Famous African American Authors - List of Famous African American Authors - page 2

Many people around the world agree with the saying ‘A Pen Is Mightier Than A Sword’. Authors have undoubtedly been quite influential in changing the world to a great extent. The works of several famous works have changed governance, sparked off revolutions and led to the evolution of society in general. The contribution of African American authors in the evolution of our society has often gone unnoticed. Over the past few decades, several African American authors have impressed literature lovers with their works and some of their books even went on to become bestsellers. Toni Morrison, Richard Wright, Alice Walker and Ralph Ellison are a few eminent African American authors who are famous worldwide. Toni Morrison has penned several critically acclaimed novels like ‘The Bluest Eye’, ‘Sula’ and ‘Solomon’. She has been felicitated with several laurels such as the prestigious ‘Nobel Prize in Literature’, ‘Pulitzer Prize’ and ‘American Book Award’ for her immense contribution towards literature. Similarly, Alice Walker is another author who has admirers all over the world. She is best known for her acclaimed novel ‘The Color Purple’, which fetched Walker the ‘National Book Award’ as well as the ‘Pulitzer Prize For Fiction’. Alice Walker has also often raised her voice against unjust practices in the society. ‘Their Eyes Were Watching God’ written by Zora Neale Hurston has attained the status of a cult classic. We have compiled a list which includes the names of several eminent authors of African American descent.

Alice Walker, Toni Morrison and Richard Wright are a few acclaimed African American writers.

The Most Famous African American Authors

NameBirthdayNationalityBio
August WilsonApril 27, 1945AmericanAugust Wilson is a Pulitzer Prize winning play writer, who is known to have authored the ten play series, The Pittsburgh Cycle
Oprah WinfreyJanuary 29, 1954AmericanA famous American talk show host, actress, producer and philanthropist, Oprah Winfrey is most renowned for ‘The Oprah Winfrey Show’
Ida B. WellsJuly 16, 1862AmericanIda Bell Wells-Barnett was an African-American journalist, suffragist and a civil rights activist
Tyler PerrySeptember 13, 1969AmericanTyler Perry is a famous American actor, author, producer and songwriter
Maya AngelouApril 4, 1928AmericanMaya Angelou was a famous writer, activist, singer, and actor, known best for her autobiography, ‘I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings’
Huey P. NewtonFebruary 17, 1942AmericanHuey Newton was an African-American political activist who co-founded the Black Panther Party
Malcolm XMay 19, 1925AmericanMalcolm X was a renowned African-American Sunni Muslim civil rights activist
Langston HughesFebruary 1, 1902AmericanLangston Hughes was an African-American poet who made significant contributions to the Harlem Renaissance
Sojourner TruthDecember 1, 1797AmericanSojourner truth was an African American abolitionist who was the first black woman to win a case against a white man
Stokely CarmichaelJune 29, 1941Trinidadian, AmericanStokely Carmichael was a Trinidadian-American leader of the ‘American Civil Rights Movement’, known for his radical theories
Lorenzo Thomas

Lorenzo Thomas

Lorenzo Thomas was an American poet who incorporated the infamous African-American culture of the 1960s and 1970s into his writing

AmericanAugust 31, 1944100 views

Jamaica Kincaid

Jamaica Kincaid is a famous Caribbean novelist and essayist, known for her award winning works such as ‘See Now Then’

AmericanMay 25, 1949119 views

Ben Carson

Ben Carson is the first neurosurgeon to have successfully separated conjoined twins joined at the head

AmericanSeptember 18, 1951219 views

Harriet Tubman

Harriet Tubman was an African American abolitionist who led hundreds of enslaved blacks to freedom

American1820180 views

Octavia Butler

Octavia butler was an acclaimed American science-fiction writer

AmericanJune 22, 1947133 views

August Wilson

August Wilson is a Pulitzer Prize winning play writer, who is known to have authored the ten play series, The Pittsburgh Cycle

AmericanApril 27, 1945746 views

Stokely Carmichael

Stokely Carmichael was a Trinidadian-American leader of the ‘American Civil Rights Movement’, known for his radical theories

TrinidadianJune 29, 1941274 views

Claude McKay

Claude McKay was a Jamaican-American writer and poet who was amongst the major figures in the Harlem Renaissance

JamaicanSeptember 15, 1889190 views

Anna Julia Cooper

Anna Julia Cooper was an American educator and writer who crusaded for the upliftment of African-American women

AmericanAugust 10, 1858158 views

Marcus Garvey

Marcus Garvey was a prominent political leader of Jamaica

JamaicanAugust 17, 1887175 views