Famous Black Authors - List of Famous Black Authors

From capturing rather hard to describe torments and hardships to racial abuse and violence, the famous Black authors have fearlessly raised the bar to become the voice for the voiceless. Not just for the minority but also for the nation, the Black authors have touched the sensitive nerve and explored stigmas, beauty, and even presented new ideas that have led to reformation and revolution. Black authors have inspired a whole generation to stand up for themselves, and have even bared their intimate life for the sake of becoming role models for the future generations. These famous Black authors not only stand as pillars of courage but have also received their due recognition for their prophetic genius and remarkable literary works. Some of these popular black authors like Toni Morrison, Maya Angelou, Yaa Gyasi, and James Baldwin are known for their eloquently poignant books that will stand as immortal for ages to come. From fictions to autobiographies, these famous Black authors will remain deserving of all fame and love for all eternity- keep reading and find out more about them!

Famous Black authors known throughout history for their fearlessness.

The Most Famous Black 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
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’
Langston HughesFebruary 1, 1902AmericanLangston Hughes was an African-American poet who made significant contributions to the Harlem Renaissance
Gwendolyn BrooksJune 7, 1917AmericanGwendolyn Brooks was the first African-American poet to win the Pulitzer Prize
Robert HaydenAugust 4, 1913AmericanRobert Hayden was an American poet who wrote the famous poem, “Those Winter Sundays”
James Weldon JohnsonJune 17, 1871AmericanJames Weldon Johnson is credited with lot of firsts in his lifetime
Richard WrightSeptember 4, 1908AmericanRichard Wright was one of the most acclaimed African-American authors
Amiri BarakaOctober 7, 1934AmericanPoet and political activist, Amiri Baraka was one of the most influential African-American writers
Zora Neale HurstonJanuary 7, 1891AmericanZora Neale Hurston was a well-known American folklorist, anthropologist and author
Claude McKaySeptember 15, 1889Jamaican, AmericanClaude McKay was a Jamaican-American writer and poet who was amongst the major figures in the Harlem Renaissance

Alice Walker

Alice Walker is a Pulitzer Prize-winning African-American novelist

Alex Haley

Alex Haley was an American writer who rose to fame with his book ‘Roots: The Saga of an American Family’

AmericanAugust 11, 1921151 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, 1945747 views

Claude McKay

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

JamaicanSeptember 15, 1889192 views

Amiri Baraka

Poet and political activist, Amiri Baraka was one of the most influential African-American writers

AmericanOctober 7, 1934232 views

Zora Neale Hurston

Zora Neale Hurston was a well-known American folklorist, anthropologist and author

AmericanJanuary 7, 1891220 views

Toni Morrison

Toni Morrison is a multiple award winning author whose best known works include the novels ‘Beloved’ and ‘The Bluest Eye’

AmericanFebruary 18, 1931140 views

Gwendolyn Brooks

Gwendolyn Brooks was the first African-American poet to win the Pulitzer Prize

AmericanJune 7, 1917304 views

Richard Wright

Richard Wright was one of the most acclaimed African-American authors