Famous African American Authors - List of Famous African American Authors - page 4

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
Henry Van Dyke

Henry Van Dyke

Henry Van Dyke was an American writer famous for his religious writings and literary criticisms

AmericanNovember 10, 1852137 views

Maya Angelou

Maya Angelou was a famous writer, activist, singer, and actor, known best for her autobiography, ‘I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings’

AmericanApril 4, 1928342 views

Malcolm X

Malcolm X was a renowned African-American Sunni Muslim civil rights activist

AmericanMay 19, 1925319 views

Robert Hayden

Robert Hayden was an American poet who wrote the famous poem, “Those Winter Sundays”

AmericanAugust 4, 1913259 views

Langston Hughes

Langston Hughes was an African-American poet who made significant contributions to the Harlem Renaissance

James Baldwin

James Baldwin was an American writer and social critic, best known for his debut novel, ‘Go Tell It on the Mountain’

AmericanAugust 2, 1924184 views

Huey P. Newton

Huey Newton was an African-American political activist who co-founded the Black Panther Party

AmericanFebruary 17, 1942320 views

Frederick Douglass

Frederick Douglass was a slave turned social reformer