My favorite books by black authors

The Broken Earth Series by N.K. Jemisin

This series is so good and so well-written. Jemisin combines sci-fi and fantasy to create a richly detailed world where ecological disaster and racially-based genocide have built a future in which apocalypse is a regular occurrence. It’s bleak, beautiful, and unforgettable.

 

The Legacy of Orïsha Trilogy by Tomi Adeyemi

So far, only the first two books have been released, but I CANNOT wait for the last installment. Set in an alternate, fantasy version of Africa where the magically gifted, who have been hunted and oppressed by a cruel king, fight for the promise of a return to their power. It’s a thrilling adventure all the way through.

 

Boy, Snow, Bird by Helen Oyeyemi

This book makes everything feel off-kilter while dealing with real issues of race, identity, and family secrets. Oyeyemi places you in a darkly whimsical world where reality and fantasy brush up against each other enough to make you lose your bearings a little. It’ll make you question what you think is real.

 

Thick by Tressie McMillan Cottom

This book of essays is a heavy read, but so valuable. Cottom has a singular way of narrating her experiences that is ruthlessly honest, moving, and smart. I didn’t expect this book to challenge me so much, but I’m really pleased that it did. It’s a book to take in slowly and probably read more than once.

 

The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison

If this book doesn’t break your heart and open it up to a new perspective, I simply can’t help you. It’s a very heavy read that follows the life of a young black girl and the inherent trauma she and her family experience simply from being black in the 1940s. It should be required reading, especially for anyone who is not black.