williams is an award-nominated actress and the award-nominated author of the YA historical fantasy trilogy The Forge & Fracture Saga. She holds a BFA in Musical ...
Robert F. Smith
Robert F. Smith NONE Entrepreneur and philanthropist Robert F. Smith contributed insights to the book “Lead Boldly: Seven Principles from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.” Robert F. Smith is a philanthrop...
Keisha N Blain, Chad Williams, and Kidada E. Williams
Keisha N Blain, Chad Williams, and Kidada E. Williams MULTIPLE Keisha N Blain, Chad Williams, and Kidada E. Williams are renowned authors known for their impactful scholarly contributions in the doma...
Rosamond S. King
Rosamond S. King 0000000045056762 Rosamond S. King is an award-winning author, performer, and Associate Professor at Brooklyn College. Known for her scholarly work on literature, sexuality, and perfo...
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...
John Keene
John Keene 0000000032165978 Winner 2022 National Book Award for Poetry John Keene, acclaimed author known for Annotations, has been published in various anthologies and journals, earning several award...
John McWhorter
John McWhorter 0000000117982707 John H. McWhorter is a Senior Fellow at the Manhattan Institute and a renowned author and linguistics scholar. Known for his commentary on cultural and racial issues, ...
Terrie Williams
Terrie Williams 0000000117447093 The Terrie Williams Agency, The Premiere Black-Owned PR Firm, is Closing Terrie M. Williams is a social worker by training. She is a public relations professional by ...
Vanessa L. Williams
Vanessa L. Williams 000000011462842X Vanessa Lynn Williams, born March 18, 1963, is a multi-talented actor, singer, fashion designer and author. She made history as the first African-American Miss Am...
K. Reshay, Brandon Williams, and Derrick Williams
K. Reshay, Brandon Williams, and Derrick Williams MULTIPLE K. Reshay, Brandon Williams, and Derrick Williams are authors known for their compelling storytelling. Their work spans various genres, capt...
Eric Williams
Eric Williams 0000000108564781 Dr. Eric Eustace Williams was an accomplished scholar and influential political leader in Trinidad and Tobago. Born in 1911, he excelled academically, earning a Doctor ...
Eugene Williams, Sr.
Eugene Williams, Sr. MULTIPLE Dr. Eugene Williams, Sr. is a renowned educator, researcher, author, and administrator, known for his impactful test improvement program in Washington, D.C. Public Schoo...
Saul Williams
Saul Williams 0000000055187280 Saul Williams, hailed as the “Bob Marley of American poets” is a celebrated poet, actor, and spoken-word artist. Known for his vibrant and fearless writing, Williams ha...
John Conyers Jr.
John Conyers Jr. 0000000025669916 John Conyers Jr. was a long-serving Democratic member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Michigan, representing Detroit and its surrounding areas from 1965 t...
E. A. Wallace Budge
E. A. Wallace Budge NONE Sir Ernest Alfred Wallace Budge was a prolific English author and Egyptologist known for translating Egyptian texts, including “The Egyptian Book of the Dead.” Sir Ernest Alf...
Michele Norris
Michele Norris 0000000047566336 Michele Norris, acclaimed host of All Things Considered, is a notable journalist and author recognized with multiple awards, including the Alfred I. duPont-Columbia Un...
Esther Phillips
Esther Phillips 0000000073657506 Esther Phillips, founder of The Bim Literary Festival & Book Fair and editor of Bim magazine, is a highly decorated poet with an MFA in Creative Writing. She's won pr...
Margot Lee Shetterly
Margot Lee Shetterly 0000000459477938 Margot Lee Shetterly, a writer, researcher, and entrepreneur, is known for her book “Hidden Figures” about black women mathematicians who helped win the Space Ra...
Mychal Denzel Smith
Mychal Denzel Smith NONE Mychal Denzel Smith is a contributing writer at The Nation, Alfred Knobler Fellow, and author of “Invisible Man, Got the Whole World Watching.” His work on social issues and ...
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...
Elie Mystal
Elie Mystal NONE Elie Mystal, born in Haiti, is The Nation's legal analyst, justice correspondent, and More Perfect podcast's legal editor. A Harvard graduate, he's an Alfred Knobler Fellow, former e...
Adam Russell Taylor
Adam Russell Taylor NONE Rev. Adam Russell Taylor, president of Sojourners, advocates for justice and peace. He has held numerous leadership roles including at the World Bank Group and World Vision U...
John Steptoe
John Steptoe 0000000083178664 John Lewis Steptoe (1950-1989) was a renowned children's book author and illustrator from Brooklyn, NY. Known for his rich illustrations depicting the African American e...
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 ...
John Frank
John Frank 0000000109166945 John Frank is an acclaimed author, known for his award-winning books 'The Toughest Cowboy', 'The Tomb of the Boy King' and 'How to Catch a Fish'. His captivating tales hav...
Gary Golio
Gary Golio NONE Gary Golio is a multi-talented visual artist, musician, psychotherapist, and author, known for his New York Times-bestselling book about young Jimi Hendrix. His works focus on artists...
Eric Williams and Selwyn Reginald Cudjoe
Eric Williams and Selwyn Reginald Cudjoe MULTIPLE Eric E. Williams and Selwyn Reginald Cudjoe are renowned authors. Williams' life and work have been extensively studied by Selwyn Ryan in his book “E...
Mary Williams
Mary Williams NONE Mary Williams, adopted daughter of Jane Fonda, worked with humanitarian organizations and founded the Lost Boys Foundation. She lived in various locations, including Africa and acr...
Patricia Williams
Patricia Williams NONE Patricia Williams, aka Ms. Pat, turned her life around after a troubled childhood and a stint as a drug dealer in Atlanta. Now a successful comedian, she lives in Indianapolis ...
Sunshine Smith-Williams
Sunshine Smith-Williams NONE Sunshine Smith-Williams, a Queens native, overcame a poverty-stricken upbringing through education, climbing the corporate ladder. After job loss in 2010, she bravely fou...
Eugene Williams, Jr.
Eugene Williams, Jr. MULTIPLE Eugene Williams, Jr. is a versatile professional with experience as an educator, writer, motivational speaker, and actor. He's a former child actor, known for his role i...
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 ...
April Maria Williams
April Maria Williams NONE April Maria Williams is a Juris Doctor from Florida A&M University College of Law and a Master of Tax Law from the University of Houston. A prominent advocate for social jus...
Robert F. Williams and Mabel R. Williams
Robert F. Williams and Mabel R. Williams MULTIPLE Born in Jim Crow-era Monroe, North Carolina, Robert F. Williams and Mabel R. Williams were the state’s most legendary African American freedom fight...
John H. Bracey Jr., Sonia Sanchez, and James Smethurst
John H. Bracey Jr., Sonia Sanchez, and James Smethurst MULTIPLE Explore the Black Arts Movement with authors John Bracey Jr., James Smethurst, and Sonia Sanchez. Their collective knowledge provides d...
John Oliver Killens and Jerry W. Ward
John Oliver Killens and Jerry W. Ward MULTIPLE John O. Killens and Jerry W. Ward are renowned authors recognized for their significant contributions to literature. Their work has greatly influenced t...
John Edgar Wideman and Tracie Church Guzzio
John Edgar Wideman and Tracie Church Guzzio MULTIPLE John Edgar Wideman and Tracie Church Guzzio are renowned authors. Wideman, a Rhodes Scholar, is known for his works on race, sports, and society. ...
Cody Ziglar, John Ridley, Anthony Piper, and Paco Medina
Cody Ziglar, John Ridley, Anthony Piper, and Paco Medina MULTIPLE "Cody Ziglar, John Ridley, Anthony Piper, and Paco Medina are renowned authors and creatives, each contributing significantly to thei...
John H. Bracey Jr., August Meier, and Elliott Rudwick
John H. Bracey Jr., August Meier, and Elliott Rudwick MULTIPLE John Bracey Jr., August Meier, and Elliott Rudwick are renowned authors known for their significant contributions in literature. Their ...
John Koehler and Joe Coccaro
John Koehler and Joe Coccaro MULTIPLE John Koehler and Joe Coccaro are accomplished authors with a rich background in writing and publishing. Their works span various genres, demonstrating their dive...
John Gibson
John Gibson 0000000080602546 John H. Gibson, a former high-tech engineer with over 25 years of experience, is a writer of thrilling political novels. His career in writing began as a hobby while resi...
John Keene and Christopher Stackhouse
John Keene and Christopher Stackhouse MULTIPLE John Keene and Christopher Stackhouse are renowned authors known for their contributions to literature and art. Their collaborative and individual works...
John Lewis and Andrew Aydin
John Lewis and Andrew Aydin MULTIPLE Nate Powell, John Lewis, and Andrew Aydin are an acclaimed trio of authors, known for their significant contributions to literature. (l to r) Nate Powell, John Le...
John O’Neal
John O’Neal NONE John O'Neal, co-founder of the Free Southern Theater and Junebug Productions, is a prominent playwright and activist. His work, which spans over 50 years, focuses on reviving the mem...
Zadie Smith, Junot Diaz, Teju Cole, John Freeman, and others
Zadie Smith, Junot Diaz, Teju Cole, John Freeman, and others MULTIPLE "Zadie Smith, Junot DÃaz, Teju Cole, and John Freeman are renowned authors known for their significant contributions to literatu...
John Henrik Clarke
John Henrik Clarke 0000000109007688 Dr. John Henrik Clarke was born January 1, 1915 in Union Springs, Alabama and died July 16, 1998 in New York City. His family came from a long line of sha...
John Edgar Wideman
John Edgar Wideman 0000000110326512 John Edgar Wideman, born in 1941, is a renowned author and professor hailing from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He completed his B.A. in English from the University of...
John Baldwin West
John Baldwin West NONE Dr. John Baldwin West was a renowned African American pulp detective fiction writer in the 1950s. He authored six novels featuring private investigator Rocky Steele, with most ...
John Koehler
John Koehler NONE John L. Koehler, author of 'Stasi: The Untold Story of the East German Secret Police', is a former journalist for the Associated Press and U.S. Army Intelligence Officer. He advised...
John Vercher
John Vercher NONE John Vercher is a Philadelphia-based author and Assistant Teaching Professor at Drexel University. With degrees from University of Pittsburgh and Mountainview MFA program, he's writ...
John Swanson Jacobs
John Swanson Jacobs 0000000082397144 John Swanson Jacobs (1815 or 1817 – December 19, 1873) was an abolitionist, miner, sailor, and citizen of the world. John Jacobs has a life story that is ...
Wesley King and Created by Kobe Bryant
Wesley King and Created by Kobe Bryant MULTIPLE Wesley King and Kobe Bryant were established authors, known for their collaborative work in literature. King's expertise in writing paired with Bryant'...
Wesley King
Wesley King 0000000043414589 Wesley King, award-winning author of “OCDaniel”, “The Incredible Space Raiders from Space!”, “The Vindico”, and “The Feros”, also contributed to Kobe Bryant's bestselling...
Lewis V. Baldwin
Lewis V. Baldwin 0000000109176289 Born in 1949, Lewis V. Baldwin is a civil rights activist and professor emeritus of religious studies at Vanderbilt University. Inspired by Martin Luther King, Jr., ...
Dante D. King
Dante D. King NONE Dante King is a San Francisco native, historian, and award-winning author of Diagnosing Whiteness & Anti-Blackness: White Psychopathology, Collective Psychosis, and Trauma in ...
Rita Williams-Garcia
Rita Williams-Garcia 0000000067575336 Rita Williams-Garcia, a PEN/Norma Klein Award winner, is known for her distinguished young adult and middle-grade novels, including ALA Best Books and Coretta Sc...
Robert F. Williams
Robert F. Williams 0000000354196689 Robert Franklin Williams (February 26, 1925 – October 15, 1996) was an influential civil rights leader, author, and advocate of armed self-defense in the fa...
Kam Williams
Kam Williams NONE Lloyd “Kam” Williams was a renowned film and book critic, contributing to AALBC.com and numerous other publications. A member of several critics associations, he was known for his a...
Nicole Bailey-Williams
Nicole Bailey-Williams NONE Nicole Bailey-Williams is a Philadelphia-born educator, author, and radio personality. A graduate of Hampton and Temple University, she pioneered “The Literary Review” on ...
Robyn Williams
Robyn Williams 0000000495543330 Robyn Williams is a bestselling author known for her romantic suspense novels. Her works, celebrated by actresses Angela Bassett and Vanessa Williams, have been featur...
Willie J. Williams
Willie J. Williams NONE Willie Williams, a record-breaking sprinter, became a prominent coach, leading Gary West Side High School and University of Illinois to numerous championships. Now retired, he...
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...
Venus Williams
Venus Williams 0000000114587007 Venus Ebony Starr Williams (born June 17, 1980) became a professional tennis player at the remarkable age of fourteen, immediately making waves in the sport by defeat...
Michelle Gadsden-Williams
Michelle Gadsden-Williams NONE Michelle Gadsden-Williams is the Co-Founder and COO of Ceiling Breakers LLC, a NYC-based firm specializing in diversity consulting and women's empowerment. She holds de...
Dana A. Williams
Dana A. Williams 0000000038160369 Dana A. Williams is Professor of African American literature and Dean of the Graduate School at Howard University. She is also a former president of the College Lang...
R. Sporty King
R. Sporty King NONE Sporty King, a New York native, is a successful motivational speaker and poet. His academic prowess earned him a scholarship to a Massachusetts private school. After a brief stint...
Aliya King Neil
Aliya King Neil NONE Aliya King Neil is an acclaimed journalist and author for teens and adults, with works featured in notable publications. Her first picture book was “Keep Your Head Up.” Aliya Kin...
Samantha King Holmes and r.h. Sin
Samantha King Holmes and r.h. Sin MULTIPLE Samantha King Holmes and r.h. Sin are renowned authors, best known for their powerful poetry and prose that explore themes of love, loss, and empowerment. S...
Joy Deja King, Electa Rome Parks, Cheryl Robinson, and Meta Smith
Joy Deja King, Electa Rome Parks, Cheryl Robinson, and Meta Smith MULTIPLE Joy King, Electa Rome Parks, Cheryl Robinson, and Meta Smith are renowned authors known for their significant contributions ...
Daaimah S. Poole, Miasha, Joy Deja King, and T. Styles
Daaimah S. Poole, Miasha, Joy Deja King, and T. Styles MULTIPLE Daaimah S. Poole, Miasha, Joy Deja King, and T. Styles are renowned authors, each known for their unique storytelling style and contrib...
Haki Madhubuti, Michael Simanga, Sonia Sanchez, and Woodie King
Haki Madhubuti, Michael Simanga, Sonia Sanchez, and Woodie King MULTIPLE Haki R. Madhubuti, Michael Simanga, Sonia Sanchez, and Woodie King are notable authors, each recognized for their significant ...
Susie King Taylor
Susie King Taylor 0000000084839030 Susan Taylor Baker King, born into slavery in 1848, overcame adversity to become a teacher, nurse, and author. Despite education restrictions, she attended secret s...
Jonathan Todres and Shani M. King
Jonathan Todres and Shani M. King MULTIPLE Jonathan Todres is a Distinguished Professor of Law at Georgia State University. Shani M. King is a Law Professor and Director of the Center on Children and...
Elnathan John
Elnathan John 0000000460091813 Elnathan John is a distinguished Nigerian novelist and satirist known for his short stories, “Bayan Layi” and “Flying,” both shortlisted for the Caine Prize for African...
Kwame Dawes and John Kinsella
Kwame Dawes and John Kinsella MULTIPLE Kwame Dawes and John Kinsella are acclaimed authors known for their impactful works. Dawes' Ghanaian heritage influences his poetry, while Kinsella's Australian...