This Black History Month we are celebrating Black authors that have made their mark in the literary space. We all know that words have power, and the following 10 Black authors have made history with theirs. These poets, playwrights, novelists, and scholars, have used their words to help capture the voice of a nation and inspire change. While experiencing racism and violence, they turned their pain and fear into art, and still found room to write about joy, love, and music in the midst of unjust circumstances. We honor these authors and their impact on literature and the world.
Here are 10 Black Authors That Made History With Their Words!
3James Baldwin
James Baldwin was an essayist, novelist, and playwright known for his passionate literary work exploring the Black struggle as well as sexuality in 20th-century America. At age 24, he left to live in Paris and wrote one of his most famous works, Go Tell it on the Mountain which was published in 1953 and received acclaim for his insights on race, spirituality, and humanity. In 1956, he published Giovanni’s Room, which raised the issues of race and homosexuality at a time when it was taboo. Baldwin’s honest portrayal of his personal experiences as an openly gay Black man in white America helped to raise public awareness of racial and sexual oppression.
Notable Works: Notes of a Native Son, The Fire Next Time, Go Tell It on the Mountain, Giovanni’s Room, Another Country, Just Above My Head
