AALBC Search
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...
Stephannie Solomon
Stephannie Solomon NONE Stephannie Solomon, a Baltimore native and devout Christian, is a minister, author, educator, and founder of Conversations With The King Ministries. Her work spans from local ...
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...
Matthew A. Cherry
Matthew A. Cherry 0000000500418922 Former NFL wide receiver, Matthew A. Cherry, transitioned into filmmaking after his retirement in 2007. He's known for directing over 20 music videos, his feature f...
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...
Abiodun Oyewole
Abiodun Oyewole NONE Abiodun Oyewole is a pioneering poet, teacher, and founding member of the influential American music and spoken-word group, The Last Poets. With a rich contribution to Hip-Hop's ...
L. Michelle Smith
L. Michelle Smith NONE L. Michelle Smith is an award-winning author, Fortune 100 C-Suite advisor, certified global executive and personal coach, and the CEO/founder of no silos communications llc, a...
Roland C. Barksdale-Hall
Roland C. Barksdale-Hall NONE Roland C. Barksdale-Hall, a Western Pennsylvania native, is a unique storyteller and author who found his passion in storytelling despite his lack of musical talent. Kno...
Morgan E. Taylor
Morgan E. Taylor NONE Morgan E. Taylor, a child author and entrepreneur, co-wrote a book with her father, G. Todd Taylor, titled 'Daddy’s Little Princess'. The book challenges societal perceptions, e...
Alice Faye Duncan
Alice Faye Duncan 0000000067711692 Alice Faye Duncan is a librarian and author, crafting books for young readers and adults. She aspires to write lyrical prose that compels children to read repetitiv...
Damon Wayans
Damon Wayans 000000005928060X Damon Wayans, a NY Times bestselling author and award-winning actor from a renowned Hollywood family, is known for his roles in 'In Living Color' and 'My Wife and Kids'....
Sharrif Simmons
Sharrif Simmons NONE Sharrif Simmons, a poet, musician, writer, and arts educator, has a performance career extending over three decades. Inspired by veteran poet Sonia Sanchez and influenced by vari...
Abiodun Oyewole and Umar Bin Hassan
Abiodun Oyewole and Umar Bin Hassan MULTIPLE The Last Poets are a group of musicians and poets, known for their African-American-themed performances that blend jazz, rhythm, and spoken words. Their i...
Kitty Kelley
Kitty Kelley 0000000121422825 Catherine “Kitty” Kelley, born April 4, 1942, is a renowned writer known for her bestselling biographies on influential personalities. Her last five works topped the New...
Patrisse Khan-Cullors
Patrisse Khan-Cullors 0000000486461392 Patrisse Khan-Cullors, an LA-based artist and freedom fighter, is known for co-founding Black Lives Matter and Dignity and Power Now. A Fulbright scholar and NA...
Albert Tate
Albert Tate 0000000117939653 Albert Tate, a Mississippi native, is a pastor, public speaker, and podcast host. He accepted his call to ministry at 21, graduated from Wesley Bible College, and is purs...
Ross Gay
Ross Gay 0000000040706017 Born in 1974, Ross Gay is a renowned author and editor, known for his books 'Against Which', 'Bringing the Shovel Down', and 'Catalog of Unabashed Gratitude'. He co-authored...
Gabriel Okara
Gabriel Okara 0000000109284773 Gabriel Okara, a self-taught Nigerian poet and novelist, is known for his multilingual poetry and award-winning piece 'The Call of the River Nun'. His works, characteri...
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...
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...
Jill Robinson
Jill Robinson 0000000084555417 Jill Robinson, a marketing specialist and author, creates content for adult and teen audiences. Her work spans various publications and anthologies, including Dark Matt...
Bob Avakian
Bob Avakian 0000000066625450 Robert Bruce Avakian, born in 1943, is a prominent figure in US communism. Raised in Berkeley, California, he has led the Revolutionary Communist Party, USA since 1979. H...
Kysha N. Brown
Kysha N. Brown NONE A college classmate and friend of Kysha Brown Robinson’s once said of her first impression of Brown: "I remember seeing this little girl sitting at the front of the ro...
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...
Mahogany L. Browne
Mahogany L. Browne NONE Mahogany L. Browne is an acclaimed writer, organizer, and educator, serving as the Artistic Director of Urban Word NYC. She's a recipient of multiple fellowships and is the au...
James Golden
James Golden NONE James Golden, aka “Bo Snerdley”, has a distinguished radio career spanning 30 years, notably as a call screener, producer, and engineer for the Rush Limbaugh show. Since 2001, he's ...
Benita R. Dale
Benita R. Dale NONE Benita R. Dale is a champion of African-American literature and art, founding Dialogue magazine and the Alliance for Cultural Enrichment, Inc. She also runs Efficient Business Ser...
Ida Green
Ida Green NONE Dr. Ida Greene, Ph.D., is a renowned author and inspirational speaker. She founded People Skills International and Our Place to promote self-esteem and empowerment. The organizations o...
Phina Oruche
Phina Oruche NONE “Everything I am passionate about has storytelling in the center.” Phina Oruche, known for roles in BBC's Anthony and ITV's Footballers’ Wives, released a children's book...
Monica A. Coleman, Nancy R. Howell, and Helene Tallon Russell
Monica A. Coleman, Nancy R. Howell, and Helene Tallon Russell MULTIPLE Monica A. Coleman is an Associate Professor at Claremont School of Theology and Claremont Graduate University, and the author of...
Candice Carty-Williams
Candice Carty-Williams 0000000501732761 Candice Carty-Williams, born in 1989, is a successful senior marketing executive at Vintage and creator of the Guardian and 4th Estate BAME Short Story Prize. ...
Morgan Harper Nichols
Morgan Harper Nichols NONE Acclaimed artist, poet, musician, and Wall Street Journal and Publisher’s Weekly bestselling author Morgan Harper Nichols has created her life’s work around the stories of...
Rondall Brasher
Rondall Brasher NONE Rondall Brasher is a passionate poet with a love for words that spans over three decades. Inspired by great names such as Dr. Seuss and Kahlil Gibran, he seeks to express his sub...
Tony Medina
Tony Medina 0000000111019127 Tony Medina (Photo: WideVision Photography) was born in the South Bronx, raised in the Throgs Neck Housing Projects, and currently lives in the Washington, D...
Mark Anthony
Mark Anthony 000000011686678X Mark Anthony is a celebrated author and founder of Q-Boro Books, recognized for his Essence Magazine bestsellers. Initially a hobby, his captivating storytelling prompte...
Faye Childs
Faye Childs NONE Faye Childs, born 1956, was a literary agent committed to promoting Black literature. She founded the Black Board Bestsellers list, a platform that increased visibility for Black aut...
Walter Greason
Walter Greason NONE Walter Greason is among the most prominent historians, educators, and urbanists in the United States. He has spent the past 30 years speaking to audiences in dozens of states, on ...
Agymah Kamau
Agymah Kamau 0000000067721508 Originally from Barbados, the author pursued their passion for writing after a career in economics in New York. Studied under Paule Marshall, authored a trilogy starting...
Van Jones
Van Jones 0000000120304157 Van Jones, a Yale-educated attorney, is a best-selling author, environmental activist, and White House policy advisor. Known as a social entrepreneur, CNN political contrib...
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...
Cicely Lewis
Cicely Lewis NONE Cicely Lewis, a Georgia-based school librarian, is passionate about fostering reading habits. She initiated the Read Woke challenge in 2017, addressing social issues and literature ...
Chinua Achebe
Chinua Achebe 0000000122774961 The novelist Chinua Achebe (November 16, 1930 — March 21, 2013), a fine stylish and an astute social critic, is one of the best-known African writers in the ...
Dudley Randall
Dudley Randall 0000000114554651 Dudley Randall (1914-2000), a prominent Detroit poet and publisher, began his career at 13 with his first publication. He founded Broadside Press in 1965, promoting Af...
Terry DeRon
Terry DeRon NONE Terry DeRon, a dynamic writer with a unique writing style, served in the US Army before obtaining a Television/Film production degree from Southern University. He used his military b...
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 ...
Kerry Washington
Kerry Washington 0000000114635056 Kerry Washington, an Emmy-winning actor, director, and producer from The Bronx, is known for her groundbreaking role in ABC's Scandal and films like Django Unchained...
J.D. Mason
J.D. Mason NONE J.D. Mason is a distinguished author with over a decade of professional writing. She self-published her debut novel twice before signing with a NYC publisher. Her work, featuring a po...
Wright Thompson
Wright Thompson NONE Wright Thompson is one of the most cherished sports writers in America. His books, Pappyland: A Story of Family, Fine Bourbon, and the Things That Last (2020) and The Cost of The...
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...
Dwayne Alexander Smith
Dwayne Alexander Smith NONE Born in Harlem, Dwayne Alexander Smith is a professional screenwriter who shifted from electrical engineering to film-making. Inspired by Star Wars, he began with an award...
Dorothy West
Dorothy West 0000000117719538 Dorothy West (1907-1998) was an active participant in the Harlem Renaissance and the last surviving member. Known for her short stories, she debuted with her novel 'The ...
Bruce Schoenfeld
Bruce Schoenfeld NONE Bruce Schoenfeld is a renowned journalist and author, contributing to Sports Illustrated, Travel & Leisure, and the New York Times Magazine. He won Emmy Awards for his Olympic G...
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,...
Brook Stephenson
Brook Stephenson NONE AALBC.com Mourns the Loss of Brook Stephenson (February 12, 1974 — August 8, 2015) …just last week Brook was at the Corridor Gallery hosting a reading of work created...
C. N. Phillips
C. N. Phillips NONE C. N. Phillips, a native of Omaha, Nebraska, is a renowned author known for her gritty series, The Last Kings. Signed to Carl Weber’s Urban Books, her storytelling finesse has ear...
Sandra Kitt
Sandra Kitt 0000000082039611 This article about Sandra Kitt was written by Leah Mullen and originally appeared on WritersandPoets.com © 2001, If you’re an aspiring writer but think you don’...
Jake Lamar
Jake Lamar 0000000042394002 Jake Lamar, a Bronx native, is a renowned author of the memoir, Bourgeois Blues, and novels including The Last Integrationist and Close to the Bone. Residing in Paris sinc...
Brendan Kiely
Brendan Kiely 0000000427845214 Brendan Kiely, a New York Times bestselling author known for 'All American Boys', 'The Last True Love Story', and 'The Gospel of Winter'. His award-winning work has bee...
Judith Giesberg
Judith Giesberg 0000000110697567 Judith Giesberg is professor of history and Robert M. Birmingham chair in the humanities at Villanova University. She is the founder and director of the Last Seen ar...
Tiffany Haddish
Tiffany Haddish 0000000475934019 Tiffany Sarac Haddish is a pioneering black female stand-up comedian, popularly known for hosting SNL and her role in 'Girls Trip'. She's also a successful author, wi...
Jeff Edwards
Jeff Edwards 0000000379483254 Rev. Dr. Jefferson Edwards, a senior pastor and founder of the Freedom Christian Center Church in Missouri, is a renowned author and international minister with over 43 ...
Aimé Césaire
Aimé Césaire 0000000121474035 One of the Founders of the Négritude Movement in Francophone Literature Aimé Césaire (1913-2008) was a Martinican poet, playwright, and politician who co-founded...
Edward Roy
Edward Roy 0000000108894174 Edward Roy, born in 1945, grew up in Harlem, NY, mentored by influential figures including Malcolm X. He served in the US Army’s Medical Corps during the Cold War and Viet...
Sheree Renée Thomas
Sheree Renée Thomas 0000000019174343 Sheree R. Thomas is a multi-talented writer, editor, publisher, educator, and visual artist. She co-publishes the literary journal Anansi and founded Wanganegress...
Laila Ibrahim
Laila Ibrahim NONE Laila Ibrahim, a full-time novelist, achieved fame with her book, Yellow Crocus, published in ten languages. Previously a preschool teacher and director, a birth doula, and a Direc...
Christopher Griffin
Christopher Griffin 000000004464364X Christopher Griffin, a Brooklyn-based educator and plant enthusiast, uses his Instagram account (@plantkween) to promote self-care, joy, and community through pla...
Phil Allen Jr.
Phil Allen Jr. NONE Phil Allen Jr. is a pastor, poet, justice advocate, and former NCAA athlete. He's a full-time pastor in California, PhD candidate at Fuller Theological Seminary, and author of two...
Donna L. Brazile
Donna L. Brazile NONE Donna Brazile is a seasoned Democratic political strategist, leading the Gore-Lieberman 2000 campaign as the first African American woman. She is Chair of the Democratic Nationa...
Chaun Webster
Chaun Webster NONE Chaun Webster, a poet, publisher, and graphic designer, is influenced by the Black Arts Movement, Jazz, and Graffiti. He founded Free Poet’s Press in 2009 to encourage art producti...
Barbara Summers
Barbara Summers 0000000083029183 Barbara Summers was an American author, educator, and former Ford model. She authored 'Skin Deep' (1998), a definitive work on black women in the modeling industry, b...
Jeff Johnson
Jeff Johnson NONE Jeff Johnson is a decorated journalist and communication specialist, now President of JIJ Communications. Co-founder and CEO of Elite Voices Speakers, he's a regular on TheRoot.com ...
Jamie Foxx
Jamie Foxx 0000000114506596 Jamie Foxx, born Eric Marlon Bishop, is an acclaimed actor, comedian, singer, musician, and producer from Terrell, Texas. He started in showbiz in 1989 and gained fame on ...
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...
Keith Kareem Williams
Keith Kareem Williams NONE Keith Kareem Williams, a Brooklyn-based author, has penned over 21 books and 5 screenplays. He balances a full-time writing career with single fatherhood. Williams writes '...
Brene Brown
Brene Brown 0000000034192910 Brene Brown, a research professor at the University of Houston and visiting professor at UT Austin, studies courage, vulnerability, shame, and empathy. She's authored six...
Natasha Owens
Natasha Owens NONE Southern girl Natasha Owens is a devoted mother and Christian with a love for soul music and comfort food. Despite struggles with weight and eyesight, she pursued higher education....
Christine Pride
Christine Pride NONE Christine Pride considers herself fortunate to have built a twenty-year+ career in the publishing industry, working as an editor at several Big Five imprints, including Doubleda...
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...
Donald Davenport
Donald Davenport NONE Donald Davenport, a dedicated minister and recipient of numerous awards, served as Senior Pastor for 21 years and contributed substantially to the Evangelical Covenant Church. A...
Essex Hemphill
Essex Hemphill 0000000029631982 Essex Hemphill (1957-1995) was a notable poet and activist, significant in the 1980s Washington D.C. art scene. Raised in poverty, he sought solace in poetry, explorin...
Esther Armah
Esther Armah NONE Esther Armah, an award-winning international journalist, best-selling author, and New York radio host, is known for her work in Europe, Africa, and America. She contributes to MSNBC...
Bernard N. Lee, Jr.
Bernard N. Lee, Jr. MULTIPLE Bernard N. Lee, Jr., also known as Bernie, is a former military kid whose childhood experiences shaped his memoir series, “A Look Back in Time.” He studied engineering an...
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...
Eric Deggans
Eric Deggans NONE Eric Deggans, NPR's first full-time TV critic, has served as a critic across various mediums and regularly comments on TV for National Public Radio. Raised in Indiana with a journal...
Iyanla Vanzant
Iyanla Vanzant 0000000110419866 Iyanla Vanzant, a Yoruba priestess and spiritual life coach, overcame adversity to become a New York Times best-selling author and host of OWN's Iyanla: Fix My Life. H...
Catherine Joy White
Catherine Joy White NONE Catherine Joy White is an actor, writer, filmmaker, and founder and CEO of the award-winning Kusini Productions, a company established to champion the voices of Black women....
Gabourey Sidibe
Gabourey Sidibe 0000000120325062 Gabourey Sidibe is an award-winning actress known for roles in 'Precious', 'American Horror Story' and 'Empire'. She also made her directorial debut with 'The Tale of...
Dorothy Butler Gilliam
Dorothy Butler Gilliam 0000000032505856 Dorothy Butler Gilliam, the first black woman reporter for the Washington Post, dedicated over six decades to journalism. Throughout her career, she worked to ...
Susan K. Williams Smith
Susan K. Williams Smith 0000000046710826 Dr. Susan K. Williams Smith is an ordained minister, writer, activist, and founder of Crazy Faith Ministries. Based in Columbus, Ohio, she has contributed to ...
Marlon Peterson
Marlon Peterson NONE Marlon Peterson is a social justice consultant, podcast host, and influential Black community leader. Known for his TED Talk on criminal justice reform, he's a Soros Justice Fell...
Victoria Christopher Murray
Victoria Christopher Murray 0000000040017326 Victoria Christopher Murray, a Queens native, turned from a successful corporate career to fulfill her dream of becoming an author. She self-published her...
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...
Jason Mott
Jason Mott 0000000077544509 Jason Mott, an author from North Carolina, holds a BFA in Fiction and an MFA in Poetry. His works have been featured in literary journals and he was a 2009 Pushcart Prize ...
Sean Anderson
Sean Anderson 0000000078343215 Sean Anderson, son of Jamaican immigrants, is a New York-based writer, educator, and youth advocate. His works reflect his unique experiences growing up in 80s NYC and ...
Marti Dumas
Marti Dumas NONE Marti Dumas, a mother, teacher, and children's book author, has lived in various places, from Manhattan to Paris. She carries a strong Louisiana heritage and is now settled in New Or...
Jacques Berlinerblau
Jacques Berlinerblau 0000000116451664 Jacques Berlinerblau is a professor of Jewish civilization at the Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service. He has published on a wide variety of issues rangin...
Kirbyjon H. Caldwell
Kirbyjon H. Caldwell NONE Kirbyjon H. Caldwell is a former bond broker and MBA holder from Wharton School of Business who turned to religion, growing a 25-member congregation into an 18,000 member me...
Alexander Pushkin
Alexander Pushkin 0000000121372055 Alexander Pushkin (1799–1837) was a Russian poet, playwright, and novelist—widely regarded as the founder of modern Russian literature. His verse novel Eugen...
Dee Miller
Dee Miller NONE Dee Miller is a versatile “Closet Artist” and wordsmith known for her wide-ranging artwork, from serious depictions to graffiti art, and thought-provoking writings. She has self-publi...
Doug Jones
Doug Jones 0000000121026291 Doug Jones graduated from Morehouse College and received an MFA from Columbia University. In 2007, he was an inaugural Lambda Literary Fellow at American Jewish Universit...