32 New Novels by Black Authors to Read Now

Looking forward to acquiring some of these once book sales start being a thing again.

Will start some of these. Love the recommendations.

Elizabeth Acevedo is Dominican. Her family being from Dominican Republic. Some Dominicans, racially speaking, have African and authors more white (from the Spaniards). I guess what I’m trying to say is that I’m not sure if I consider this author a Black author, but more Hispanic. I say this because I’m Dominican. Up to you all, just recommend you do your research. Still highly interested in reading it.

*others more...

Jess wrote: "Elizabeth Acevedo is Dominican. Her family being from Dominican Republic. Some Dominicans, racially speaking, have African and authors more white (from the Spaniards). I guess what I’m trying to sa..."

This is true but at least from photographs I have seen of her she outwardly appears to have black heritage.

I suggest reading the work by independent authors, such as Sheryl Boutte -- Betrayal on the Bayou, just released today, 19JUN2020.

Jess wrote: "Elizabeth Acevedo is Dominican. Her family being from Dominican Republic. Some Dominicans, racially speaking, have African and authors more white (from the Spaniards). I guess what I’m trying to sa..."

Hello Jess,

Dominicans are Black, Spanish, Indigenous, mixed, and everything in-between... BIPOCs are on every continent. "Black" is not exclusive to people who have darker skin tones or who are non-LatinX or non-Hispanic. Many people are both. I hope this helps the global conversation and education.

More importantly -- Celebrate freedom on this Juneteenth and Happy reading!

A Song of Wraiths and Ruin

Sharks in the Time of Saviors

A. wrote: "Hello Jess,

Dominicans are Black, Spanish, Indigenous, mixed, and everything in-between... BIPOCs are on every continent. "Black"...

At least someone said it. Thanks!

You should alo include the great last novel by Ralph Ellison, his amazing JUNETEENTH.

Ralph

Ann wrote: "Has Goodreads every made a list featuring Asian, Hispanic, Arab authors before?! BIPOC is a racist term. It's saying black but who are POC? Are black not POC? That's lumping a whole group of people..."

Oh look. Another straggler from the Anti-Racist article spewing out an attempt at sowing dissension, this time on an article devoted to Black authors rather than on ones devoted to queer lit. This is getting rather repetitive.

I cannot believe that The Invincible Summer of Juniper Jones did not make it to this list :--(

And here we have "I Have No Life Other Than Trolling On Goodreads" Ryan, another veteran of the Anti-Racist article who has chosen to infringe on hardworking Ann's territory. Tsk, tsk.

Jess wrote: "Elizabeth Acevedo is Dominican. Her family being from Dominican Republic. Some Dominicans, racially speaking, have African and authors more white (from the Spaniards). I guess what I’m trying to sa..."

She has a slam poetry that you can view on YouTube called "Afro-Latina." You can be Black and Hispanic.

I would reccomend The Color Purple and the Pendulum Heroes series by James Beamon which are both pretty good. The Aura of Love is great too.

Jess wrote: "Elizabeth Acevedo is Dominican. Her family being from Dominican Republic. Some Dominicans, racially speaking, have African and authors more white (from the Spaniards). I guess what I’m trying to sa..."

You can be Black and Dominican. It's not mutually exclusive, Afro Latino is a thing.

Pretty cool, have to check some of my fellow authors out.

Jess wrote: "Elizabeth Acevedo is Dominican. Her family being from Dominican Republic. Some Dominicans, racially speaking, have African and authors more white (from the Spaniards). I guess what I’m trying to sa..."

She embraces Afro-Latinx culture. http://www.latina.com/entertainment/b...

The Secret Lives of Baba Segi’s Wives, by Lola Shoneyin.

Loved "My Sister The Serial Killer" by Oyinka Braithwaite.

Everyone should read THE WARMTH OF OTHER SUNS by Isabel Wilkerson. Non-fiction about the Great Migration of Blacks from the South to Northern /western cities. Wilkerson was the first Black woman to win the Pulitzer Prize. Very readable because personal stories help you track the migration as well as just reading history and statistics. Very big book, but reading goes quickly in this important, must-read book.

A Search for Belonging

If you're interested in the subjects of policing and racism then read my book. It's describes lived experience of both.
The book is a memoir which tells my story of growing up in a care home, joining the Police and rising from the bottom to the top to become Britain's first ever black Chief Constable. I overcome racism and prejudice from both fellow officers and the public alike, and yet I survived it all. I wrote the book to inspire others and hope that you too will be suitably inspired.

I've already read a couple on this list, and they were really good. I really enjoyed Clap When You Land, and I'm excited to read all the other books :)

Jess wrote: "Elizabeth Acevedo is Dominican. Her family being from Dominican Republic. Some Dominicans, racially speaking, have African and authors more white (from the Spaniards). I guess what I’m trying to sa..."

I disagree. It's absolutely possible to be black and hispanic. Black is a race, hispanic is an ethnicity.

I signed up just so I can comment on this subject. There is such a deeply ingrained "problem" with colorism ( esp in Dom Rep and around the Caribbean and south Amer) and acknowledging ones African heritage and a preference of embracing more Eurocentic Spanish identity resulting the virtual erasure of dark skin, African features and tighter coiled hair in local media in these countries) but lets speak plainly so we dont get it twisted....Ms Acevedo is black... and beautiful! A talented Latina author!

Thanks Mairy! I'll have to check out that book suggestion! The incredible summer of Juniper Jones

I signed up just so I can comment on this subject. There is such a deeply ingrained "problem" with colorism ( esp in Dom Rep and around the Caribbean and south Amer) and acknowledging ones African heritage and a preference of embracing more Eurocentic Spanish identity resulting the virtual erasure of dark skin, African features and tighter coiled hair in local media in these countries) but lets speak plainly so we dont get it twisted.... When you look like this ..

I looked back and noticed a little bit of chatter in a section celebrating a handful of black authors whining "where is the list of Asian, Arab, any other sort of author but black because they are clearly uncomfortable with Black authors being highlighted as we are finally acknowledging the exclusion of black people's voices. Because mainly black people are the only ones reading or viewing or listening to media by and about black people it allows for one toxic narrative produced and consumed by the general public that present them as only victims never victors, consumers not producers, not valuable creative or complex people. People consume that stuff and confirm racist programming and cause black people's lives to be endangered due to the ignorance and fear of others. So its kinda like an emergency... even if you decide not to "see" that it is because you "don't SEE color". Ms "All Lives Matter" if you are uncomfortable with black people being centered for five minutes and you feel you're going to loose a precious drop of privilege...Feel free to write you own list and find out how to submit it. I would check it out...highlight Asian writers or even Asian Female writers we need to know about... Dont forget Amy Tan , love her books! Or Muslim writers, or Arab women, Indian or Eskimo it Australian writers or any group you like. I've read beautiful books by people from these backgrounds. Try taking the initiative instead of whining.

Ann wrote: "Has Goodreads every made a list featuring Asian, Hispanic, Arab authors before?! BIPOC is a racist term. It's saying black but who are POC? Are black not POC? That's lumping a whole group of people..."

I’m not sure what the term BIPOC has to do with this list — it features new novels by Black authors and the term BIPOC is not used. I believe the term POC was created to highlight those not of purely European ancestry and then the term BIPOC to especially highlight Black and Indigenous because of additional challenges and exclusion they have faced, to put it quite mildly. Certainly it is great to highlight authors of different backgrounds and lists and specific book groups are great for discovering works by specific nationalities and other identities and I love how much Goodreads has empowered me to expand and diversify my reading! =) To the point, there are obvious reasons to especially highlight Black authors now and when this article was posted!

Great list and I’m looking forward to reading several of these soon! Another published this year that I really enjoyed and would recommend (especially the audiobook) is The Death of Vivek Oji by Akwaeke Emezi!

I’m also looking forward to reading His Only Wife and A Girl Is a Body of Water.