10 Great Novels by African Americans
 

In his classic 1903 collection of essays, The Souls of Black Folk, African American scholar W. E. B. Du Bois called on black writers to create a new literary tradition that would celebrate the black experience. As if in direct response to this challenge, African American authors wrote some of the most powerful and innovative works of the 20th century. The following ten novels are just some of the gems in African American literature.

1. The Marrow of Tradition (1901), by Charles W. Chesnutt. One of the first novels to depict violent racial clashes, The Marrow of Tradition is based partly on the race riots that shook Wilmington, North Carolina, in 1898. It also explores the debilitating effects of racial segregation by dramatizing the aftermath of Plessy v. Ferguson, the Supreme Court case of 1896 that established “separate but equal” as the law of the land. See the Africana Library of Black America, a part of the Encarta Reference Library, to read the full text of The Marrow of Tradition, as well as the full text of three other books by Charles W. Chesnutt: The Conjure Woman (1899), The House Behind the Cedars (1900), and The Colonel’s Dream (1905).

2. The Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man (1912), by James Weldon Johnson. This groundbreaking novel tells the story of a black artist who chooses to “pass” as white, a decision that ultimately compromises his artistic talents. Johnson first published the novel anonymously, and then republished it under his own name 15 years later, after he had become famous as a literary and political figure. Much to Johnson’s amusement and satisfaction, the book was initially received as a genuine autobiography rather than as a piece of creative fiction. See the Africana Library of Black America, a part of the Encarta Reference Library, to read the full text of The Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man.

3. Their Eyes Were Watching God (1937), by Zora Neale Hurston. Considered the first black feminist novel, Their Eyes Were Watching God tracks a Southern black woman’s search for her true identity. An anthropologist as well as a writer of fiction, Hurston delighted in describing the richness of black culture and folklore. She became a central figure of the Harlem Renaissance of the 1920s and 1930s, but then fell into obscurity. Her work was rediscovered by feminists in the 1970s, and she is now considered one of the central writers of the African American literary tradition.

4. Native Son (1940), by Richard Wright. Native Son shocked readers when it was published, and it still has the capacity to shock today. Its main character, Bigger Thomas, is a young black man, hardened by racism and ignorance, who accidentally murders his white lover and is condemned to death. Despite his impending execution, the young man seems to get his first taste of freedom in the murder: For once in his alienated life, he has brought about an event to which others must respond. The most militant novel about American race relations of its time, Native Son became a huge bestseller, a Book-of-the-Month-Club selection, and was dramatized on Broadway by Orson Welles.


5. Invisible Man (1952) by Ralph Ellison. One of the most famous and influential American novels of all time, Invisible Man is a masterpiece of modern alienation and black consciousness. The story follows its unnamed black narrator from the American South to the North, from innocence to experience, from community to isolation. Invisible Man was immediately celebrated not only for its exploration into an African American psyche, but for its depiction of alienation and the lack of self-knowledge experienced by all people.

6. Mumbo Jumbo (1972), by Ishmael Reed. A satirical denunciation of Western culture, Mumbo Jumbo is a scathing and often hilarious critique of race relations, consumerism, mass media, imperialism, and all manner of other mumbo jumbo. The novel presents a counter-mythology, called HooDooism, that challenges the myth that Western culture must be valued at the expense of all other cultures. Blending folklore with contemporary politics, historical figures with fictional characters, Mumbo Jumbo is an idiosyncratic celebration of multiculturalism.

7. Dhalgren (1975), by Samuel Delany. One of the bestselling science-fiction novels of all time, Dhalgren is a sprawling exploration of gender, art, race, identity, and much more. After a mysterious catastrophe strikes Bellona, a fictional Midwestern American city, most of the population flees. But others migrate to the ravaged city, which becomes a kind of post-apocalyptic community for outcasts--the poor, youth gangs, deranged prophets, and other marginalized individuals. Dhalgren is the rare science-fiction novel that is acclaimed by sci-fi fans and literary critics alike.

8. The Color Purple (1982), by Alice Walker. Winner of the Pulitzer Prize for fiction and the American Book Award, The Color Purple brought Walker to international fame. The novel tells the story of Celie, a rural black woman in an abusive marriage, as she struggles to find her self-worth. The Color Purple is often praised for its distinctive narrative style, which is told entirely in the form of letters written by Celie and by her sister, Nettle, who lives in Africa. The Color Purple was adapted for film in 1985 by director Steven Spielberg.


9. Beloved (1987), by Toni Morrison. Beloved was immediately hailed by critics as a major literary achievement, became a national bestseller, and won the Pulitzer Prize for fiction. Set in rural Ohio shortly after the Civil War, Beloved focuses on a single family to describe the wrenching story of slavery and its aftermath. The narrative follows Sethe, a runaway slave who kills her daughter Beloved rather than have her grow up as a slave. Through the use of multiple timeframes and the ghostly reappearance of Beloved, the novel is a lyrical exploration of history, memory, race, and identity, among other themes.

10. Devil in a Blue Dress (1990), by Walter Mosley. Devil in a Blue Dress is the first published installment in a series of mystery novels that center on the same Los Angeles protagonist, a working-class African American detective named Easy Rawlins. Set in Los Angeles in the 1940s and 1950s, the “Easy Rawlins Mysteries,” with their depth of character and thoroughly researched historical details, are often compared to the hard-boiled, atmospheric detective fiction of Raymond Chandler. A film version of Devil in a Blue Dress, starring Denzel Washington as Rawlins, was released in 1995.


Which of the above have you READ?
What other books by Black authors do you consider to be BLACK CLASSICS?

Thanks for posting this list, Soror! I was thinking that I needed more books to read. I've read a couple of the books on the list, but I want to pick up a couple of the other books that you listed.

hard to pick
 

I like your list...but i would have to add "Things Fall Apart", Chinua Achebe to the list.


Judah East
Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc.

My bad yall, thanks for the compliments, but I got this from Encarta/MSN.


I have read Their Eyes Were Watching God, Beloved, Native Son/Black Boy, The Color Purple.


What should also be considered a classic IMO:
1. Manchild in the Promised Land by Claude Brown
2. ROOTS by Alex Haley (he revolutionized IMO genealogical studies among Black folks)
3. Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl by Harriet Jacobs


Hmmmmm these are all autobiographies or biographies so they are not novels. I guess I have to get back to you on this one.

This is a very impressive list of novels!!

I have read The Color Purple , Things Fall Apart, and Native Son/Black Boy

There are many others that should be added to that such as:
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou

The Bluest Eyes

The Autobiography of Malcom X

I agree. Very good list and additions! I haven't read all of the titles but have been wanting to. I have read "The Color Purple" and "Their Eyes Were Watching God" several times though.

CT4, I noticed you listed Harriet Jacobs' work. You should also consider reading "Our Nig: or, Sketches from the Life of a Free Black" by Harriet Wilson. This was published in 1859, the first novel published by a Black woman before the Civil War. In one word: Excellent. I really enjoyed it. I also recommend "Praisesong for the Widow" by Paule Marshall.

I wish I still had my syllabus for my African-American Women's Lit class. It opened up a whole new world of titles for me.

Thanks for the information.
 

I love Manchild in the Promised Land. Some of the lines in there are classics which I still use, including the "brain between the legs" comment that was offered by Sonny's running mate, Johnny D.

I also enjoy Native Son and Roots. BTW, I met Alex Haley in the early 1990s. Good man.

Wonderful!
 

Thanks CT4 for this list. I have read Native Son, The Color Purple, Beloved, and Devil in a Blue Dress.

Got it. . .

Your Blues Ain't Like Mine by BeBe Moore Campbell
Brothers and Sisters by Bebe Moore Campbell


EDITED!!!

I forgot one that is also a classic. Having Our Say by the Delany Sisters. I read that in my African American literature class and I devoured it in one night. This was like listening to a grandmother and great aunt tell you about life.

GammaGirl, thanks for the book suggestion. I will check it out. I have read Brown Girl, Brownstones by Paule Marshall as well and really enjoyed it.

I would also add J. California Cooper's FAMILY and another one that is escaping my mind right now.

"Having Our say, The Delany Sisters First 100 years"

" Faces at the Bottom of the Well"

"Soul on Ice"

"The Autobiography of Malcolm X"

I've read...

"Native Son/Black Boy"

"I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings"

"The Color Purple"

I started reading Beloved soon after the movie came out but I never finished it. I began reading the book for leisure and as escape from school work. I found that Toni Morrisons style of writing was a little hard for me to undertand so I decided to focus my energy on my text books instead.

I may try reading it again this summer along with some of the other books listed.

Out of that list, my favourite is "Their Eyes Were Watching God". LOVED IT! Heartbroken that my copy was stolen.

As for modern books, Terry McMillian's "Waiting to Exhale" is my favorite

Two books I read a long time ago and still love till today are:

Sula..by Toni Morrison
Mama..Terry McMillian(ms)

Re: 10 Great Novels by African Americans
 

I am in the middle of Invisible Man, and it is an absolute MASTERPIECE. 20th Century American Fiction is a particular interest of mine, and this is one of the best books I have read in a long time. I think it is not as well known as some of the others on this list, but it may be the best one.

It is also highly entertaining with the right amount of dark humor to keep it interesting, and an easily-read style of prose.

Invisible Man is definitely one of my favorite books.

Another that is simply a classic to me is Alice Walker's "The Temple of My Familiar." This book wowed me..and that's hard to do. lol

Re: hard to pick
 

Ok.....I thought that I was the only person in the world that loved that book (just kidding). Believe it or not, some people have never heard of this book!!! I read it on the suggestion of my biology lab partner when I was a Freshman...and it changed me for the better. So, bravo to you Judah for mentioning this great book.

My Newest Vote
 

Cane River ~ I've had the book for almost 5 years but finally read it. EXCELLENT READ. I mean wow. Seriously, a deep, riveting read. I am very much into writings from the slavery era and this is a new one of my absolute favorites. I see this in a comparable light with Alex Haley's Roots. I want to see this become a mini-series.

Re: My Newest Vote
 

It's funny that you posted this - I was reading your list, and was going to add Cane River!! It absolutely blew me away!!

I've read Roots, Beloved, The Color Purple, Waiting To Exhale, and Having Our say-The Delany Sisters First 100 years from your list, and am currently reading Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl .

Re: Re: My Newest Vote
 

First read that in college and love it!! I used to teach that as a companion piece to Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass. I also recommend Mark Twain's Pudd'nhead Wilson and J. California Cooper's Family as companion pieces to each other.

Re: Re: Re: My Newest Vote
 

<-- should rent a cot at Half Price Books!

LOL - the copy I'm reading was obviously used to teach, as it's highlighted & underlined by someone whose comments are a little irritating!

I like the idea of teaching books in comparison - I wish I had had teachers like that!

My favorite book (besides Autobiography of Malcolm X) is Invisible Man. This book blew me away. There are a few classics listed that I haven't read yet though, like Native Son, Our Nig, and Cane River. I must play catch up.

I would also have to include James Baldwin If Beale Street Could Talk and The Fire Next Time

Tananvarive Due - she's a black contemporary horror author. She's great!! Read ANY of her books.

She is good. Has she written anything recently that I may have missed?

I've read 6 of the books on your list. Invisible Man is my favorite of the classics written by Americans (of any color).

I would add:

Black Boy by Richard Wright
The Souls Of Black Folk by W.E.B. DuBois
Homemade Love by J. California Cooper

Re: My Newest Vote
 

I was just reading through everyones post to see if anyone had posted this book. I LOVE this book, I have read it like 3 times. It is a page turner.

I have a long list but can't think right now... However, this is my ALL TIME MOST FAVORITE BOOK(s)

Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry and Road to Memphis by Mildred Taylor

These books were based on a character named Cassie and her family during the 1930's. Powerful books for young black children.

I love them all too. Have you also read Let The Circle Be Unbroken? I think it comes before or after Roll of Thunder. Road to Memphis made me cry when the one guy died from an aneurysm. :(

^^^

Yes, I did! Thanks b/c I could not remember the name of that book for nothing.

The character that died was Clarence...I actually felt kind of bad for Sissy after that happened b/c she was preggers with his child.

It made me cry too b/c Stacey went off to fight in the war. I wish she would do another book to conclude the series.

I should have remembered his name since my great uncle is that name. :)

Me too. :(

list
 

I have read all of them...and "All things fall apart"

another great book by Toni Morrison is Song of Soloman

the Roll of Thunder, & Let the Circle be Unbroken are excellent books. I loved them.

and that book by Sista Souljah...the name escapes me right now...:o

I read Jubliee by Margaret Walker at least 3 times..loved it

Other favorites:
Roots is an all time classic
The Price of a Child by Lorene Cary
Sula & The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison

I think you may be talking about The Coldest Winter Ever

Yay!!! This thread I like....

Two of my FAVE books of all time are

1) Coming of Age in Mississippi By Anne Moody... after reading that book I was changed forever... her vivid description of the injustices she witnessed/experienced were so powerful... the poverty, the racism... I remember walking around with a permanent scowl for like a week and I was a freshman in high school... y'all I was angry... there was a consciousness I wasnt aware I had... and SHE WAS ONLY 28 WHEN SHE WROTE IT!!!!

2) Okay I have a confession to make... Well its not much of a confession, more than the realization that after most people read this I'll be exposed for being so corny... back in the day that is (dont get it twisted)...

See I grew up in an incredibly strict, pseudo socially conservative, men-are-men type of household... so I will never forget the fall of 1995, I was a sophmore in high school, and there was this book that was being passed around to all of the girls in school... like the WHOLE Varsity and JV Cheerleading squad had read it, the Band Girls had read it, and it was circling and making its way through the various cliques in the school, Im cracking up as a I read this because my school was HUGE (~2200 kids) and there was ONE copy of this book that was being circulated... When the book finally got around to me, I took it home and I used to wait for everyone to go to bed, close my door, turn the light on in my bedroom, put clothes by the bottom of the door so the light wouldnt shine through the crack, and get my read on... I could NOT put it DOWN... it was so good and everrrrrryone was talking about it

it was Invisible Life by E. Lynn Harris

I did my senior thesis on this book and Zora Neale Hurston's autobiography, Dust Tracks on the Road. Both excellent autobiographies although Anne's is not as well known. :(

Oh yeah... novels... I couldnt help it though

Don't sweat it. I named some as well.

Thank you! This book doesn't get a shred of the credit or press it deserves. It should be on every list right next to Black Boy as a chronicle of surviving Jim Crow. I happened upon it in a used bookstore a few months ago, and I just can't believe I hadn't heard of it before.

Another (short) book that is often overlooked is American Hunger, Richard Wright's sequel to Black Boy.

Mildred Taylor's books are also completely underrated. I read them in my early teens, but they aren't juvenile books in any sense except that the protagonist is young. In theme, language, history, etc., they're as sophisticated as anything else mentioned on the thread. Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry is as good an education as you could get from any history book. Her book Song of the Trees, in contrast, really is for younger readers.

One genre, which is largely overlooked in terms of African American contributions, is Science Fiction/Fantasy. One of the most outstanding works in this genre is the thought-provoking 'Kindred' by Octavia Butler.

^^That is really good.