AALBC Search
Chris Abani
Chris Abani 0000000083877772 Chris Abani, born in Nigeria in 1966, is a renowned author and educator who faced imprisonment for his literary work. After escaping to the US, he published eight books o...
Kahran and Regis Bethencourt
Kahran and Regis Bethencourt MULTIPLE Kahran and Regis Bethencourt are Atlanta-based photographers specializing in child and family portraits. The couple captures unique beauty as Canon Explorers of ...
Eli Reed
Eli Reed 0000000084169217 Eli Reed, renowned Magnum photographer since 1988, studied illustration and political science, and became famous for his work in Central America. The author of acclaimed boo...
Jeanne Moutoussamy-Ashe
Jeanne Moutoussamy-Ashe 0000000083215402 Jeanne Moutoussamy-Ashe, born in 1951, is a renowned artist with exhibitions worldwide, including at MoMA and the Whitney. Her work has been featured in Life,...
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...
ZZ Packer
ZZ Packer 0000000079830912 ZZ Packer is a celebrated writer recognized by Book magazine. A Yale, Johns Hopkins, and University of Iowa alumna, she's acclaimed for her short fiction in her debut colle...
Alice Wootson
Alice Wootson NONE Alice Greenhowe Wootson is a retired teacher and acclaimed author of thirteen novels, including romance and romantic suspense. A prize-winning poet, member of various writers' asso...
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 ...
Aaron Foley
Aaron Foley NONE Aaron Foley is a seasoned journalist and author with a passion for amplifying Black voices in media. Currently serving as senior digital editor for PBS NewsHour, he is also the found...
Tina Andrews
Tina Andrews 0000000003084191 Tina Andrews, an award-winning writer, producer and director, is known for her book “Sally Hemings An American Scandal”, which won the NAACP Image Award and the Memphis ...
Sharon Ewell Foster
Sharon Ewell Foster NONE Sharon Ewell Foster, a former Defense Department instructor, became a full-time author in 2000. Recognized for her significant contributions to Christian fiction, Foster has ...
Toyomi Igus
Toyomi Igus NONE Toyomi Igus, a celebrated author and communications strategist, has had a varied career in publishing, corporate, and marketing communications. Known for her work in academic book pu...
Arthur Ashe
Arthur Ashe 0000000087759773 Arthur Ashe, born in 1943, was the first and only African-American male tennis player to win the U.S. Open, Wimbledon, and the Australian Open, with three Grand Slam titl...
Ernie Paniccioli
Ernie Paniccioli 0000000114932974 Ernest “Brother Ernie” Paniccioli is a renowned hip-hop photographer, known for his work in the 80s and 90s. He authored the bestseller 'Who Shot Ya?' and was featur...
Sylvia Hubbard
Sylvia Hubbard NONE Sylvia Hubbard, a Detroit native and single mother, is a prolific romance author with over 40 books to her name. She founded the Motown Writers Network and co-created The Essence ...
Free Minds Writers
Free Minds Writers NONE "Free Minds Writers” is a collective of creative authors known for their thought-provoking works. Their writings inspire readers to explore new ideas and stimulate free thinki...
Angeli R. Rasbury
Angeli R. Rasbury NONE Angeli R. Rasbury is a versatile writer and attorney who has served as an editor for several major publications. She's a co-editor of a notable book, interviewed distinguished ...
Brenda M. Greene
Brenda M. Greene 000000008095850X Dr. Brenda M. Greene is a respected professor, writer, and scholar, leading the Center for Black Literature and the National Black Writers Conference. She has contri...
Mary Helen Washington
Mary Helen Washington 0000000076894080 Mary Helen Washington is an English Professor at the University of Maryland. She's a former Bunting Fellow at Harvard and has taught at the University of Massac...
Namwali Serpell
Namwali Serpell 0000000369874075 C. Namwali Serpell is a celebrated Zambian writer and University of California, Berkeley professor. Winner of the 2011 Rona Jaffe Foundation Writers’ Award and 2015 C...
De’Shawn Charles Winslow
De’Shawn Charles Winslow NONE De'Shawn Charles Winslow, a North Carolina native, is a Brooklyn-based author and 2017 Iowa Writers’ Workshop graduate. He holds a BFA in creative writing and an MA in E...
Wanda M. Morris
Wanda M. Morris NONE Wanda M. Morris, a corporate attorney, is a seasoned presenter and leader with experience in Fortune 100 companies. A former President of the Georgia Chapter of the Association o...
Marilynn Griffith
Marilynn Griffith NONE Marilynn Griffith is a renowned freelance writer and conference speaker, serving thousands of women yearly through her columns and blogs. She's been the VP of American Christia...
Nichole L. Shields
Nichole L. Shields NONE Nichole L. Shields (1969-2009) was a celebrated poet and essayist, renowned for her impactful story-telling as a black woman. She was a two-time Gwendolyn Brooks poetry winner...
Aminatta Forna
Aminatta Forna 0000000123211415 Aminatta Forna, born in Glasgow and raised in Sierra Leone and the UK, is an acclaimed author with works including The Devil that Danced on the Water, Ancestor Stones,...
Joanne C. Hillhouse
Joanne C. Hillhouse 0000000043655956 Joanne C. Hillhouse’s writing has been described as “honest”, “real”, “poetic”, and “lyrical”. Her Antiguan culture is at the heart of her writing: “Obvious is t...
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...
Wallace Thurman
Wallace Thurman 0000000080916692 Wallace Henry Thurman, born in 1902, was an influential figure during the Harlem Renaissance. Known for his realistic portrayals of lower-class black American society...
J.M. Holmes
J.M. Holmes NONE J.M. Holmes, a Denver-born, Rhode Island-raised author, won the Burnett Howe Prize at Amherst College. With fellowships to the Iowa Writers’ Workshop and the Napa Valley Writers’ Con...
Sheryl Lister
Sheryl Lister NONE Sheryl Lister is an established author specializing in contemporary, inspirational romance and romantic suspense since 2009. Living in California, she's a dedicated wife, mother, a...
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 ...
Glory Edim
Glory Edim NONE Glory Edim is the founder of Well-Read Black Girl, a platform celebrating Black literature. With over 10 years of experience as a creative strategist, she currently assists writers at...
Camille Acker
Camille Acker NONE Camille Acker, a Washington, DC native, is an esteemed writer and educator. With degrees from Howard University and New Mexico State University, she's been recognized by numerous a...
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...
Linda Watkins
Linda Watkins 0000000124240963 Linda Watkins is an accomplished writer and poet, associated with several Black Writers organizations. She contributes to various platforms like AALBC.com, The Opinion ...
Ivor W. Hartmann
Ivor W. Hartmann NONE Ivor W. Hartmann is a Zimbabwean writer, editor, and publisher, known for editing the groundbreaking anthology AfroSF: Science Fiction by African Writers. His work has promoted ...
Tyriek White
Tyriek White 0000000517767141 Tyriek Rashawn White, a Brooklyn-based writer, musician, and educator, serves marginalized communities and leads Lampblack Lit, a literary foundation for Black writers. ...
Miranda Parker
Miranda Parker NONE Davidae Yolanda Stewart, known as Miranda Parker, was an author of comic romance suspense novels. She studied at Agnes Scott College and had diverse roles including journalist, IT...
Yvette Lisa Ndlovu
Yvette Lisa Ndlovu NONE Yvette Lisa Ndlovu is a Zimbabwean storyteller. Her debut short story collection Drinking from Graveyard Wells was selected for the 2021 UPK New Poetry & Prose Series. Yvette ...
Natasha Trethewey
Natasha Trethewey 0000000084159051 Trethewey was U.S. Poet Laureate, 2012-2014 Natasha Trethewey, an American poet and winner of the 2007 Pulitzer Prize for her collection “Native Guard,” was inspired...
J. Thurman
J. Thurman 0000000014023511 J. Thurman, a Chicago-born author with degrees in Psychology and Political Science, is renowned for his impactful empowerment sessions and motivational speaking. A publish...
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...
Maria Isabel Sánchez Vegara
Maria Isabel Sánchez Vegara 0000000458778456 Maria Isabel Sánchez Vegara is a Barcelona-based author and creative director specializing in children's books. With over 15 years' experience in top adve...
Kisha Green
Kisha Green NONE Kisha Green is a multi-talented literary consultant and promoter dedicated to turning authors' dreams into published realities. Since 2006, she's written novels, hosted award-winning...
Sandra L. Manigault
Sandra L. Manigault NONE Sandra L. Manigault, formerly a high school math teacher and college professor, she fell in love with books by African American women and other 20th and 21st century writers,...
Sonia Sanchez
Sonia Sanchez 0000000080885435 Sonia Sanchez (b. 1934) is a significant figure in the Black Arts Movement, known for her innovative and original poetry that explores racial and gender struggles. Her ...
Nathan McClain
Nathan McClain NONE Nathan McClain is the author of Scale, a recipient of fellowships from The Frost Place, Sewanee Writers' Conference, Bread Loaf Writers' Conference, and a graduate of the M.F.A. ...
Zadie Smith
Zadie Smith 000000012276857X Zadie Smith, born Sadie Smith in 1975, is a renowned British author of Jamaican-English heritage. Her debut novel, “White Teeth,” won numerous awards, and subsequent nove...
Dee Romito
Dee Romito NONE Dee Romito, a former elementary school teacher, is renowned for her middle-grade novels like The BFF Bucket List and No Place Like Home. She shares writing tips on her blog and co-adv...
Kionna Walker LeMalle
Kionna Walker LeMalle NONE Kionna Walker LeMalle is a novelist, poet, speaker, and sought-after writing teacher who has taught writers at every level, from elementary school through graduate studies...
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 ...
Mecca Jamilah Sullivan
Mecca Jamilah Sullivan NONE Mecca Jamilah Sullivan, Ph.D., is an award-winning author and scholar known for her short stories and critical work on African Diaspora culture. She's held numerous reside...
Miriam Decosta-Willis
Miriam Decosta-Willis 0000000033083659 Dr. Miriam DeCosta-Willis is a renowned academic, holding degrees from Johns Hopkins and Wellesley College. She made history as the first African American facul...
Gwendolyn Osborne
Gwendolyn Osborne NONE Gwendolyn Osborne, known as “The Word Diva”, was a Chicago-based freelance writer and former associate editor for Black Issues Book Review. Known for her love of romance novels...
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...
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...
Marcia Wilson
Marcia Wilson NONE Marcia E. Wilson, a British-born photographer, has extensively documented poets, writers, and literary events of the African Diaspora since 1995. Her work, featured in major print ...
Safiya Sinclair
Safiya Sinclair 0000000500999106 Safiya Sinclair is a Jamaica-born author known for her award-winning poetry book, Cannibal. She holds numerous accolades including the Whiting Writers’ Award, Pushcar...
Loretta Collins Klobah
Loretta Collins Klobah NONE Loretta Collins Klobah is a Caribbean Literature and creative writing professor at the University of Puerto Rico. She's lived in various Caribbean-related locations and ho...
Victoria Kennedy
Victoria Kennedy NONE Victoria Kennedy, author of 'Where Love Goes' and debut novel 'Sometimes Love', contributes to the Literary Café Magazine and is the founder of Zora’s Den, a group for Black wo...
Lenrie Peters
Lenrie Peters 000000011469286X Dr. Lenrie Peters (1932-2009) was a renowned Gambian surgeon, educator, novelist, and poet. Known as the 'father' of Gambian literature, he was one of the first authors...
Olympia Scott
Olympia Scott NONE Olympia Scott, a Brooklyn native and English major at Medgar Evers College, is a creative writer and intern at AALBC. She contributes useful content and aims to help other writers ...
Melanie S. Hatter
Melanie S. Hatter NONE Melanie S. Hatter, award-winning author of “Malawi’s Sisters” and “The Color of My Soul”, also penned the short fiction collection “Let No One Weep for Me.” She's actively enga...
Jeffery Renard Allen
Jeffery Renard Allen 0000000114593327 Jeffery Renard Allen, an award-winning author of poetry, short stories, and novels, is known for his celebrated novel, 'Rails Under My Back'. He's a fellow at pr...
Mia P. Manansala
Mia P. Manansala NONE Mia P. Manansala, a Chicago-based writer, uses humor and murder to explore Filipino diaspora, queerness, and pop culture. She's an award-winning author with accolades including ...
Mark Allen Boone
Mark Allen Boone NONE Mark Allen Boone, born in 1951, is a former teacher and accomplished editor with over 30 years of experience. He authored two novels and served as the fiction editor of AIM Quar...
Kayla Perrin
Kayla Perrin NONE Kayla Perrin, a USA TODAY and Essence bestselling author, is known for her mainstream and romance novels. Her first novel, Again, My Love, made it on Ingram's Top 50 Most Requested ...
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 ...
Linda Addison
Linda Addison 000000003555029X “Addison has enough invention for two writers, and enough heart for three.” —Terry Bisson, Nebula Award winning author Linda D. Addison, first African...
Julian Mayfield
Julian Mayfield 0000000114504355 Julian Mayfield (1928-1984) was a renowned writer, civil rights activist, and cultural icon. His works explored themes of race and identity, significantly impacting t...
Luvon Roberson
Luvon Roberson NONE Luvon Roberson is a versatile writer recognized for her poetry, flash fiction, and ethnographic fiction. She actively reports on the literary world and contributes to community bu...
Michael La Ronn
Michael La Ronn NONE Michael La Ronn is a prolific author in science fiction, fantasy, and self-help genres for writers. Renowned for his Decision Select and Magic Trackers series, he's been publishi...
Nichelle D. Tramble
Nichelle D. Tramble NONE Nichelle D. Tramble, critically acclaimed author of The Dying Ground, has featured in numerous publications and websites. She is a member of prominent writing societies inclu...
Kristen Gentry
Kristen Gentry NONE Kristen Gentry is the author of Mama Said, longlisted for the 2024 PEN/Robert W. Bingham Prize for Debut Short Story Collection. She received her M.F.A. from Indiana University. ...
Persia Walker
Persia Walker NONE Persia Walker is an acclaimed author of historical novels and a contributor to an anthology by the Mystery Writers of America. She's a recipient of the Author of the Year Award by ...
Tiana Clark
Tiana Clark NONE Tiana Clark is the author of the poetry collections Scorched Earth (Washington Square Press/Simon & Schuster, 2025) and I Can’t Talk About the Trees Without the Blood (Universit...
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...
T. D. Jakes
T. D. Jakes 0000000383058082 Bishop T.D. Jakes is the founder of The Potter’s House, a 30,000-member church and global humanitarian organization. Known for his best-selling books, he's recognized as ...
Arshay Cooper
Arshay Cooper NONE Arshay Cooper is a rower, author, and motivational speaker dedicated to community outreach. He collaborates with nonprofits to make rowing accessible to all and is a 2017 US Rowing...
Roderick D. Talley
Roderick D. Talley NONE Roderick D. Talley created this company as a hub for positive-oriented books and artwork, while fostering a welcoming environment for all people. A firm believer in “practici...
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...
Bernard Alexander McNealy
Bernard Alexander McNealy NONE Bernard Alexander McNealy, born in Georgia, is a former semi-pro baseball player turned legal advocate and writer. Raised in Boston, he learned mental discipline from m...
Steven Todd Fisher
Steven Todd Fisher NONE Ayna Rayne is an award-nominated, genre-defying author who captivates readers with her experimental storytelling. She blends elements of romance, drama, mystery, philosophy, a...
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 ...
Doug and Jackie Christie
Doug and Jackie Christie MULTIPLE Doug & Jackie Christie are both natives of Seattle, WA. Jackie, a former model turned fashion designer, owns her own clothing boutique and label. Doug, a former NBA ...
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...
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...
Alexandra Morton
Alexandra Morton 0000000078676423 Alexandra Morton, host of The Book Look and 2011 Miss Black America-Baltimore, offers a unique online book review show on NewsOne.com. Featuring the latest book news...
Mark Curry
Mark Curry NONE Mark Curry, born in 1971, is an Atlanta-based entertainer who worked with Bad Boy Entertainment and Sean “Puffy” Combs for over a decade. Besides music, his ventures include authoring...
Brandon Williams
Brandon Williams NONE Brandon Williams, author of “Self-Value: The Story of Me,” shares his inspiring journey from childhood homelessness and delinquency to success. Raised in a low-income community,...
Howard Zinn
Howard Zinn 0000000123214931 Howard Zinn, a renowned historian, playwright, and social activist, was a professor at Boston University. Known for his political activism and award-winning nonfiction wo...
Nkechi Taifa
Nkechi Taifa NONE Nkechi Taifa is a distinguished attorney, author, and advocate for justice system reform. She heads The Taifa Group LLC and the Justice Roundtable, and is a Senior Fellow at Columbi...
Yvonne Orji
Yvonne Orji NONE Emmy-nominated actress, writer, and comedian, Yvonne Orji, is renowned internationally for her HBO comedy special and her role in HBO's Insecure. She's also a sought-after speaker wh...
Emmanuel Acho
Emmanuel Acho NONE Emmanuel Acho, a former NFL player turned Fox Sports Analyst and Host/Producer of “Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man.” He is also Forbes' 30 under 30 honoree and the you...
Gregory Gourdet
Gregory Gourdet NONE Gregory Gourdet, born 1975 in New York, is a renowned chef and health enthusiast. A Culinary Institute of America graduate, he trained under Jean-Georges Vongerichten and ran the...
Kevin Y. Brown
Kevin Y. Brown NONE Kevin Y. Brown, a former MTV host and fashion industry marketer, is a motivational speaker and CEO of empowerment company, Legacy Thinking Labs. Overcoming adversity as a former f...
Joel A. Freeman
Joel A. Freeman NONE Dr. Joel A. Freeman is a former NBA mentor, co-author of 'Return To Glory', and Black History expert. He has also worked as a Secret Service chaplain and conducted training event...