AALBC Search
Celeste O. Norfleet
Celeste O. Norfleet 0000000044260796 Celeste O. Norfleet is a bestselling author of over 20 acclaimed novels, winner of six Romance Slam Jam awards, and recipient of the BRAB 2016 Frances Ray Lifetim...
AlTonya Washington
AlTonya Washington NONE AlTonya Washington is an award-winning romance novelist with 12 years of experience. She's won two Romantic Times Magazine Reviewer’s Choice Awards and the Romance Slam Jam EM...
Sharina Harris
Sharina Harris NONE Sharina Harris, also known as Rina Gray, is a celebrated author of women's fiction and contemporary romance. With her background in digital marketing, she's a Romance Slam Jam nom...
Niobia Bryant
Niobia Bryant 0000000033312351 Niobia Bryant is an award-winning author of over 30 romance and commercial fiction works. A two-time winner of RT Book Reviews’ Best African-American/Multicultural Roma...
William Evans
William Evans NONE William Evans, a renowned author, speaker, and MFA candidate, is a co-founder of Black Nerd Problems and creator of the Writing Wrongs Poetry Slam. He's a recipient of multiple gra...
Russell Simmons
Russell Simmons 0000000115647139 Russell Simmons is a multifaceted entrepreneur, author, and producer, widely known as the Chair and CEO of Rush Communications and co-founder of Def Jam Recordings. H...
Harmony Evans
Harmony Evans NONE Harmony Evans, an award-winning Harlequin Romance author based in NYC, is known for her acclaimed debut and is a double-finalist in the 2012 Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice Awards...
Deborah Fletcher Mello
Deborah Fletcher Mello 0000000036839925 Deborah Fletcher Mello is a multi-faceted author and Renaissance woman with diverse career experience. Her debut novel earned her a Best New Author nomination,...
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 ...
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 ...
Barbara Fant
Barbara Fant 0000000114483152 Barbara Fant is an acclaimed poet who has been writing and performing for over fifteen years. She has competed in nine National Poetry Slam competitions and placed 8th ...
Tara Betts
Tara Betts NONE Tara Betts, a celebrated author and poet, is known for her educational efforts in arts programs and her work with GirlSpeak. She has been featured on HBO's Def Poetry Jam and the Blac...
Sierra Kay
Sierra Kay 0000000461326725 Sierra Kay is an award-winning author with a love for the written word. Encouraged by her mother to read widely, she has a fondness for everything from classical literatur...
Denise Bolds
Denise Bolds NONE Denise Bolds, a Harlem-born single mother, author, and community activist, uses her platform to empower underserved women and children. Known for her book on raising black sons and ...
Pat Simmons
Pat Simmons 0000000055458378 Pat Simmons, a seasoned author with 10 years of experience and 30+ titles to her name, is a passionate genealogy sleuth who often casts her ancestors in her novels. She h...
Sharon C. Cooper
Sharon C. Cooper NONE Sharon C. Cooper is an award-winning, bestselling author of contemporary and romantic suspense novels. She's known for her love of romance, rainy days, and peanut butter and jel...
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...
Gwynne Forster
Gwynne Forster NONE Gwynne Forster (1922-2015) was a renowned and award-winning author, known for her romance and general fiction novels. Her work, featured in Black Expressions Magazine, earned her ...
Paul Beatty
Paul Beatty 0000000084014450 Paul Beatty, born 1962, the first American to win the Man Booker Prize in 2016 for his novel “The Sellout.” An LA native and graduate of Brooklyn College and Boston Unive...
Patricia Smith
Patricia Smith 0000000110775334 Patricia Smith, celebrated poet and professor, is known for her direct and adventuresome style. She’s authored six books, including award finalists 'Blood Dazzler' and...
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...
Ted Joans
Ted Joans 0000000081560413 “Jazz is my religion.” Theodore “Ted” Joans was an acclaimed jazz poet, surrealist, trumpeter, and painter, known for his avant-garde work and criticism of compe...
Danez Smith
Danez Smith 0000000529080232 Danez Smith is an award-winning poet from St. Paul, Minnesota. Known for his works such as [insert] boy, his poetry explores themes of race, class, sexuality, faith, and ...
Daisy Copelin
Daisy Copelin NONE Daisy Copelin, a graduate of Nyack College and self-made author, uses her personal experiences of overcoming adversity to inspire young people through her writings. She founded the...
Oyinkan Braithwaite
Oyinkan Braithwaite 0000000472215924 Oyinkan Braithwaite, a Kingston University graduate in Creative Writing and Law, has worked in Nigerian publishing and children's entertainment. Now a freelance w...
Gabriel Bump
Gabriel Bump 0000000495871676 Gabriel Bump is an award-winning author featured in Slam Magazine, Huffington Post, and more. He received the 2016 Deborah Slosberg Memorial Award for Fiction and holds ...
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...
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...
aja monet
aja monet 0000000370068724 aja monet is a surrealist blues poet, storyteller, and organizer born and raised in Brooklyn, NY. She won the legendary Nuyorican Poets Cafe Grand Slam poetry award title i...
muMs the schemer
muMs the schemer NONE Craig Grant, known as muMs the Schemer, is a poet and actor from the Bronx, New York. He rose to fame in the documentary SlamNation and through his role as “Poet” in HBO's Oz. H...
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...
Cortney Gee
Cortney Gee NONE Cortney Gee, a comedian from Cleveland, Ohio, has performed on HBO's Def Jam, BET's ComicView, and The Jamie Foxx Show. Known for touring globally and bringing laughter to audiences,...
Gabriel Tolliver and Reggie Osse
Gabriel Tolliver and Reggie Osse MULTIPLE Reggie Ossé, a former entertainment lawyer at Def Jam Records, is experienced in recording, publishing, and management agreements. He later retired and auth...
Danny Simmons
Danny Simmons 000000011447538X AALBC Mourns the Passing of Danny Simmons Daniel “Danny” Simmons is a globally recognized abstract-expressionist painter with works in prominent establishments like the ...
Heru Ptah
Heru Ptah NONE Heru Ptah is a multifaceted writer, known for his work as a poet, novelist, playwright, and screenwriter. He's appeared on HBO's Def Poetry Jam, CNN, and has a novel published by MTV B...
Georgia Woodbine
Georgia Woodbine NONE Georgia Woodbine is an accomplished author of several books on personal development and success, with over 15 years of entrepreneurial business success. She has extensive experi...
jessica Care moore
jessica Care moore 0000000043767122 jessica Care moore is an internationally renowned poet/ publisher/ activist/ rock star/ playwright and actor. She is a five-time Showtime at the Apollo winn...
Staceyann Chin
Staceyann Chin 0000000040460475 Staceyann Chin is a multifaceted poet, actor, and artist known for her memoir “The Other Side of Paradise” and her performances in Russell Simmons Def Poetry Jam. Feat...
LaShonda Katrice Barnett
LaShonda Katrice Barnett 0000000384767200 LaShonda Katrice Barnett is a renowned author and educator, known for her trilogy of plays and debut novel, “Jam on the Vine.” Twice nominated for the Pushca...
Walter Zacharius
Walter Zacharius NONE Walter Zacharius (1923-2011) was a WWII veteran and a noted philanthropist. He co-founded Kensington Publishing in 1974, expanding the romance genre and supporting diverse reade...
Deanna Grey
Deanna Grey NONE Deanna Grey is a romance author known for writing New Adult stories centered on Black women, including sapphic romance and contemporary love stories. Her work often explores ambitio...
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...
Lauren Lacey
Lauren Lacey NONE Lauren Lacey, an indie Romance author and digital strategist, has optimized global brands including PwC. She's the former marketing lead for Mastercard and AMEX gift cards, and a Fo...
Rochelle Alers
Rochelle Alers 0000000057307055 Rochelle Alers has been hailed by readers and booksellers alike as one of today’s most prolific African American authors of romance and women’s fiction. With more ...
Dorothy M. Hazzard
Dorothy M. Hazzard NONE "Dorothy M. Hazzard, pictured with author Tracy Grant at the 2000 National African American Cultural Expo at the Philadelphia Convention Center.” Dorothy M. Hazzard is picture...
Guy Sims
Guy Sims NONE Guy A. Sims is an acclaimed author known for his early publications on Kwanzaa, his collection of American Tall Tales, and his novel, Living Just A Little. He's also the head writer for...
William Augustus Jones Jr.
William Augustus Jones Jr. 0000000021740789 William A. Jones Jr. (1934-2006) was a distinguished African-American minister and civil rights leader. An alumnus of the University of Kentucky and Crozer...
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...
Brenda Jackson
Brenda Jackson 0000000117535931 Jackson is New York Times bestselling with of 150 romance novels. Brenda Jackson, a New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author, has written over 150 novels and nov...
Alyssa Cole
Alyssa Cole NONE Alyssa Cole is an award-winning author known for her historical, contemporary, and SFF romances. Her notable work, AN EXTRAORDINARY UNION, won the RT Reviewers’ Choice Award's Best B...
Lisa Watson
Lisa Watson NONE Lisa Watson is a national bestselling author based in Washington D.C., known for her work in diverse romance genres. Her debut novel was nominated for Best Contemporary Fiction, and ...
Siera London
Siera London NONE Siera London, a bestselling author, crafts contemporary romance and romantic suspense novels. Her diverse characters navigate challenges to find love, blending intelligence, wit, dr...
A. C. Arthur
A. C. Arthur NONE Baltimore-based author C. Arthur, known for infusing romance with fresh dialogue, intriguing plots, and sensual scenes, captivates readers with her innovative style. Drawing from he...
Danielle Jackson
Danielle Jackson 0000000485185680 Danielle Jackson, a contemporary romance author and avid reader, balances her love for books with hosting a podcast and coordinating author events at an indie bookst...
Zariah L. Banks
Zariah L. Banks NONE Zariah L. Banks, a multi-award-winning author, is renowned for her contemporary romance novels. She gained fame with her debut novel, “Beauty Beheld,” and Amazon bestselling nove...
Shandon D. Allen
Shandon D. Allen NONE Born in South Carolina to a Marine and martial artist father, and raised in South Memphis by a mother who dedicated more than 40 years to social work and property management, S...
Synithia Williams
Synithia Williams NONE Synithia Williams, a romance novelist, discovered her passion for the genre at 13. Apart from writing, she manages water quality issues in South Carolina, while also nurturing ...
Jackie Chanel
Jackie Chanel NONE Jackie Chanel, a contemporary romance author, began her writing career in high school. She wrote her first novel in Youngstown, Ohio. Now residing in Atlanta, her characters reflec...
Delaney Diamond
Delaney Diamond NONE Delaney Diamond, a USA Today Bestselling author, pens sweet and passionate romance novels. Originally from the U.S. Virgin Islands, she now resides in Atlanta, Georgia. Apart fro...
Devon Vaughn Archer
Devon Vaughn Archer NONE Devon Vaughn Archer, pseudonym for R. Barri Flowers, is a celebrated mystery novelist, non-fiction author, and criminologist. Renowned for his multicultural romance novels, h...
Shelia M. Goss
Shelia M. Goss NONE Shelia M. Goss is a national best-selling author of over 20 novels in various genres, including Christian fiction and romance. Known for her easy, flowing prose, she has been reco...
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...
Francis Ray
Francis Ray 0000000110715606 Francis Ray (1944-2013) was a celebrated Texas-based author and school nurse practitioner. Known for her bestsellers in Blackboard and Essence Magazine, her work includes...
Jacquelin Thomas
Jacquelin Thomas NONE Award-winning author Jacquelin Thomas has published over 50 titles across romance, women’s fiction, inspirational, and young adult genres. She's received multiple awards includi...
Farrah Rochon
Farrah Rochon NONE Farrah Rochon, a Louisiana native and award-winning author, launched her writing career at Xavier University. She's known for her Holmes Brothers series, starting with her debut no...
Marlon McCaulsky
Marlon McCaulsky NONE Award-winning American author and screenplay writer, Marlon McCaulsky, is celebrated for his Fiction, Romance, and Science Fiction works that often highlight contemporary Africa...
Johnie Jay
Johnie Jay NONE Author Johnie Jay, known for his passion, made a successful debut in 2013 with his novel, “Inevitable Act I” ranking #1 on Amazon's women fiction list. Recognized by Black Expressions...
Beverly Jenkins
Beverly Jenkins 000000011691928X Beverly Jenkins, a USA TODAY bestselling author, is renowned for her African-American historical romance fiction, mainly set in the 19th century. With over thirty nov...
Carolyn Holland
Carolyn Holland NONE Carolyn Holland, a bibliophile and historical romance enthusiast, is dedicated to diversifying the genre by writing books for and about people of color. Inspired by LA Banks and ...
Crystal Hubbard
Crystal Hubbard NONE Crystal Hubbard is a versatile author, known for her picture books, contemporary and historical romance novels, and short stories. Her debut title is part of the Who HQ series. C...
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...
W.D. Foster-Graham
W.D. Foster-Graham NONE W.D. Foster-Graham, a Minneapolis native and multi-Grammy Award-winning ensemble member, is a distinguished author and poet. He's a psychology graduate, guest writer, and book...
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...
Dana Bari
Dana Bari NONE Dana Bari is a romance author whose love of storytelling grew from years of reading romance and historical fiction—and from a desire to see more stories that reflect her own stage of ...
Rebekah Weatherspoon
Rebekah Weatherspoon 0000000382412086 After years of meddling in her friends’ love lives, bestselling and multi-award-winning author Rebekah Weatherspoon turned to writing romance to get her fix. Ra...
Javon Johnson
Javon Johnson NONE Javon Johnson is an assistant professor at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and director of African diaspora studies. He authored 'Killing Poetry' (2017) and is a renowned spok...
Tarriona Ball
Tarriona Ball NONE Tarriona “Tank” Ball is a New Orleans-based slam poet and Grammy-winning recording artist with her band, Tank and the Bangas.
Tyehimba Jess
Tyehimba Jess 0000000044353175 Congrats to Tyehimba Jess: Winner 2017 Pulitzer Prize for Poetry Tyehimba Jess, a Detroit native, is an award-winning poet and professor. His first book, Leadbelly, won ...
Julian Randall
Julian Randall NONE Julian Randall, a Queer Black poet from Chicago, has received multiple fellowships and was named 2015's Best Poet at CUPSI. He curates for Winter Tangerine Review and is pursuing ...
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...
Kazembe
Kazembe NONE Lasana Kazembe is a renowned poet, essayist, and lecturer, recognized for his performances at literary venues across Chicago. Garnering accolades such as the 1st Place Winner of the Gwen...
Chad Sanders
Chad Sanders NONE Chad Sanders, a NYC-based writer, director, actor, and musician, previously worked at Google and YouTube. He has collaborated with Spike Lee, Morgan Freeman, and Will Packer on TV s...
Steven Willis
Steven Willis NONE Chicago-based storyteller Steven Antoine Willis uses his background in fine arts to illustrate African American culture. With art influenced by urban life and religion, Steven mix...
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...
Terrance Dean
Terrance Dean 000000003396662X Terrance Dean, a former MTV producer, became a philanthropist and “Cardio-Spiritualist” after leaving his jet-set job. He founded Men's Empowerment and co-created “The ...
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...
Cheryl Boyce-Taylor
Cheryl Boyce-Taylor 0000000038283932 Trinidad-born, Queens-bred Cheryl Boyce Taylor is a celebrated poet and visual artist. She's authored several poetry collections, received the Partners in Writing...
Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson
Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson 0000000110665899 Curtis James Jackson III, known as 50 Cent, is a renowned rapper, actor, and entrepreneur, raised in South Jamaica, Queens. Overcoming early life struggles a...
Suheir Hammad
Suheir Hammad 0000000084052510 Suheir Hammad, born October 25, 1973, is a Palestinian-American poet, author, performer, and activist renowned for her work in the spoken-word scene. She's had success ...
Reginald Harris
Reginald Harris 0000000022558452 Reginald Harris, a noted poet and IT Director at Poets House, NYC, is a winner of the 2012 Cave Canem/Northwestern University Press Poetry Prize. He's received multip...
Winter Ramos
Winter Ramos NONE Winter Ramos, a seasoned Hip Hop industry professional, has over 10 years of experience as a wardrobe stylist for labels and as an executive assistant to artists like Fabolous. She'...
Gina Yashere
Gina Yashere NONE Gina Yashere is a notable British comedian known for her appearances on TV shows in the UK and US, including The Tonight Show and The Daily Show. She's a co-creator, writer, and act...
Diane Oliver
Diane Oliver 000000012330550X Diane Oliver (1943-1966) was a notable author and Managing Editor of The Carolinian. She published seven short stories, won an O. Henry Award, and attended the Universit...
Malcolm D. Lee
Malcolm D. Lee 0000000041786688 Malcolm D. Lee is an award-winning writer, director, and producer whose celebrated work includes The Best Man, Girls Trip, Night School, and Space Jam: A New Legacy. ...
Van Whitfield
Van Whitfield 000000004215157X Van Whitfield, an acclaimed novelist, rose to fame with his debut book, “Beeperless Remote,” earning him 6 Ben Franklin Award nominations. Despite initial struggles wit...
Brian Peterson
Brian Peterson 0000000026606618 Brian Petersen is a notable figure who appeared alongside Faith Cottrell at the 2000 National African American Cultural Expo in Philadelphia. Brian Petersen is picture...
Tony Dungy
Tony Dungy 0000000036530143 Tony Dungy, the first African American coach to lead the Indianapolis Colts to a Super Bowl victory, has an impressive coaching history with multiple teams. Prior to coach...
Yolanda Joe
Yolanda Joe NONE Yolanda Joe, a Yale and Columbia Journalism graduate, is a bestselling author known for novels like My Fine Lady. A former TV and radio producer, Joe also writes mysteries as Ardella...
Fannie Lou Hamer
Fannie Lou Hamer 0000000072528286 “I am sick and tired of being sick and tired.” —Fannie Lou Hamer Fannie Lou Hamer was a significant civil rights leader and voting rights activist. ...
Andrea Foy
Andrea Foy NONE Andrea Foy, award-winning author and contributor to 12 anthologies, is known for her works on women's empowerment. She's a Distinguished Toastmaster and a Certified John Maxwell Leade...