Throughout America's history, Black female writers have represented a rich and diverse body of literature. The narratives they've added to American storytelling have shifted perspectives and created new dialogues around race, culture, politics, religion, and sociology, where in many cases, their work has gone as far as changing policies, practices, and cultural norms.
Reading one perspective becomes boring over time. We should all strive to expand our literary horizons, so we can learn from different perspectives, and inevitably transform into better individuals. One of my favorite quotes from Albert Einstein is, "Wisdom is not a product of schooling but of the lifelong attempt to acquire it." We have to be committed to positive change, but in order to that, we have to first educate ourselves. And there's no better way to broaden your knowledge than by reading.
I'm incredibly thankful to live in a time when Black artists continue to carve out their voices in the field, making waves through self-publishing and traditional methods. While the percentages of our representation still leave much to be desired, these days it’s not uncommon to find Black women writers paving their own way and using a voice that speaks to the multiplicity within our culture.
Here are some of the most influential African American female writers who have made their mark on the literary world:
1. Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
I cannot say enough wonderful things about this Nigerian-born author. She is by far one of my favorite writers, whose specialty happens to be feminist prose. But her words transcend beyond that. I first discovered Adichie through her powerful 2014 TED talk "We should all be feminists," which she also named her book of essays after. It was just as poignant then as it is now.
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However, as much as I love Adichie's book of essays, my favorite novel by her would have to be Americanah (2013). It's actually one of my favorite novels overall. The story follows teenagers Ifemelu and Obinze, who fall in love under a military dictatorship in Nigeria. They are separated when Ifemelu leaves to study abroad in America post 9/11, only to be reunited with Obinze thirteen years later in Nigeria. It is a beautifully woven love story, grappling with identity and expectations of being Black within America.
2. Bell Hooks
If you're not already familiar with Gloria Jean Watkins, better known as Bell Hooks, it's about time you educate yourself. Professor, feminist, and social activist, Watkins does it all. However, she is most famously known for being an iconic author, whose work touches on race, gender, and class.
Watkins often explored the various identities of Black women, with a slant towards feminist ideals. Throughout the mid-1970s, Watkins taught English and ethnic studies at the University of Southern California, African and Afro-American studies at Yale University during the '80s, and women's studies at Oberlin College during the 1990s and early 2000s. She also taught English at the City College of New York throughout the early 2000s.
Her most iconic pieces of literature are Ain't I A Woman: Black Women and Feminism (1981), Feminist Theory: From Margin to Center (1984), Killing Rage: Ending Racism (1995), and All About Love (1999).
3. Roxane Gay
For every feminist who thinks she's "doing it wrong," I present you with Roxane Gay. The professor, editor, and social commentator rose to fame with her New York Times best-selling collection of essays Bad Feminist, which highlights the stereotypes and realities of being a modern feminist.
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Gay acknowledges that just because a woman loves pink, wears lipstick and reads Vogue, and has personality traits that don't associate with 'mainstream feminism,' doesn't make her any less of a feminist. Her work often intersects identity and culture, with a sprinkle of unapologetic humor. Other works by Gay include Ayiti, An Untamed State, Difficult Women, and the New York Times bestselling novel Hunger.
4. Mikki Kendall
At its core, that is what author, activist, and cultural critic, Miiki Kendall's bestselling novel, Hood Feminism: Notes From The Women That A Movement Forgot is about.
When I first picked up Kendall's novel, I was at a crossroads within my feminism. I knew there was more to the movement than what was being distributed within the media. I realized I couldn't be the universal role model for feminism, simply because my experiences didn't mirror ALL women. However, I was desperate to educate myself, which was where Kendall's book came into play.
"When the people who are supposed to be your allies on one axis are your oppressors on another," Kendall fiercely writes, while pondering the question of whether all women genuinely have a common set of interests. Too often, mainstream feminism focuses on one demographic and leaves out the countless stories of the many women from different cultures and races. Kendall weaves together essays surrounding racism, ableism, and transmisogyny, arguing that these too, are all feminist issues. She touches on food insecurity, the living wage and access to education, and how we all must acknowledge these facts in order to truly stand in solidarity.
5. Britt Bennett
Britt Bennett's 2016 debut novel, The Mothers was one of my favorite reads that year. After reading the hauntingly lyrical novel, which surrounds the consequences of young love within a Black community in Southern California, I cried for about an hour. Then last spring, Bennett released her second novel, The Vanishing Half, and I immediately found myself in tears once again.
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The novel grapples with racial identity and centers around identical twin sisters whose destiny leads them down different paths in life. It was named Best Book of 2020 by The New York Times and was on Barack Obama's list of favorite books of 2020. HBO has also acquired the rights to develop the book into a limited series, with Bennett signing on as Executive Producer.
Bennett's novels are simply that good. She can make you laugh, cry, smile and frown all within seconds. She somehow manages to pull emotions from a reader that were buried deep within.
6. Angie Thomas
Her debut coming-of-age novel surrounding police brutality, The Hate U Give (2017) quickly became a bestseller upon its release and was made into a film the following year. Additional works by Thomas include On The Come Up (2019) and her soon-to-released novel Concrete Rose.
I might be one year away from my thirties, but Young Adult fiction will continue to remain one of my guilty pleasures. And I'm not referring to the customary high school forbidden love saga. I'm referring to a truly transcendental book, that demands you to see the world in a different light - written with a young audience in mind. Well, that is precisely the kind of author Angie Thomas is.
Angie Thomas on her follow-up to phenomenon 'The Hate U Give'
7. Michelle Alexander
Last, but certainly not least on this list is Michelle Alexander. Not only is Alexander an impeccable writer, she's also a civil rights litigator, legal scholar, and visiting professor at Union Theological Seminary. She's also a regular contributor for The New York Times.
Alexander's work is a force to be reckoned with, and a must-read for anyone seeking to understand the truth about racial injustice within our nation. Her most famous book, The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness, examines the U.S. criminal justice system, and how it functions as a contemporary system of racial control.
Other Notable Black Female Authors
In addition to the authors listed above, there are many other Black female writers who have made significant contributions to literature. Here are just a few:
- Harriet E. Wilson: Considered the first African American to publish a novel in the United States.
- Zora Neale Hurston: A central figure in the Harlem Renaissance, best known for Their Eyes Were Watching God.
- Gwendolyn Brooks: The first Black author to win the Pulitzer Prize, known for her poetry.
- Maya Angelou: Best known for her autobiographies, including I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings.
- Toni Morrison: Gained worldwide recognition when she was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1993.
- Audre Lorde: Dedicated her life and work to confronting and addressing injustices of racism, sexism, classism, and homophobia.
- Alice Walker: Author of The Color Purple, for which she was awarded the National Book Award and the Pulitzer Prize.
- Octavia Butler: A renowned science fiction author who received a MacArthur "Genius" Grant.
- Tayari Jones: A New York Times best-selling author, known for An American Marriage.
- Amanda Gorman: A young poet and activist who performed at President Joe Biden's inauguration.
Contemporary Authors to Watch
The literary landscape is constantly evolving, and there are many contemporary Black female authors who are making waves with their unique voices and perspectives. Here are a few to keep an eye on:
- Imbolo Mbue: Author of Behold the Dreamers, a novel about Cameroonian immigrants living in New York City.
- Kiley Reid: Author of Such A Fun Age, a novel that sparks conversations about racism and privilege.
- Jesmyn Ward: Author of Sing, Unburied, Sing, a haunting ghost story combined with a dysfunctional family character study.
- Abi Daré: Author of The Girl with the Louding Voice, a coming-of-age story about a Nigerian woman who wants an education.
- N. K. Jemisin: The only author to win three Hugo Awards for Best Novel in three consecutive years for the same trilogy.
- Ashley C. Ford: Author of "Somebody's Daughter" a coming-of-age memoir about growing up a Black girl with an incarcerated father.
These are just a few of the many talented Black female writers who are shaping the literary landscape today. Their stories are important, and they deserve to be read.
Here's a table summarizing some of the authors and their notable works:
| Author | Notable Works |
|---|---|
| Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie | Americanah, We Should All Be Feminists |
| Bell Hooks | Ain't I A Woman: Black Women and Feminism, All About Love |
| Roxane Gay | Bad Feminist, Hunger |
| Mikki Kendall | Hood Feminism: Notes From The Women That A Movement Forgot |
| Britt Bennett | The Mothers, The Vanishing Half |
| Angie Thomas | The Hate U Give, On The Come Up |
| Michelle Alexander | The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness |
| Toni Morrison | Beloved, The Bluest Eye, Song of Solomon |
| Maya Angelou | I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings |
| Alice Walker | The Color Purple |
