Brilliant books by Black writers
Plus, how you can support Black bookshops and a diverse range of voices in literature

We stand in solidarity with Black Lives Matter and the ongoing fight against systemic racism. Below is a list of brilliant books by Black writers that should be on everyone’s reading pile.

Why I’m No longer Talking to White People About Race by Reni Eddo-Lodge

I’m Still Here by Austin Channing Brown

Half a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Natives by Akala

Dark Days by James Baldwin

Diversify by June Sarpong

Ake by Wole Soyinka

How To Be Antiracist by Ibran X. Kendi

Don’t Touch My Hair by Emma Dabiri

White Supremacy and Me by Layla F. Saad

The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness by Michelle Alexander

Freedom Is A Constant Struggle by Angela Davis

Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson

They Can’t Kill Us All by Wesley Lowery

Your Silence Will Not Protect You by Audre Lord

White Girls by Hilton Als

Brit-ish by Afua Hirsch

Black and British: A Forgotten History by David Olusoga

The Good Immigrant, edited by Nikesh Shukla

Girl, Woman, Other by Bernardine Evaristo

And of course, our Desmond Elliott Prize-shortlisted writers: Abi Daré, Okechukwu Nzelu and Derek Owusu.

Have you got any further recommendation? We’d love for you to send them to us on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram so that we can share them across our networks.

 

Where can I buy?

If you want to support Black bookshops and a diverse range of voices in literature, here are some fantastic UK Black bookshops and publishers where you can shop:

Round Table Books (Children’s books)

New Beacon Books

Books of Africa

Peepal Tree Press

Mybookbasket (Children’s books)

No Ordinary Bookshop (Children’s books)

Lantana Publishing (Children’s books)

Knights Of (Children’s books)

Jacaranda Books

 

Visit the Black Lives Matter website

You may also like...

The responsibilities of writers with Kendel Hippolyte

What is the role of the artist in society? Tips and techniques for writing poetry that packs a punch

Calendar

24th April 2020

Interview
Poetry
The Writing Life
Listen

Bibliotherapy: Weekly reading recommendations

Peggy Hughes gives her weekly book recommendations. This week features mythology, the sea and travel writing

Calendar

9th April 2020

NCW Recommends
Read

Ben Okri urges active citizenship

Discussing leadership, responsibility and insurmountable challenges

Calendar

15th August 2018

Festivals
Interview
Non-fiction
The Writing Life
Listen