100 of the Best Books by Black Authors

2024 marked the 100th anniversary of the birth of renowned writer and activist James Baldwin, who was born on Aug. 2, 1924. Over the course of his 63 years, Baldwin marched across the country in the fight for civil rights and published dozens of influential literary works. Among his many short stories, plays, and nonfiction works, Baldwin’s novels—”If Beale Street Could Talk,” “Go Tell It On the Mountain,” “Giovanni’s Room,” and more—have defined modern American literature and Black history alike.

Books like Baldwin’s can change lives. They have the power to inspire revolutions, transform government policy, and reveal our common humanity—even when the people we read about have experiences that differ wildly from our own. Books also offer a platform for stories that have otherwise gone unheard, giving a voice to the voiceless and effecting change. And while Baldwin’s works remain perennial classics, there are countless other books from Black authors to add to your reading list. Just take a look at Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s March 2025 novel “Dream Count,” or the June 2025 releases “King of Ashes” by S.A. Cosby and “The Catch” by Yrsa Daley-Ward.

With these and other must-reads in mind, Stacker compiled a list of 100 of the best books by Black authors, with titles spread out between centuries, genres, subject matter, and themes. To create the list, we referred to major Black-owned platforms such as Shondaland, Essence, and O, The Oprah Magazine. We also used social media and explored reading groups focused on Black literature, along with popular book platforms such as Book Riot and Goodreads. The list contains historical fiction, mystery, sci-fi, sociology, political commentary, poetry, cookbooks, and many more.

Black authors have done integral work illuminating centuries of abuse, enslavement, and discrimination. They have brought us thousands of rich, contemporary works of romance, comedy, kinship, family, and mystery. From a book centering thousands of narratives of enslaved people to a bestselling memoir from the first Black American first lady of the United States, these writers help to document a more holistic experience across the African diaspora that represents all of us.

Keep reading on to discover 100 of the best books by Black authors.