African American Books That Changed Our Lives

1.
The Autobiography of Malcolm X
The Autobiography of Malcolm X
by: Malcolm X
4.37 avg rating — 285,197 ratings
2.
Their Eyes Were Watching God
Their Eyes Were Watching God 3.99 avg rating — 377,818 ratings
3.
The Color Purple
The Color Purple 4.27 avg rating — 737,266 ratings
4.
The Bluest Eye
The Bluest Eye 4.13 avg rating — 288,141 ratings
5.
The Souls of Black Folk
The Souls of Black Folk 4.31 avg rating — 44,287 ratings
6.
Beloved (Beloved Trilogy, #1)
Beloved (Beloved Trilogy, #1) 3.97 avg rating — 477,010 ratings
7.
For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide / When the Rainbow Is Enuf
For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide / When the Rainbow Is Enuf 4.29 avg rating — 34,461 ratings
8.
Native Son
Native Son 4.04 avg rating — 103,289 ratings
9.
A Raisin in the Sun
A Raisin in the Sun 3.85 avg rating — 107,574 ratings
10.
Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass
Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass 4.12 avg rating — 132,005 ratings
11.
Invisible Man
Invisible Man 3.92 avg rating — 198,744 ratings
12.
Kindred
Kindred 4.31 avg rating — 258,385 ratings
13.
Push
Push
by: Sapphire
3.87 avg rating — 58,133 ratings
14.
The Women of Brewster Place
The Women of Brewster Place 4.20 avg rating — 21,533 ratings
15.
Go Tell It on the Mountain
Go Tell It on the Mountain 4.05 avg rating — 78,217 ratings
16.
The Fire Next Time
The Fire Next Time 4.55 avg rating — 115,170 ratings
17.
Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl
Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl 4.17 avg rating — 56,859 ratings
18.
Roots: The Saga of an American Family
Roots: The Saga of an American Family 4.45 avg rating — 163,556 ratings
19.
Twelve Years a Slave
Twelve Years a Slave 4.22 avg rating — 123,138 ratings
20.
The Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man
The Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man 3.93 avg rating — 11,074 ratings
21.
The Mis-Education of the Negro
The Mis-Education of the Negro 4.49 avg rating — 9,978 ratings
22.
Black Boy
Black Boy 4.09 avg rating — 55,307 ratings
23.
From Slavery to Freedom: A History of African Americans
From Slavery to Freedom: A History of African Americans 4.32 avg rating — 630 ratings
24.
Buck: A Memoir
Buck: A Memoir 4.05 avg rating — 3,060 ratings
25.
The Isis Papers: The Keys to the Colors
The Isis Papers: The Keys to the Colors 4.44 avg rating — 2,151 ratings
26.
The Rage of Innocence: How America Criminalizes Black Youth
The Rage of Innocence: How America Criminalizes Black Youth 4.56 avg rating — 435 ratings
27.
The Ways of White Folks
The Ways of White Folks 4.46 avg rating — 5,399 ratings
28.
Soul on Ice
Soul on Ice 3.97 avg rating — 14,658 ratings
29.
The Collected Poems
The Collected Poems 4.36 avg rating — 18,158 ratings
30.
Destruction of Black Civilization: Great Issues of a Race From 4500 B.C. To 2000 A.D.
Destruction of Black Civilization: Great Issues of a Race From 4500 B.C. To 2000 A.D. 4.46 avg rating — 2,108 ratings
31.
Coming of Age in Mississippi: The Classic Autobiography of a Young Black Girl in the Rural South
Coming of Age in Mississippi: The Classic Autobiography of a Young Black Girl in the Rural South 4.13 avg rating — 11,515 ratings
32.
Uncle Tom's Children
Uncle Tom's Children 4.13 avg rating — 3,358 ratings
33.
When and Where I Enter: The Impact of Black Women on Race and Sex in America
When and Where I Enter: The Impact of Black Women on Race and Sex in America 4.33 avg rating — 2,074 ratings
33.
Black No More
Black No More really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 4,580 ratings
35.
Women, Race & Class
Women, Race & Class 4.59 avg rating — 33,022 ratings
36.
There Is a River: The Black Struggle for Freedom in America (Harvest Book)
There Is a River: The Black Struggle for Freedom in America (Harvest Book) 4.43 avg rating — 114 ratings
37.
The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness
The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness 4.52 avg rating — 115,055 ratings
38.
Paradise (Beloved Trilogy, #3)
Paradise (Beloved Trilogy, #3) 3.86 avg rating — 28,538 ratings
39.
Wild Seed (Patternist, #1)
Wild Seed (Patternist, #1) 4.21 avg rating — 38,338 ratings
40.
The Known World
The Known World 3.84 avg rating — 44,325 ratings
41.
Another Country
Another Country 4.30 avg rating — 32,349 ratings
42.
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings (Maya Angelou's Autobiography, #1)
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings (Maya Angelou's Autobiography, #1) 4.30 avg rating — 568,992 ratings
43.
Cane River
Cane River 4.08 avg rating — 50,068 ratings
44.
The Autobiography of Martin Luther King, Jr.
The Autobiography of Martin Luther King, Jr. 4.34 avg rating — 23,719 ratings
45.
Blueprint for Black Power: A Moral, Political, and Economic Imperative for the Twenty-First Century
Blueprint for Black Power: A Moral, Political, and Economic Imperative for the Twenty-First Century 4.61 avg rating — 289 ratings
46.
Up from Slavery
Up from Slavery 4.11 avg rating — 35,601 ratings
47.
Cane
Cane 3.82 avg rating — 11,323 ratings
48.
Action Words: Journey of a Journalist
Action Words: Journey of a Journalist 4.73 avg rating — 11 ratings
49.
Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America
Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America 4.53 avg rating — 37,886 ratings
50.
Between the World and Me
Between the World and Me 4.40 avg rating — 357,428 ratings
51.
The Outsider
The Outsider 4.17 avg rating — 2,436 ratings
52.
The Long Dream
The Long Dream 4.17 avg rating — 238 ratings
53.
Ain't I a Woman: Black Women and Feminism
Ain't I a Woman: Black Women and Feminism 4.50 avg rating — 18,482 ratings
54.
Pym
Pym 3.59 avg rating — 4,220 ratings
55.
Who Is Black?: One Nation’s Definition
Who Is Black?: One Nation’s Definition 4.16 avg rating — 63 ratings
56.
Post Black: How a New Generation Is Redefining African American Identity
Post Black: How a New Generation Is Redefining African American Identity 3.85 avg rating — 74 ratings
56.
The Classic Slave Narratives-paperback
The Classic Slave Narratives-paperback 4.33 avg rating — 3,197 ratings
58.
Our Nig or, Sketches from the Life of a Free Black
Our Nig or, Sketches from the Life of a Free Black 3.74 avg rating — 3,208 ratings
59.
Betsey Brown
Betsey Brown 3.84 avg rating — 721 ratings
60.
Yurugu: An African-Centered Critique of European Cultural Thought and Behavior
Yurugu: An African-Centered Critique of European Cultural Thought and Behavior 4.65 avg rating — 267 ratings
61.
White Folks Guide to Understanding the Black Community, and Get Out the Vote
White Folks Guide to Understanding the Black Community, and Get Out the Vote 4.20 avg rating — 5 ratings
61.
Diary of a Freedom Writer: The Experience
Diary of a Freedom Writer: The Experience 4.25 avg rating — 173 ratings
61.
Murder Along Burley Creek
Murder Along Burley Creek 4.20 avg rating — 5 ratings
61.
Katie's Family: When Love Battles Prejudice
Katie's Family: When Love Battles Prejudice 4.50 avg rating — 2 ratings
61.
The Chaneysville Incident
The Chaneysville Incident really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 1,235 ratings
61.
Bloods: Black Veterans of the Vietnam War: An Oral History
Bloods: Black Veterans of the Vietnam War: An Oral History 4.28 avg rating — 1,143 ratings
61.
The Journey Home: A Memoir
The Journey Home: A Memoir 4.12 avg rating — 24 ratings
61.
The Problem with the Blacks
The Problem with the Blacks 4.50 avg rating — 2 ratings
61.
Why We Can't Wait
Why We Can't Wait 4.54 avg rating — 8,975 ratings
61.
Her Right To Flight
Her Right To Flight 4.43 avg rating — 23 ratings
61.
BLACKLISTED IN AMERICA
BLACKLISTED IN AMERICA 4.86 avg rating — 7 ratings
61.
God Send Me My Husband!
God Send Me My Husband! 4.36 avg rating — 169 ratings
61.
This Stops Today: Eric Garner's Mother Seeks Justice after Losing Her Son
This Stops Today: Eric Garner's Mother Seeks Justice after Losing Her Son
by: Gwen Carr
4.03 avg rating — 39 ratings
61.
The Sun Does Shine: How I Found Life and Freedom on Death Row
The Sun Does Shine: How I Found Life and Freedom on Death Row 4.65 avg rating — 75,670 ratings
61.
Let the Trumpet Sound: A Life of Martin Luther King Jr.
Let the Trumpet Sound: A Life of Martin Luther King Jr. 4.44 avg rating — 1,057 ratings
61.
The Shoebox Kid
The Shoebox Kid 4.57 avg rating — 7 ratings
61.
Release: Cycles
Release: Cycles 4.47 avg rating — 36 ratings
61.
Evil Aliens With Afros
Evil Aliens With Afros 4.60 avg rating — 5 ratings
61.
Still a Lady: Clarity, Love, and Light during a Global Pandemic
Still a Lady: Clarity, Love, and Light during a Global Pandemic
by: Monica El
it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 4 ratings
61.
African-American Inventions That Changed The World: Influential Inventors and Their Revolutionary Creations
African-American Inventions That Changed The World: Influential Inventors and Their Revolutionary Creations 4.47 avg rating — 15 ratings
61.
Bud, Not Buddy
Bud, Not Buddy 3.97 avg rating — 114,072 ratings
61.
The Fury of Angels (Book One of The Damned Reflections Trilogy)
The Fury of Angels (Book One of The Damned Reflections Trilogy) 4.83 avg rating — 24 ratings
83.
Shadow and Act
Shadow and Act 4.11 avg rating — 628 ratings
83.
One Good Person: War, Death, Hate, Hope, Love and Catfish
One Good Person: War, Death, Hate, Hope, Love and Catfish it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 2 ratings
83.
Another Blue Rose
Another Blue Rose it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 1 rating
83.
My Silent Loud: The Voice Inside Every Little Black Boy
My Silent Loud: The Voice Inside Every Little Black Boy 3.33 avg rating — 12 ratings
83.
Buses Are a Comin': Memoir of a Freedom Rider
Buses Are a Comin': Memoir of a Freedom Rider 4.50 avg rating — 918 ratings
88.
A Taste of Power: A Black Woman's Story
A Taste of Power: A Black Woman's Story 4.30 avg rating — 4,578 ratings
88.
Moses: When Harriet Tubman Led Her People to Freedom
Moses: When Harriet Tubman Led Her People to Freedom 4.36 avg rating — 6,000 ratings
88.
Notes of a Native Son
Notes of a Native Son 4.37 avg rating — 23,284 ratings
88.
Confessions From Your Token Black Colleague: True Stories & Candid Conversations About Equity & Inclusion In The Workplace
Confessions From Your Token Black Colleague: True Stories & Candid Conversations About Equity & Inclusion In The Workplace 4.20 avg rating — 74 ratings
88.
Buses Are a Comin'
Buses Are a Comin' 4.50 avg rating — 918 ratings
93.
Erasure
Erasure 4.17 avg rating — 28,487 ratings
93.
Sassafrass, Cypress & Indigo
Sassafrass, Cypress & Indigo 4.10 avg rating — 3,963 ratings
93.
Black Reconstruction in America 1860-1880
Black Reconstruction in America 1860-1880 4.51 avg rating — 3,199 ratings
96.
Mixed: An Anthology of Short Fiction on the Multiracial Experience
Mixed: An Anthology of Short Fiction on the Multiracial Experience 3.80 avg rating — 261 ratings
96.
Profiles of Great Africans Americans
Profiles of Great Africans Americans it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 3 ratings
96.
Tar Baby
Tar Baby 3.99 avg rating — 23,196 ratings
99.
The Serpent's Gift
The Serpent's Gift 3.77 avg rating — 74 ratings
99.
Black Power: The Politics of Liberation
Black Power: The Politics of Liberation 4.37 avg rating — 2,102 ratings
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