AALBC Search
Leonard Pitts Jr.
Leonard Pitts Jr. NONE Leonard Pitts, Jr. is a Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist, known for his commentary on race, politics, and culture. Born in California, he now resides in Maryland. Originally a ...
Byron Pitts
Byron Pitts 0000000039302138 Byron Pitts is a renowned American journalist and author with ABC News. A multiple Emmy award winner, Pitts has over 20 years of experience, covering significant events l...
Mildred Pitts Walter
Mildred Pitts Walter 0000000074049983 Mildred Pitts Walter, born on September 9, 1922, in Louisiana, overcame segregation and societal barriers to become a renowned author. Despite limited access to ...
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...
Corinda Pitts Marsh
Corinda Pitts Marsh NONE Corinda Pitts Marsh, a Florida State University graduate, is a writer and professor specializing in rural Southern heritage and social justice themes. She is passionate about...
Sharifa Rhodes-Pitts
Sharifa Rhodes-Pitts 0000000057283946 Sharifa Rhodes-Pitts is an award-winning writer and Harvard graduate, known for her work in notable publications and her book “Harlem is Nowhere.” A Fulbright Sc...
Tasha Cobbs Leonard
Tasha Cobbs Leonard 0000000408031709 Two-time Grammy Award-winning singer and songwriter Tasha Cobbs Leonard (born July 7, 1981) is one of the most iconic artists in gospel music history. Winner of ...
Laureen Cantwell and Leonard Gill
Laureen Cantwell and Leonard Gill MULTIPLE Laureen P. Cantwell, a former librarian at the University of Memphis, loved the city's dark side and Elvis. Leonard Gill, a Memphis native, writes for the M...
Leonard Harris and Charles Molesworth
Leonard Harris and Charles Molesworth MULTIPLE Leonard Harris and Charles Molesworth are renowned authors, known for their insightful works in literature and philosophy. They have contributed signifi...
Leonard N. Moore
Leonard N. Moore NONE Leonard N. Moore is a renowned American History professor at the University of Texas, Austin. A Jackson State graduate, Moore authored three books on Black politics, notably 'Th...
Grant Harper Reid
Grant Harper Reid NONE Dr. Grant Harper Reid, author of award-winning biography, “Rhythm For Sale,” explores the life of his grandfather, influential theatre producer Leonard Harper. An arts graduate...
James Frey
James Frey 0000000109218418 James Frey is an American author and CEO of Full Fathom Five. Known for his debut books marketed as memoirs, his works like 'A Million Little Pieces' and 'My Friend Leonar...
Julie Iromuanya
Julie Iromuanya NONE Julie Iromuanya was a finalist for the PEN/Faulkner Award, the PEN/Robert W. Bingham Prize for Debut Fiction, the Etisalat Prize for Literature, and the National Book Critics Cir...
Rick Ross
Rick Ross 0000000058867353 "Born in 1976, Rick Ross, also known as William Leonard Roberts II, rose from the rough streets of Miami, amid the city's crack epidemic. Despite numerous setbacks, Ross ne...
Gary Hardwick
Gary Hardwick NONE Gary Hardwick, also known as A.A. Clifford, is a renowned author, screenwriter, director, and TV producer. Known for novels like Cold Medina, his work has been optioned for films b...
V.S. Chochezi
V.S. Chochezi NONE Dr. V.S. Chochezi is a multi-talented author, poet, artist, and professor, known for her work with Straight Out Scribes, a mother/daughter spoken word duo. She has published numero...
Naomi Jackson
Naomi Jackson 000000011074508X Naomi Jackson, author of award-nominated “The Star Side of Bird Hill,” is a recognized writer who studied fiction at the Iowa Writers' Workshop and received an M.A. in ...
Carolyn Marie Wilkins
Carolyn Marie Wilkins NONE Carolyn Marie Wilkinsis a Spirit Whisperer, a certified Reiki Master, a Psychic Medium and an initiated Priestess of Yemaya, the African goddess of compassion, motherhood ...
Viola Ford Fletcher
Viola Ford Fletcher NONE ”Every day, I have lived through the massacre. While our country may forget this history, I cannot.” Viola Ford Fletcher, born in 1907, is a notable figure in Afri...
Jamel Shabazz
Jamel Shabazz 0000000078691308 Jamel Shabazz, born in Brooklyn in 1960, is a renowned photographer whose work has been exhibited at major museums. Inspired by famed photographers, Shabazz started doc...
Johnnie Cochran
Johnnie Cochran 0000000035524710 Johnnie L Cochran, Jr. was a renowned American trial lawyer, celebrated for his victories against legal system misconduct and his representation of high-profile clien...
Chantal James
Chantal James NONE Chantal James is a poet, fiction writer, essayist, and book reviewer. Honors include a Fulbright Fellowship in creative writing to Morocco and a finalist position for the Alex Albr...
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...
B. Smith
B. Smith 0000000045066151 Barbara Elaine Smith (1949-2020) was a former fashion model and the first African-American woman on Mademoiselle’s cover. She also starred in TV commercials and served as a ...
EA Luetkemeyer
EA Luetkemeyer NONE EA Luetkemeyer, an author informed by his prison experiences, explores America's class and racial divides. He is a Lesley University MFA graduate and author of novels including 'P...
Velma Maia Thomas
Velma Maia Thomas NONE Velma Maia Thomas is an award-winning author known for her nonfiction books on African American history. She is also the creator of the Black Holocaust Exhibit. With degrees fr...
Anastacia-Reneé
Anastacia-Reneé NONE Anastacia-Reneé is an acclaimed writer, educator, artist, and speaker known for her cross-genre work. Author of several books, her works have been featured in numerous literary ...
Ivan Van Sertima
Ivan Van Sertima 0000000063040713 Born in Guyana, Dr. Ivan Van Sertima was a literary critic, linguist, anthropologist, and writer who won the Clarence L. Holte Prize for his work, They Came Before C...
Amos N. Wilson
Amos N. Wilson 0000000083152296 Dr. Amos N. Wilson was a renowned psychologist, social worker, and academic who held roles in the New York City Department of Juvenile Justice and taught at City Unive...
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...
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...
Lesa Cline-Ransome
Lesa Cline-Ransome NONE Lesa Cline-Ransome, a renowned picture book author, is known for her biography titles like “Satchel Paige”, “Before She Was Harriet”, and more. From Massachusetts, she's worke...
Gerry Wright
Gerry Wright NONE Gerry Wright is a former professional basketball player and author. After earning All-American honors in high school and playing basketball at the University of Southern California ...
Patricia Schultz
Patricia Schultz 000000010997263X Patricia Schultz, a seasoned travel journalist and author of #1 NYT bestsellers, '1,000 Places to See Before You Die' & its US/Canada edition. She's contributed to l...
Christopher D. Burns
Christopher D. Burns NONE Christopher D. Burns, from Memphis, served in the US Navy as an electrician before becoming a QA analyst and basketball coach. He wrote his first book after an injury halted...
Al Young
Al Young 0000000063058737 Al Young, born in 1939, is a respected author and poet from Mississippi. He attended the University of Michigan before moving to the San Francisco Bay Area and graduating fr...
Jacki Simmons
Jacki Simmons NONE Bronx-born, Harlem-raised author Jacki Simmons found inspiration in her surroundings from a young age. She completed her first short story at 11 and her first novel at 16. After wi...
Melvin Mahone
Melvin Mahone NONE Melvin Mahone, Ph.D., is a full-time Assistant Sociology Professor at Paine College with a rich history in criminal justice. His roles have ranged from Federal Protective Officer t...
Aesop
Aesop 0000000120317310 Aesop (c. 620-560 B.C.), the legendary creator of Aesop's Fables, was a presumed black slave from Ancient Greece. His fables popularized everyday phrases such as “don't count y...
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...
Lerone Bennett
Lerone Bennett 0000000117733137 Lerone Bennett Jr. (1928-2018) was an esteemed African-American author and social historian, known for his insights on US race relations. His notable works include “Be...
Ronald Fair
Ronald Fair 0000000116782340 Chicago-born African-American author, Ronald L. Fair, inspired by Richard Wright, carved his own literary path. Born in 1932, Fair served in the U.S. Navy before becoming...
Naleighna Kai, Renee Bernard, J.L. Woodson, Joyce A Brown, D. J. McLaurin, Candy Jackson, Janice Pernell, Valarie Prince, Martha Kennerson, Susan D. Peters, Tanishia Pearson-Jones, and L. A. Lewis
Naleighna Kai, Renee Bernard, J.L. Woodson, Joyce A Brown, D. J. McLaurin, Candy Jackson, Janice Pernell, Valarie Prince, Martha Kennerson, Susan D. Peters, Tanishia Pearson-Jones, and L. A. Lewis MUL...
Cheryl Robinson
Cheryl Robinson NONE Cheryl Robinson, a Detroit-born author, transformed her life from a career in marketing to writing. She began with self-publishing, before transitioning to Penguin Books' imprint...
Yani
Yani 0000000118166410 Yani, an Amazon Best Selling Author from Philadelphia, is renowned for her six novels and unique storytelling style. She's celebrated in genres like African American Fiction-Ur...
Ibi Zoboi, Tracey Baptiste, Coe Booth, Dhonielle Clayton, Brandy Colbert, Jay Coles, Lamar Giles, Leah Henderson, Justina Ireland, Varian Johnson, Kekla Magoon, Jason Reynolds, Nic Stone, Renée Watson, Rita Williams-Garcia, and others
Ibi Zoboi, Tracey Baptiste, Coe Booth, Dhonielle Clayton, Brandy Colbert, Jay Coles, Lamar Giles, Leah Henderson, Justina Ireland, Varian Johnson, Kekla Magoon, Jason Reynolds, Nic Stone, Renée Watso...
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...
Wil Clay
Wil Clay NONE Wil Clay, a renowned artist, began his journey in art at a young age. He studied at prestigious art institutions before establishing studios in Providence and Houston. Initially focusin...
Deloris E. Jordan
Deloris E. Jordan NONE Delores E. Jordan, older sister of NBA star Michael Jordan, is a North Carolina native and mother of three residing in Pennsylvania. Using writing as an outlet during tough tim...
George Padmore
George Padmore 0000000110573433 George A. Padmore, born Malcolm Nurse, was a renowned Pan-Africanist, journalist, and author from Trinidad. He was a key figure in the 5th Pan African Congress and an ...
Loren Long
Loren Long 0000000068683689 Loren Long, New York Times bestselling author of the Otis series, is known for illustrating Barack Obama's Of Thee I Sing and Matt de la Pena's Love. He recently modernize...
Patricia Raybon
Patricia Raybon 0000000067719627 Patricia Raybon is an award-winning author and essayist known for her works on faith, race, and grace. Her books include the Christopher Award-winning memoir 'My Firs...
Danielle Evans
Danielle Evans NONE Danielle Valore Evans, award-winning author of 'Before You Suffocate Your Own Fool Self,' is a celebrated figure in literature. Honored with the Joyce Carol Oates Prize and Nation...
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...
Clarence Cooper, Jr.
Clarence Cooper, Jr. MULTIPLE “…One of the most under-rated writers in America…” —John A. Williams Clarence L. Cooper Jr., born in 1934, was an author whose works, like...
Naleighna Kai
Naleighna Kai NONE Naleighna Kai is a national bestselling author known for her works such as “Every Woman Needs a Wife” and “Open Door Marriage.” She began writing in 1999 and has acquired deals wit...
E. N. Joy
E. N. Joy NONE BLESSEDselling Author E.N. Joy, previously known as Joylynn M. Jossel, is an Essence Magazine Bestselling Author known for her “Soap Operas in Print” Divas series. The author, who has ...
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...
April Sinclair
April Sinclair NONE April Sinclair, a Chicago native, is a renowned author and community activist. Known for her dedicated activism in Oakland and her unique approach to her literary debut, Sinclair'...
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...
Donna Drew Sawyer
Donna Drew Sawyer NONE Donna Drew Sawyer, author of Provenance, has a rich background in arts administration, advertising, and public relations. A New Yorker with over three decades of experience in ...
Christine Platt
Christine Platt NONE Christine Platt Patrick, also known as CP Patrick, is a Florida-born author specializing in African Diaspora narratives interlacing fiction and fantasy. She holds degrees in Afri...
E. Lynn Harris
E. Lynn Harris 0000000117647343 Everette Lynn Harris was a successful black author, focusing on the experiences of young, urban professionals. Raised by a single mother in Little Rock, he overcame pe...
Julian English
Julian English NONE Born prematurely with brain damage, Julian English defied odds by learning differently. His mother, Natasha Moulton-Levy, used travel to educate him, enabling Julian to understand...
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...
Sara Collins
Sara Collins 0000000367918185 Sara Collins, a Jamaican-descent author, practiced law for 17 years before studying Creative Writing at Cambridge, where she won the 2015 Michael Holroyd Prize. Her debu...
Prince Justice
Prince Justice NONE Prince Justice, born into a Nigerian ruling house and raised in Africa, is a London-born author who studied in Africa and the US. Living in various Black communities across Americ...
Lauren Francis-Sharma
Lauren Francis-Sharma NONE Lauren Francis Sharma, a New York-born author of Trinidadian descent, pursued law before becoming a writer. Raised in Baltimore, she graduated from the University of Pennsy...
Mark Doty, Martin Espada, Joy Harjo, Marilyn Nelson, Ishmael Reed, Sonia Sanchez, Yusef Komunyakaa, Afaa Michael Weaver, and Rita Dove
Mark Doty, Martin Espada, Joy Harjo, Marilyn Nelson, Ishmael Reed, Sonia Sanchez, Yusef Komunyakaa, Afaa Michael Weaver, and Rita Dove MULTIPLE Prominent authors Mark Doty, Martin Espada, Joy Harjo, ...
Naleighna Kai, Pat G’Orge Walker, Lisa Watson, Martha Kennerson, Michelle D. Rayford, Janice Pernell, J. L. Campbell, Kisha Green, and Terri Ann Johnson
Naleighna Kai, Pat G’Orge Walker, Lisa Watson, Martha Kennerson, Michelle D. Rayford, Janice Pernell, J. L. Campbell, Kisha Green, and Terri Ann Johnson MULTIPLE "Naleighna Kai, Pat G’Orge Walker, Li...
Sterling Brown
Sterling Brown 0000000467837526 Sterling A. Brown (1901-1989) was a renowned African American professor, poet, and literary critic. Born and educated in prestigious institutions, he devoted 40 years ...
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...
Jason Overstreet
Jason Overstreet NONE Jason Overstreet is a full-time fiction writer based in Los Angeles. With a BA and MS from Southern California universities, he spent a decade in education before attending UCLA...
Aaron McGruder
Aaron McGruder 0000000037086910 Aaron McGruder, born in Chicago in 1974, is best known for creating the comic strip The Boondocks. Inspired by hip hop and politics, he debuted his work online in 1996...
Hisani P. Dubose
Hisani P. Dubose NONE “The Best Black Director of 2005” —Kam Williams Hisani DuBose is a Seton Hall University graduate, former dancer and singer turned screenwriter. She's directed ...
Robbie Montgomery
Robbie Montgomery NONE Robbie Montgomery, “Miss Robbie,” is a former professional singer who worked with Ike Turner and other notable artists before opening a soul food restaurant, Sweetie Pie's, in ...
Eldridge Cleaver
Eldridge Cleaver 0000000108667924 Leroy Eldridge Cleaver was a writer, political activist, and early leader of the Black Panther Party. His 1968 bestseller, “Soul on Ice,” is a collection of his pris...
Donna Every
Donna Every NONE Donna Every, a Mathematics graduate, Chartered Accountant, and MBA, worked at Ernst & Young Barbados for a decade before starting her own business. Passionate about helping people im...
Dwayne McDuffie
Dwayne McDuffie 0000000120367289 Dwayne McDuffie (February 20, 1962 – February 21, 2011) was a comic and television writer. He was known for creating the animated television series Static ...
Thulani Davis
Thulani Davis 0000000001538348 Thulani Davis is an interdisciplinary scholar and writer, with focus on black political thought, slavery, and African American literature. She's a recipient of numerous...
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...
Karen Grigsby Bates
Karen Grigsby Bates NONE Karen Grigsby Bates is an LA-based NPR News correspondent, known for her work on All Things Considered and The Tavis Smiley Show. She has significantly expanded the show's co...
Paula Lennon
Paula Lennon NONE Paula Lennon, an English-born commercial lawyer turned writer, is known for her novel “Murder in Montego Bay.” Raised in a Jamaican family, she spent her teens in Jamaica before pur...
Gladys Jose
Gladys Jose 0000000500478247 Gladys Jose, an illustrator and storyteller, graduated from the University of Central Florida with a degree in Fine Arts. She's known for illustrating books like Library ...
Sly Stone
Sly Stone 0000000117772064 Sly Stone, born Sylvester Stewart in 1943, is a multi-talented American original from Denton, Texas. Known for his brief careers in doo-wop and radio before creating Sly an...
Alek Wek
Alek Wek 0000000078788484 Alek Wek, a globally renowned model, was scouted at 19 in London. She's known for her work with top designers like Chanel's Karl Lagerfeld, and her iconic Elle covers. Born ...
Malcolm Hansen
Malcolm Hansen NONE Malcolm Hansen, born in Chattanooga, is an adoptee raised by Civil Rights activists in various countries. After leaving home as a teenager, he earned a BA in philosophy from Stanf...
Janet Mock
Janet Mock 0000000420518704 Janet Mock, a writer, TV host, and advocate, uses storytelling to combat stigma. The NYU journalism graduate and Honolulu native started at People.com, wrote for numerous ...
Jimmy Carter
Jimmy Carter 0000000369603101 Jimmy Carter, the 39th U.S. President, was a naval officer and Georgia Senator before leading the U.S from 1977-1981. His presidency was marked by foreign policy achieve...
Heather McGhee
Heather McGhee NONE Heather McGhee is an economic and social policy expert, former president of Demos, and current chair of Color of Change. A Yale and UC Berkeley alumna, she has drafted legislation...
Lorna Goodison
Lorna Goodison 0000000354889186 Jamaican-born Lorna Goodison, a former painter and art teacher, turned professional writer and acclaimed poet. Educated in Jamaica and New York, she has been honored w...
Madeline Hampton
Madeline Hampton NONE Madeline Hampton is a romance novelist who began reading and writing at a young age. After serving in the U.S. Military, she pursued a career in health, during which she continu...
Meri Nana-Ama Danquah
Meri Nana-Ama Danquah 0000000036109658 Born in Ghana, Meri Nana-Ama Danquah moved to the U.S. at age six, growing up in Maryland. She briefly attended University of Maryland before pursuing acting an...
Rebecca Hall
Rebecca Hall 0000000109992032 Rebecca Hall, JD, PhD, is a scholar, activist, and educator specializing in history, law, and intersectional feminist theory. A Berkeley Law graduate, she worked for low...
Matt Forté
Matt Forté NONE Matthew Garrett Forté, born in 1985, is a retired NFL player best known as a running back for the Chicago Bears. He was recognized for his versatility, amassing over 9,000 rushing an...
Toni Lee
Toni Lee NONE Lee, with over 22 years experience in filmmaking and production in Atlanta, has also taught screenwriting at various universities. She later retrained as a mental health and addictions ...