AALBC Search
Elle Simone Scott
Elle Simone Scott NONE AALBC Mourns the Passing of Elle Simone Scott Elle Simone Scott (born LaShawnda Sherise Simone Scott; November 28, 1976 – January 5, 2026) was an American chef, culinary produc...
Eugene Williams, Sr.
Eugene Williams, Sr. MULTIPLE Dr. Eugene Williams, Sr. is a renowned educator, researcher, author, and administrator, known for his impactful test improvement program in Washington, D.C. Public Schoo...
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...
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...
Carl Gamble
Carl Gamble NONE “There are old pilots and there are bold pilots, but there are no old, bold pilots.” Carl Gamble, a former aviator, author and speaker, shares his inspiring journey from a...
Cozbi A. Cabrera
Cozbi A. Cabrera NONE I wanted to express something that was really beautiful… —Cozbi A. Cabrera Cozbi A. Cabrera, a Brooklyn native, is a multidisciplinary creative best known for design...
Laura Jackson
Laura Jackson NONE Evelyn Perkins, writing as Laura Jackson, is a board-certified psychiatric mental health nurse and author with over 30 years' experience. As a past President of the American Psychi...
Angie Ransome-Jones
Angie Ransome-Jones NONE National bestselling author and ghostwriter, Angie Ransome-Jones, is known for her book, Path to Peace, and her ghostwriting services. She is a dedicated wife and mother, a f...
Jonathan Anthony Burkett
Jonathan Anthony Burkett NONE Jonathan Anthony Burkett, born in 1987, is an inspirational writer who persevered through life's trials and a life-changing surgery in 2005. Despite lack of formal educa...
Kevin Wayne Johnson
Kevin Wayne Johnson NONE “God uses ordinary people to accomplish extraordinary things.” Kevin Wayne Johnson has taken up the task of developing individual and organizational operating exc...
TeMika Grooms
TeMika Grooms NONE TeMika Grooms is an Atlanta-based artist and activist, known for illustrating children's books and founding KidsLitATL. She lives in Georgia with her cat and two daughters. TeMika ...
Sheritha Bowman
Sheritha Bowman NONE Sheritha Bowman is an acclaimed author, known for her book 'Soul Inspiration: The Triumphant Testimony of a Praying Wife'. Her inspiring story has been featured in ESSENCE magazi...
Sojourner Truth
Sojourner Truth 0000000109884285 One of the “100 Most Significant Americans of All Time” Sojourner Truth (c. 1797 – November 26, 1883) was an abolitionist and women’s rights a...
T. Styles
T. Styles NONE Driven by her faith and inspired by trailblazers like Sister Souljah, this multi-talented author has a diverse background in massage therapy, modeling, and public speaking. Passionate ...
Toni Cade Bambara
Toni Cade Bambara 0000000109088262 Toni Cade Bambara (1939-1995) was a celebrated writer, activist, feminist, and filmmaker. Born in Harlem, her work was characterized by her capacity for both laught...
Jayson Tatum and Sam Apple
Jayson Tatum and Sam Apple MULTIPLE Jayson Tatum (aka Deuce’s dad) is a professional basketball player for the Boston Celtics. A six-time NBA All-Star, multiple-time All-NBA First Team selection, Ol...
Sherri Winston
Sherri Winston NONE Sherri Winston is the author of National Book Award longlist title Lotus Bloom and the Afro Revolution, Kirkus Prize Finalist Shark Teeth, President of the Whole Fifth Grade, Pre...
Tonya Bolden
Tonya Bolden 0000000116508683 Tonya Bolden, a Princeton and Columbia University graduate, is an award-winning author/editor of over 40 books, including children's nonfiction and historical novels. He...
Valerie J. Lewis Coleman
Valerie J. Lewis Coleman NONE Valerie J. Lewis Coleman, with 20+ years of experience in family and relationships, helps families overcome challenges. She also guides aspiring authors in self-publishi...
Walt Goodridge
Walt Goodridge NONE The “Passion Prophet” Walt F.J. Goodridge is a versatile individual with a passion for teaching. He has worked as an artist, engineer, DJ, author, and speaker among oth...
Ousmane Sembène
Ousmane Sembène 0000000120171534 “Father of African Film” Ousmane Sembène (1923-2007) was a renowned Senegalese director, producer, and writer. Often recognized as the “father of African ...
G. Dan Buford
G. Dan Buford NONE G. Dan Buford, a New York City native, has lived across the U.S. He hopes his latest novel will be successful, while contemplating the nuances of writing in obscurity versus infamy...
Oprah Winfrey
Oprah Winfrey 0000000114891842 Oprah Winfrey, a multi-billionaire and influential media owner, is best known for her highest-rated TV show, The Oprah Winfrey Show. She also runs the renowned Oprah Bo...
William Jelani Cobb
William Jelani Cobb 0000000034332610 William Jelani Cobb, Ph.D., is an accomplished author, educator, and journalist specializing in post-Civil War African American history and 20th-century American ...
Winston Chapman
Winston Chapman NONE Winston Chapman, originally from Roseville, Minnesota, is an author with diverse career experiences, including stand-up comedy and TV show production. He first published an artic...
Saundra
Saundra 0000000497397250 Saundra Jones, an author from Mississippi, now living in Indiana, is known for her stories about fearless females. Her acclaimed debut novel, Her Sweetest Revenge, kickstarte...
Raquel Cepeda
Raquel Cepeda 0000000040077222 Award-winning journalist and filmmaker, Raquel Cepeda, delves into her ancestry via DNA testing, providing insights on modern Latino identity controversies. Raquel Cepe...
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 ...
Yvonne Blackwood
Yvonne Blackwood NONE Yvonne Blackwood is a renowned author, speaker, and retired banker, known for her world travels and writing. She has written successful books like 'Into Africa a Personal Journe...
Zetta Elliott
Zetta Elliott 000000003627950X Zetta Elliott, a Canadian-born Black feminist writer, is known for her poetry, plays, essays, and children's novels. She earned a PhD in American Studies from NYU, taug...
Zora Neale Hurston
Zora Neale Hurston 0000000109083197 “One of the greatest writers of our time.”—Toni Morrison Zora Neale Hurston is considered one of the titans of twentieth-century African American ...
Regina Tisdale
Regina Tisdale NONE Regina Tisdale is the widow of Wayman Tisdale, a renowned basketball player and jazz musician from Oklahoma, who tragically passed away from cancer at age 44 in 2009. Regina Tisda...
Colin Kaepernick and Eve L. Ewing
Colin Kaepernick and Eve L. Ewing MULTIPLE Colin Kaepernick is an activist and former NFL player known for protesting racial injustice. Eve L. Ewing is a sociologist, author, and visual artist, focus...
Jose Ando
Jose Ando 0000000513785772 Jose Ando was born and raised in Tokyo and is of African-Asian heritage. His debut novel Jackson Alone was awarded the 59th Bungei Prize. It was also shortlisted for th...
Diane McKinney-Whetstone
Diane McKinney-Whetstone 000000006771958X Diane McKinney-Whetstone, acclaimed author of eight novels, tells stories of Philadelphia communities. Her latest novel, Lazaretto, was released in 2016. She...
Teju Cole
Teju Cole 0000000077460567 Teju Cole, an acclaimed writer, art historian, and photographer, serves as the Distinguished Writer in Residence at Bard College and is a photography critic for the New Yor...
Phillip Martin JR.
Phillip Martin JR. NONE Phillip Martin Jr. (Phil Martin) is a retired Navy veteran, African American novelist, and lifelong storyteller. Born and raised in Philadelphia, he has since lived in Japan,...
Winnie Harlow
Winnie Harlow NONE Winnie Harlow (born Chantelle Whitney Brown-Young in July 27, 1994) is a Canadian fashion model, actress, entrepreneur, and advocate best known for challenging conventional beauty...
Jasminne Mendez
Jasminne Mendez NONE Jasminne Mendez is a Dominican‑American writer, recipient of the Pura Belpré Honor Award. She is a poet, playwright, translator, and audiobook narrator. Her latest work, Aniana ...
Reshona Landfair
Reshona Landfair NONE Reshona Landfair was the face of 4 The Cause, a four-person musical group signed to RCA/BMG from 1994–2000. More recently, Reshona has worked in community health within t...
Nathaniel Glover
Nathaniel Glover NONE From the terrors of Ax Handle Saturday to making history as a barrier-breaking law enforcement leader and academic champion, Nathaniel Glover’s journey is an enduring...
Dionne Warwick
Dionne Warwick 0000000078273077 Marie Dionne Warwick (born December 12, 1940) ranks among the 40 biggest US hitmakers between 1955–1999, based on her chart history in Billboard’s Hot 100 pop singles...
Karen Lord
Karen Lord 0000000074983995 Karen Lord (born 22 May 1968) is a Barbadian writer and editor and the author of Redemption in Indigo, winner of the 2011 William L. Crawford Award and the 2012 Kitschies...
Miss Candice
Miss Candice Miss Candice is a bestselling author from the east side of Detroit, MI. Her debut novel, If Not For Love, was published on Amazon in 2014, marking the beginning of a remarkable literar...
Ash Cash
Ash Cash NONE Ash Exantus, also known as Ash Cash, is a renowned banking executive, personal finance expert, and author of six books, three of which are Amazon.com bestsellers. He serves as a head of...
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 ...
Earvin Magic Johnson
Earvin Magic Johnson 0000000368581203 Earvin “Magic” Johnson is a former NBA player born in Lansing, Michigan. He played for the Los Angeles Lakers, earning multiple championships and MVP awards. Aft...
Aileen Muhammad
Aileen Muhammad NONE Aileen Muhammad, born in 1950, is a notable poet and author from Philadelphia. Her poetry appeared in Journal of Black Poetry and Muhammad Speaks in the 1960s. She graduated from...
Albert Murray
Albert Murray 0000000083695821 Albert L. Murray (1916-2013) was a respected critic, novelist, and biographer. Born in Alabama, he divided his time between teaching and serving in the air force before...
Jay-Z
Jay-Z 0000000118335528 Shawn “JAY-Z” Carter, born December 4, 1969, is a highly influential rapper with a net worth over $1B. He founded Roc Nation, an entertainment company launching a new publishin...
Lori Nelson Lee
Lori Nelson Lee NONE Lori Nelson Lee, author of children's books like 'Hillary’s Big Business Adventure' and 'Danica Dramatica - Queen Me', introduces entrepreneurship to young readers. Her works are...
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...
Lillian McEwen
Lillian McEwen NONE Lillian McEwen, a retired Justice, served in multiple legal roles in Washington, D.C. Her memoir, “D.C. Unmasked & Undressed,” offers a candid look into her personal life, includi...
asha bandele
asha bandele 0000000385071694 Asha Bandele is an award-winning author and former features editor for Essence Magazine. She's known for her 1999 debut, The Prisoner's Wife, a memoir about her relation...
Audre Lorde
Audre Lorde 0000000115569521 Audre Lorde, a black, gay female poet and activist, fought against racial and sexual discrimination and for gay rights. A renowned writer, she authored 18 books and won t...
Alvin Romer
Alvin Romer NONE Alvin C. Romer is a Miami-based educator, freelance writer, and journalist. He founded The Romer Review, a platform for book reviews and author showcases. Trained as a journalist, Ro...
Tiffany M. Davis
Tiffany M. Davis NONE Tiffany M. Davis, a self-proclaimed wordsmith, is known for her novel “Sandtrap” and her work with Aalize.com and BlackWords, Inc. She's also contributed to “Malaria Shots Not I...
Alisa Hyman
Alisa Hyman NONE Alisa Hyman, a Maryland native and Hampton University graduate, is a high school English teacher and mentor in Washington, DC. With a passion for writing rooted in her love of books,...
Benny Andrews
Benny Andrews 0000000066753102 Benny Andrews (1930-2006) was an American painter, printmaker, and educator known for his expressionist style. Born and raised in Georgia, he was the first in his famil...
A.C. Britt
A.C. Britt NONE A.C. Britt is a passionate writer, beginning in elementary school and evolving into an author of fiction in college. She has penned multiple manuscripts, including “London Reign.” Her...
Cornelius Eady
Cornelius Eady 0000000025783225 Cornelius Eady is a renowned poet and author of eight books, including award-winning “Victims of the Latest Dance Craze.” He co-founded the Cave Canem workshop for Afr...
Beyoncé
Beyoncé 0000000114914936 Beyoncé Knowles, born September 4, 1981, is a Grammy-winning singer and actress from Houston, Texas. Known as the lead singer of Destiny's Child, she has also had a successfu...
April R. Silver
April R. Silver NONE April R. Silver is a renowned marketing strategist, cultural curator, and social justice activist. As the founder of AKILA WORKSONGS, she's known for creating influential social ...
Molefi Kete Asante
Molefi Kete Asante 0000000108973825 Dr. Molefi Kete Asante is Professor and Chair, Department of African American Studies at Temple University. Considered by his peers to be one of the most distingu...
Brian Egeston
Brian Egeston NONE Brian Egeston, a writer and former engineer, uses his jovial demeanor and humor to transfer emotion through his words. He began writing to combat boredom, turning his short stories...
Dane Reid
Dane Reid NONE Dane Reid is a professional African American male voiceover talent who offers voiceover and commercial production services for brands, agencies, and producers seeking high-quality voi...
Cain Hope Felder
Cain Hope Felder 0000000082494921 Cain Hope Felder, a professor at Howard University, is known for his groundbreaking study in New Testament Language and Literature. He's the founder of the Biblical ...
Audrey Vernick
Audrey Vernick NONE Our students thoroughly enjoyed meeting Audrey Vernick; her presentation kept the kids engaged and energized! She helped them make real-life connections, and she reinforced writi...
Roxane Orgill
Roxane Orgill NONE Roxane Orgill is a seasoned music critic and author with over 20 years of experience, having worked with The Wall Street Journal and The Milwaukee Journal. She is known for her bio...
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 ...
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...
Charles Euchner
Charles Euchner NONE Euchner, a renowned author and speaker, explores the Civil Rights Revolution in his work, drawing lessons for today's world from the movement's “everyday heroism.” A Vanderbilt a...
Charles Barkley
Charles Barkley 0000000083304069 Ex-pro basketball player, Charles Barkley, now an NBA analyst for TNT’s Inside the NBA, boasts 11 All-Star Game appearances, All-Star MVP, 1993's league MVP, and is n...
Tu-Shonda L. Whitaker
Tu-Shonda L. Whitaker NONE Tu-Shonda L. Whitaker is an award-winning, bestselling author known for her works such as “Flipside of the Game” and “Game Over.” She's contributed to anthologies and has e...
Fred W. Kennedy
Fred W. Kennedy 0000000062844912 Fred W. Kennedy is a former secondary school teacher and principal who has transitioned into writing Jamaican historical fiction. His latest work, “Huareo: Story of a...
Usain Bolt
Usain Bolt 0000000120374593 Usain Bolt, born August 21, 1986, is recognized as the fastest person ever timed. He holds world records in the 100m, 200m, and 4x100m relay, won six Olympic gold medals, ...
Ibram X. Kendi
Ibram X. Kendi 0000000126860699 Ibram Xolani Kendi, an assistant professor of African American History at the University of Florida, is an award-winning author and former journalist. Kendi has receiv...
A.R. Bernard
A.R. Bernard NONE Dr. Alphonso R. Bernard, Sr., born in 1953, is the spiritual leader of the New York Christian Cultural Center in Brooklyn. He left a banking career in 1979 to establish a church tha...
Chris Hedges
Chris Hedges 0000000120255957 Chris Hedges was a foreign correspondent for nearly two decades for The New York Times, The Dallas Morning News, The Christian Science Monitor and National Public...
Michael Gordon Bennett
Michael Gordon Bennett NONE Author, actor, and entrepreneur Michael Gordon Bennett, born in 1958, is known for his book “7-10 Split: My Journey As America’s Whitest Black Kid.” He's also the CEO of B...
Demoine Kinney
Demoine Kinney NONE Demoine Kinney is a pastor, Air Force veteran, actor, comedian, and self-taught saxophonist known for his positive messages and unique style. Noted for his role in The Avengers, h...
Claude McKay
Claude McKay 0000000108625951 Festus Claudius McKay, a key figure in the Harlem Renaissance, was born in Jamaica and authored influential works including the poem “If We Must Die” and novel “Home to ...
Jericho Brown
Jericho Brown 0000000055016908 Jericho Brown is a 2024 MacArthur Foundation’s “Genius” Grant Winner Jericho Brown, born 1976, is a renowned, award-winning poet recognized for his inf...
Constance Banks
Constance Banks NONE Constance Banks is a motivational author with over 20 years of experience in youth ministry. Her latest book, “A Conversation with My Mother about Sex, Boys, and How She Married ...
Russell Freedman
Russell Freedman 0000000373864646 Russell Freedman, an award-winning author of 47 books translated into multiple languages, wasn't always a children's book writer. He worked as a reporter and editor ...
Toni Ann Johnson
Toni Ann Johnson NONE Toni Ann Johnson is an award-winning author recognized for her linked story collection 'Light Skin Gone to Waste', which won the 2021 Flannery O'Connor Award and was nominated f...
Jacqueline Johnson
Jacqueline Johnson NONE Jacqueline Johnson is a multi-disciplined artist and award-winning author known for her work in writing and fiber arts. She has taught poetry at multiple institutions and has ...
Dashawn Taylor
Dashawn Taylor NONE Dashawn Taylor is a contemporary novelist and Rutgers graduate known for his urban edgy style. A former finalist on BET's Ultimate Hustler Show, he's also the author of 'From Pove...
Cookie Johnson
Cookie Johnson NONE Earlitha “Cookie†Johnson is a philanthropist and Secretary of the Board for the Magic Johnson Foundation. She focuses on health, education, and social needs in underserved co...
Ras Baraka
Ras Baraka NONE "Ras Baraka, son of famed poets and father of three, is a published author. His latest work, 'Black Girls Learn Love Hard', is a tribute to his late sister, Shani Baraka.” Ras Baraka ...
Esther Iverem
Esther Iverem NONE Esther Iverem is a multi-disciplinary artist, writer, curator, and social justice advocate. She's a radio host, founder of the Black website SeeingBlack.com, and author of four boo...
Ruth C. Taylor
Ruth C. Taylor NONE Ruth Carol Taylor, born 1931, is the first African American flight attendant in the U.S. with Mohawk Airlines. She's also a journalist and a nurse who has championed minority and ...
Valerie Graves
Valerie Graves 0000000120182073 Valerie Graves, a renowned creative director and author, is recognized for her work with Fortune 500 companies and her groundbreaking role as one of the first black co...
Malaika Adero
Malaika Adero 0000000384232281 Malaika Adero runs a literary agency, Adero's Literary Tribe, where she works with publishers and individual clients. She is the author of several books including “Up S...
Tiffeny L. Marsh
Tiffeny L. Marsh NONE Tiffeny L Marsh, born in 1973, is a Milwaukee native, Concordia University graduate, and author known for her inspiring work, 'Overcoming Obstacles'. In her role at the City of ...
Veronica Chambers
Veronica Chambers 0000000063184848 Veronica Chambers is a celebrated author known for her memoir, Mam's Girl. Born in Panama and raised in Brooklyn, her Afro-Latina heritage often influences her work...
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 ...
W.E.B. Du Bois
W.E.B. Du Bois 0000000108863087 Dr. W.E.B. Du Bois was a prominent scholar and writer in American history. Born in 1868, he was the first Black person to receive a Ph.D. from Harvard. He established ...
Dwayne S. Joseph
Dwayne S. Joseph NONE Dwayne S. Joseph, acclaimed for his dramatic storytelling since age 13, has penned 10 novels and contributed to four anthology collections, including the Essence bestseller, Aro...
Elizabeth Nunez
Elizabeth Nunez 0000000080832288 Elizabeth Nunez, a Trinidad-born, award-winning author, wrote ten novels and a memoir, with several recognized by the New York Times and Oprah's book club. Her works,...