AALBC Search
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...
Michael Bradley with John Henrik Clarke
Michael Bradley with John Henrik Clarke MULTIPLE Michael Bradley with John Henrik Clarke
Breena Clarke
Breena Clarke 0000000116790578 Breena Clarke, a Washington D.C. native and Howard University alumnus, is a renowned author known for her debut novel, an Oprah Book Club selection 'River, Cross My Hea...
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...
Hope C. Clarke
Hope C. Clarke NONE Brooklyn-based Hope C. Clarke is a single mom, JP Morgan Chase employee, and entrepreneur who spends her spare time writing and self-publishing fiction novels. Known for her “movi...
William Loren Katz
William Loren Katz 0000000115886981 Bill Katz (1927-2019) was a prolific author and lecturer, known for his contributions to African American history. A graduate of Syracuse University and New York U...
Breena Clarke and Amy Newmark
Breena Clarke and Amy Newmark MULTIPLE Amy Newmark is the author, editor, and publisher of the Chicken Soup for the Soul series. Breena Clarke, a distinguished Black scholar and novelist, penned the ...
Maxine Beneba Clarke
Maxine Beneba Clarke NONE Maxine Beneba Clarke, an Afro-Caribbean author and slam poet, wrote The Patchwork Bike and When We Say Black Lives Matter, aimed at explaining the concept of Black Lives Mat...
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...
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...
Greenwood Art Project
Greenwood Art Project NONE The Greenwood Art Project, an initiative of the 1921 Tulsa Massacre Centennial Commission, aims to unite Tulsa through art, raising awareness of Greenwood's history and the...
Rosa Guy
Rosa Guy 0000000111564547 Rosa Guy, born in Trinidad in 1925, was an influential Harlem-based writer and activist. A co-founder of the Harlem Writer's Guild, she was also a member of the Black nation...
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...
Yosef Ben-Jochannan
Yosef Ben-Jochannan 0000000084792068 Born in Gondar, Ethiopia, Dr. Yosef Alfredo Antonio ben-Jochannan (December 31, 1918 - March 19, 2015), or “Dr. Ben”, as he is affectionately known devoted th...
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...
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...
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...
Esther Cooper Jackson
Esther Cooper Jackson 0000000037560491 Esther Cooper Jackson (1917-2022) was a co-founder and managing editor of Freedomways magazine from 1961-1985, a significant publication featuring writers like ...
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...
Andrew Salkey
Andrew Salkey 0000000109378518 Felix Salkey was a Panamanian-born author dedicated to Jamaican culture. Raised in Jamaica, he became a prominent figure in the London community of West Indian writers ...
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, ...
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...
Peter J. Harris
Peter J. Harris NONE Peter J. Harris, founder of The Black Man of Happiness Project, explores African American life and history through a unique lens: the happiness of Black men. This innovative proj...
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 ...
Damaris B. Hill
Damaris B. Hill 0000000454814480 DaMaris B. Hill, PhD, is an Associate Professor of Creative Writing at the University of Kentucky. Inspired by theories of “rememory” and inclusive history, Hill has ...
John Valentine
John Valentine NONE John Valentine, born in 60s' Mississippi, is a writer and cultural historian. From a background of poverty and racism, Valentine channeled his experiences into understanding the h...
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 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...
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...
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...
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 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 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 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 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 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 ...
Reclamation Project
Reclamation Project NONE The author discusses the reluctance of white communities to acknowledge past injustices and return stolen wealth, attributing their global prominence to these behaviors. Howe...
Phetote Mshairi
Phetote Mshairi NONE Phetote Mshairi is a multi-talented artist from Tulsa, Oklahoma. He's a poet, author, entrepreneur, performing artist, mentor, and more. With a B.B.A. in Business Management, Msh...
John Strausbaugh
John Strausbaugh 0000000067554770 John Strausbaugh, born in 1951, is a renowned author and cultural commentator. Known for his authority on New York City's history, he also hosts The New York Times' ...
John H. Bracey Jr.
John H. Bracey Jr. NONE John H. Bracey Jr. (1941-2023) was a renowned Afro-American studies professor at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, known for his work on African American history and cu...
Robyn C. Spencer
Robyn C. Spencer 0000000117365645 Robyn C. Spencer is a historian and Associate Professor at Lehman College, CUNY. She specializes in post-WWII social protest, urban and working-class radicalism, and...
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 Hope Franklin
John Hope Franklin 0000000114547638 John Hope Franklin (January 2, 1915 – March 25, 2009) was an educator and historian. Franklin lived through America’s most defining twentieth-century transf...
Kleaver Cruz
Kleaver Cruz NONE Kleaver Cruz is a Dominican-American writer, educator, and creator of The Black Joy Project, a platform for Black Joy as resistance featured in numerous publications. They're part o...
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, ...
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...
Mz. Lady P and Lucinda John
Mz. Lady P and Lucinda John MULTIPLE Mz. Lady P and Lucinda John are accomplished authors, renowned for their captivating narratives and profound insights. Their work spans various genres, offering e...
Daymond John
Daymond John 0000000048788301 Daymond John, founder of the $6 billion fashion brand FUBU, is a pioneering entrepreneur. He's a Shark on ABC's Shark Tank, a New York Times best-selling author, motivat...
John Ridley
John Ridley 0000000114963631 John Ridley is an award-winning American screenwriter, film director, and novelist. Best known for “12 Years a Slave” and the series “American Crime,” his latest work is ...
John Singleton and Veronica Chambers
John Singleton and Veronica Chambers MULTIPLE John Singleton is a celebrated filmmaker and Veronica Chambers is a prolific author & journalist. They have collaborated on numerous projects, blending f...
John Freeman
John Freeman 0000000067029909 John Freeman is an award-winning writer, book critic, and former president of the National Book Critics Circle. Known for his work in The New Yorker, The New York Times,...
Bonnie St. John
Bonnie St. John 0000000036620085 Bonnie St. John, the first African-American Winter Paralympic medalist, is a highly accomplished individual. Despite losing her leg at age five, she ventured into var...
Charlie Jane Anders, Lesley Nneka Arimah, Charles Yu, Victor LaValle, and John Joseph Adams
Charlie Jane Anders, Lesley Nneka Arimah, Charles Yu, Victor LaValle, and John Joseph Adams MULTIPLE Charlie Jane Anders, Lesley Nneka Arimah, Charles Yu, Victor LaValle, and John Joseph Adams are re...
John Holyfield
John Holyfield NONE John Holyfield is a renowned artist noted for his depictions of family, spirituality, and culture, showcasing a distinctive southern rural essence. He resides in Rosemont, West Vi...
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...
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...
John Murillo
John Murillo NONE John Murillo is a renowned poet and professor known for his works “Up Jump the Boogie” and “Kontemporary Amerikan Poetry.” He's won numerous awards including two Larry Neal Writers ...
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...
John Anthony West
John Anthony West 0000000083802324 ”Egyptian civilization was not a development, it was a legacy.” John Anthony West was an American author, lecturer, and guide known for his Sphinx water ...
John Harris
John Harris 0000000114527290 John Harris is a seasoned journalist, experienced in covering sports, culture, and race. He has written for major publications and networks. Co-author of 'From Gold Teeth...
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...
Yahrah St. John
Yahrah St. John NONE Yahrah St. John, an established author, began writing at 12 and penned 20 novellas in her teens. As of 2023, she has authored 39 books with Arabesque, Kimani Romance, Harlequin D...
John Blake
John Blake 0000000043266547 John Blake is an acclaimed CNN journalist and GLAAD Media Award winner. Recognized by numerous institutions for his work in journalism, he focuses on race, religion, and p...
Kekla Magoon
Kekla Magoon 0000000040185776 Kekla Magoon, an award-winning author of eight YA novels, including The Rock and the River and X: A Novel, also pens non-fiction on historical topics. She's won an NAACP...
Maria Shriver
Maria Shriver 0000000037238312 American journalist and activist Maria Shriver, ex-First Lady of California, is known for her best-selling books and award-winning TV work, including two Emmys and a Pe...
Robert Hayden
Robert Hayden 0000000114660665 Hayden was Named U.S. Poet Laureate for (1976–1978) Robert Hayden (1913-1980) was a renowned African-American poet, essayist, and educator. He was the first Africa...
Tiffany Dufu
Tiffany Dufu NONE Tiffany Dufu, author of Drop the Ball, is a prominent figure in women's leadership. She was part of the Lean In launch team and currently serves as Chief Leadership Officer at Levo....
David Levering Lewis
David Levering Lewis 0000000121202232 David Levering Lewis is a Pulitzer Prize-winning professor and historian at New York University. He has written extensively on American civil rights history and ...
John Duggle
John Duggle NONE Author bio: “Samuel Adams is a renowned historian and professor at the University of Harvard. He has authored over 30 books on American history, many of which have become bestsellers...
Winston James
Winston James 0000000042945281 Winston James, a renowned professor at the University of California, Irvine, specializes in Caribbean and African American history. His significant works include in-dep...
John G. Jackson
John G. Jackson 0000000027592692 John Glover Jackson, one of our greatest cultural historians, was born on April 1, 1907 (he died October 13, 1993) in Aiken, South Carolina. Jokingly, he would somet...
Aliona L. Gibson
Aliona L. Gibson NONE Aliona L. Gibson is an author and filmmaker with a passion for creativity and service. She published her first book, Nappy, and later the self-published For Black Writers. Inspi...
Ron Kavanaugh
Ron Kavanaugh NONE Ron Kavanaugh is a literary activist who founded Mosaic Books and the Literary Freedom Project (LFP), a non-profit supporting the literary arts. Through LFP, he launched Mosaic Lit...
David Barclay Moore
David Barclay Moore NONE Missouri-born David Barclay Moore is a Brooklyn-based writer, filmmaker, and photographer. Known for his debut young adult novel 'The Stars Beneath Our Feet' and his award-wi...
Mariame Kaba
Mariame Kaba 0000000512367579 Mariame Kaba is a justice advocate, educator, and founder of Project NIA, aimed at ending youth incarceration. She's a researcher at Interrupting Criminalization at the ...
Shane White
Shane White 0000000453091911 “…my main research interests are in African American history and in the history of New York City.” Shane White, a distinguished Professor of History at ...
Willis Nathaniel Huggins and John G. Jackson
Willis Nathaniel Huggins and John G. Jackson MULTIPLE Willis Nathaniel Huggins and Johnson George Jackson are renowned authors, known for their significant contributions to literature and their profo...
Harriette Cole and John Pinderhughes
Harriette Cole and John Pinderhughes MULTIPLE Harriette Cole and John Pinderhughes
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...
Nikole Hannah-Jones
Nikole Hannah-Jones 0000000454752515 Nikole Hannah-Jones, Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter for The New York Times, is known for her work on racial injustice and the 1619 Project. A MacArthur Genius Gr...
Kwame Alexander
Kwame Alexander 0000000042691031 “He truly is a renaissance man.”—Nikki Giovanni Kwame Alexander is a bestselling author, poet, and educator, known for his award-winning book “The Cr...
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...
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...
Whitney J. Leblanc
Whitney J. Leblanc NONE Whitney J. LeBlanc is a Louisiana-born author and Hollywood veteran with over 25 years of experience in theater and television. He's known for his trilogy about a Creole famil...
Will Smith
Will Smith 000000011507289X Will Smith is a leading figure in showbiz, known for starring in seven consecutive box-office hits, including I Am Legend. He is recognized for his challenging roles, such...
David Rivera
David Rivera 0000000119349964 David Rivera Jr., a writer inspired by contemporary black male authors, has been writing since high school. His debut book, Harlem's Dragon, received great acclaim. Draw...
Franklin Jones, Jr.
Franklin Jones, Jr. MULTIPLE Franklin Jones, Jr., is a lecturer in Deaf Studies at BU Wheelock. His primary role involves instructing students in American Sign Language (ASL) at various proficie...