Most famous african american authors

Abolitionist, editor, orator, author, statesman, reformer. The contribution of african american authors in the evolution of our society has often gone unnoticed. So powerful was its effect on the american imagination, so evocative its use of the forces of nature in its plots, so charming its invitation to children of all ages to look for the element of wonder in the world around them that author l. He went on to write, art is to be an intensification or. February is black history month, and to celebrate the contributions black poets have made, and continue to make, to the richness of american poetry, we asked twelve contemporary black poets from across the country to choose one poem that should be read this month and to tell us a bit about why. Famous african american authors the world really loves. Mary is a genealogist, author and editor with a strong technology background. Aug 04, 2010 spanning a variety of genres and subgenres, african american andor black literature is best seen as an umbrella term that defines not only the ethnic background of the authors but also a. The following 10 africanamerican authors represent the most distinguished voices that have attempted to creatively journey through the africanamerican experience over the course of history. He was born in 1930, and schooled at the university of ibadan, nigeria. Maya angelou she is arguably the most famous africanamerican autobiographer and poet in history. Du bois and paul lawrence dunbar, her love of language developed at a young age. Getty images african american writers and poets have fearlessly examined cultural stigmas, provided intimate life details and created. Throughout history, there have been many american women writers who have made significant contribution to the field.

In 1938, ngugi wa thiongo was born in kamiriithu, kenya. Amiri baraka was a black author of fiction, poetry, essays, music criticism, and drama. Harpers american history is one of the great poems of our or any other language. Through his writing, he fought against racism, which made him one of the most broadly published writers of african american descent. Sep 17, 20 20 most influential women authors of all time.

Although many new and emerging authors are still putting spanish writing. The african american community has contributed greatly to the growth and prosperity of the united states. Richard wright was a black author who wrote novels, poems, nonfiction, and short stories. The list also includes nonamerican authors resident in the usa and american writers of african descent. Woodson in hopes of raising awareness of african americans contributions to civilization, this was later expanded to a full month, african american history month, in 1976. Mar 06, 2020 as langston hughes pointed out in his famous essay 200 years of american negro poetry, poets and versifiers of african descent have been publishing poetry on american shores since the year 1746 when a slave woman named lucy terry penned a rhymed description of an indian attack on the town of deerfield, massachusetts. Langston hughes 19021967 prominent social activist during the harlem renaissance and writer of. The following 10 african american authors represent the most distinguished voices that have attempted to creatively journey through the african american experience over the course of history. This list includes transformational leaders, authors, inventors and the people behind many of the firsts in american history. Feb 18, 2012 questia compiled this list based on the most read african american authors in their library a list of most influential african american authors might also include fellow omahan, malcolm x, the.

Throughout history many famous africanamerican men and women have contributed significantly to society as far as civil rights, music, science, sports, equality are concerned. Influential african americans in virginia virginia is. Pop art appreciates popular culture as opposed to elitist culture. This is a list of africanamerican authors and writers, all of whom are considered part of africanamerican literature, and who already have wikipedia articles. Jan 14, 2015 considered one of the most famous latin american authors of all time, borges most notable works include fictions 1944, the aleph 1949, and labyrinths 1962, among others. In honor of this great month, here are 27 amazingly powerful quotes from eloquent black writers. In this article, to celebrate february being black history month, mary harrellsesniak searches old newspapers to find information about 10 african americans who achieved notable firsts in american history. The wonderful wizard of oz, published in 1900, is the first fantasy written by an american to enjoy an immediate success upon publication. African writers series aws is a series of books by african writers that has been published by heinemann since 1962. Our list of prominent africanamerican authors includes toni morrison, who has detailed the lives of black characters who struggle with identity amidst racism and hostility.

It is characterized by bright colors and use of recognizable imagery from popular culture like advertisements, celebrities and comic book characters. The series has ensured an international voice to major african writersincluding chinua achebe, ngugi wa thiongo, steve biko, ama ata aidoo, nadine gordimer, buchi emecheta, and okot pbitek. From nobel prize winners such as toni morrison to double naacp prize winners such as maya angelou, each writer has contributed distinctly to create the. Feb 20, 2019 angie thomas is part of a new crop of african american authors bringing fresh new storytelling to bookshelves near you. First african american field officer in the united states army. He is popular for his novels and short stories though and interestingly, most of them are set in a fictional. Give me a place to stand and i shall move the earth. First africanamerican broadcast journalist in the u.

Her most famous work i know why the caged bird sings was published in 1969 and became the first in seven autobiographies of angelous life. African american women writers have helped bring the black womans experience to life for millions of readers. Chinua achebe is one of the best african authors who have contributed a lot in. The end of 2017 is near, which means it is time for annual yearend best of lists to pop up everywhere. Theyve written of what it was like to live in slavery, what jim crow america was like, and what 20th and 21st century america has been like for black women. He is also one of the african authors who have enjoyed both national and international acclaim as an essayist, novelist, playwright, activist and social commentator. His most famous novel, things fall apart 1958, is a devastating depiction of the clash between traditional tribal values and the effects of colonial rule. He is an american writer and has written many novels, short stories, essays and screenplays. Toni morrison is a nobel prize and pulitzer prizewinning american novelist. Check out a beautiful collage of all 50 authors photos and our list of the top 100 books of the 20th century.

Robinson was a founder of the national association of black journalists. Maya angelou and 9 other bestselling black authors. His first groundbreaking novel titled things fall apart was published in 1958. Works by alice walker, toni morrison, and maya angelou promote understanding for the black experience in all segments of american life. Amos tutuola was born in 1920, abeokuta in western nigeria and died. Although many new and emerging authors are still putting spanish writing on the literary map, here are a few oldies but goodies that you should read before anything else. Most of his works are focused on racial topics, particularly on the discrimination and violence suffered by the african american during the late 19th to mid20th centuries in the southern and northern us. Mar 28, 2018 alcott worked to support her family through financial difficulties at an early age, and managed to write little women, one of the most famous novels in american history. There are many famous african american authors who produce just this kind of enjoyable getaway literature. Many of the classic south american authors below were part of the latin american literary boom of the 60s and 70s. Wole soyinka is also one of the great heroes in the list.

Influenced by black authors like langston hughes, w. The undefeated caldecott medal book kwame alexander. Octavia butlers kindred 1979 is one of a string of novels she penned. As a result, this article focuses on just a few famous african american women and men of the 18th and 19th centuries. Somebody blew up america, blues people and black music, and tales of the out and the gone are a few of his famous works. The top 10 contemporary african writers you should know. William cuthbert faulkner was born on the 25 th september of 1897. Most famous africanamericans famous black people in history. South america has produced some literary giants in the past century. Influential african americans in virginia virginia is for. As an activist, panafricanist, sociologist, educator, historian and prolific writer, w. Jun 20, 2018 still i rise is perhaps the most famous poem written by an african american and it has been called a proud, even defiant statement on behalf of all black people. Here, the root presents our annual list of the most compelling books published in 2017. Jan 19, 2011 born in virginias back creek valley in 1873, cather was 9 years old when her family moved to red cloud, neb.

Mar 23, 2017 this is a short list of classic books by famous american authors, mostly fiction, with a little nonfiction thrown in. Check out a beautiful collage of all 50 author s photos and our list of the top 100 books of the 20th century. What began as national negro history week in 1926 by carter g. Africanamerican writers, such as richard wright, ralph ellison, and james baldwin, dealt with racial inequality and violence in contemporary us society while maya angelou and toni morrison focused on the 20thcentury history of africanamerican women. Todays famous african american authors often explore the more subtle differences present in the lives of people of color today. While classic books might not necessarily be the most entertaining, they will. The 16 best books of the year by black authors the root. Her 2017 debut young adult novel, the hate u give, was inspired by the.

First africanamerican field officer in the united states army. Feb 01, 2017 february is african american history month. We can basically all agree, as readers, that she is one of the greatest historical romance authorsand allout storytellersof our time, black, white or otherwise. Other times what you are looking for is a book that will stimulate your mind and provoke conversation with friends in a book club. Best sellers in childrens africanamerican story books. The stunning ease with which the poem juxtaposes, in a highly compact form, grandeur and minutiae, consequence and cause, content and technique in other words, big idea and meager action, and the sad, suffocating ease with which poems written by poets of color tend to read as mere reflex of a. So rich is the history of persons of color, that when genealogybank asked me to research. Smith has established herself as one of our most important contemporary authors, and a brilliant and insightful essayist and cultural commentator. This novel which has since been translated into over 50 languages due to its high demand, made achebe very popular. His most famous novel, things fall apart 1958, is a devastating depiction of the clash between traditional tribal values and the effects of colonial rule, as well as the tension between masculinity and. The works of several famous works have changed governance, sparked off revolutions and led to the evolution of society in general.

Du bois was one of the most influential african american thought leaders of the 20 th. Here is my list of the top 20 female authors of all time. We all have to stand on the earth itself and go with her at her pace. Reading lm montgomery got me to thinking of who the most influential female authors really are. The africanamerican community has contributed greatly to the growth and prosperity of the united states. Still i rise is perhaps the most famous poem written by an african american and it has been called a proud, even defiant statement on behalf of all black people. Angie thomas is part of a new crop of africanamerican authors bringing fresh new storytelling to bookshelves near you.

She may have been churning them out like butter for over two decades, but every new book brings new and. Questia compiled this list based on the mostread africanamerican authors in their library a list of most influential africanamerican authors might also include fellow omahan, malcolm x, the. Browse and read this list of the most beautiful and best poems written by famous africanamerican poets from the classical poetry to the latest new modern ones. Langston hughes, a founder of the harlem renaissance. Roy lichtenstein is the most famous american pop art artist after andy warhol and whaam. One of the worlds most widely recognized and praised writers, chinua achebe wrote some of the most extraordinary works of the 20th century. Here are the 50 most famous people born in alabama. Chinua achebe is one of the best african authors who have contributed a lot in the field of african literature. Authors have undoubtedly been quite influential in changing the world to a great extent. Spanning a variety of genres and subgenres, africanamerican andor black literature is best seen as an umbrella term that defines not only the ethnic background of the authors but also a.

Maya angelou and 9 other bestselling black authors exploring themes of racism, oppression and violence, these african american writers have rightfully earned their. The emphasis is on anglophone africa, although a number of volumes were translated. He is one of the best and most celebrated african authors and intellectuals. There are other african american fiction authors who create just this kind of novel. Their remarkable efforts and achievements, and life stories are often are quite worthy of high recognition. Zora neale hurston 18911960 anthropologist, folklorist, civil rights activist and author, zora neale hurston is one of the leading african. Maya angelou she is arguably the most famous africanamerican autobiographer and poet. Below is a list of some of the most famous africanamericans of all time. Alcott worked to support her family through financial difficulties at an early age, and managed to write little women, one of the most famous novels in american history. Popular african american literature books goodreads. William wells brown 18141884, wrote first novel published by an african american, clotel 1853 ashley bryan born 1923 niobia bryant, author of romance and mainstream fiction novels. Below is a list of some of the most famous african americans of all time.

Richard wright authored what were considered controversial novels in his time. With your bitter, twisted lies, you may tread me in the very dirt. This is a short list of classic books by famous american authors, mostly fiction, with a little nonfiction thrown in. Throughout history many famous african american men and women have contributed significantly to society as far as civil rights, music, science, sports, equality are concerned.