Crystal Kamm

Written by

Crystal Kamm

9 February 2021

Books

Black History Month: Books by Black Authors

As we enter Black History Month, let’s take some time to appreciate some of the incredible literary contributions made by Black authors. I wanted to share a few of my particular favourite books by Black authors for you to check out.

The Water Dancer

cover for the water dancer - books by black authors

One of my good friends recommended this book to me this summer and I read it in a single sitting, it was so incredible. This slave fiction reads a bit like a fantasy and takes your mind on such interesting feats of imagination.

Their Eyes Were Watching God

I first read this book in college and it has always stuck with me. This is yet another that I read in practically one sitting. There’s something about a book that’s written passionate and straightforwardly that really gets to me!

The Color Purple

The color purple - classic books by black authors

This book is an absolute classic and everyone should read it! If you haven’t yet, you’ve failed to read a very important book in the canon and you should definitely get on this right now.

The Parable of the Sower

This book, another I read over the summer, was a pleasant and startling surprise. It is science fiction, though a light one, with a little dabbling in the post-Apocalyptic. I want more of this series in my life! If you’ve ever fantasized about creating your own religion or if you have ever wondered whether anyone predicted the happenings of 2020, you will want to pick up this series.

These books are wonderful all year round, and I’d love to hear which books by Black authors are your favorites. Please feel free to link yours in the comments below, and be sure to let me know whether you get a chance to check out any of these recommendations!

Note: All purchase links in this post are affiliate links through BookShop.org, and Novlr may earn a small commission – every purchase supports independent bookstores.