Black Authors

[LloydColeandtheCoconuts]

Hello,

I am after book recommendations of black authors that talk about the black experience in a realistic way. Preferably female. For example recent books I read were Queenie by Candice Carty-Williams and Girl, Woman, Other by Bernardine Evaristo. They're modern books by women for women that talk about different black experiences without anyone having a drug problem or being in a gang.
I wholeheartedly recommend the mentioned books they were beautifully written and I was gutted to finish.
Anyway if anyone could add to the thread with your suggestions then that would be great. Thanks in advance.

I have just started girl, woman, other by B Evaristo- it’s fiction but reflective of real life experiences. I’m enjoying it so far.

I'm writing a book called "Mixed up Mummy does Hamlet". It is mum lit and I am nervous about submitting as it has a mixed-race middle class protagonist. Thanks op for giving me a bit of confidence that there could be an audience!!

@lifeisskittles , well done! Don't be nervous about submitting to agents, competitions and publishers, they are open to anything. Have you been on the Creative Writing Board? 'How to stay sane why querying agents' is a good thread. Also, a very experienced author friend, and creative writing tutor advised not to share the title of your work in progress, only with agents etc.

Another one for the list - Luster by Raven Leilani, about a 20-something black woman in NYC. I'm halfway through and loving it. The prose is so funny and clever and well written

J California Cooper - Homemade Love. It's a book of short stories written by this fabulous playwright.

Red Dust Road by Jackie Kay is a good read. Its based on the Scottish author reconnecting with her Nigerian father.

I loved Purple Hibiscus. It’s an earlier novel by the author of Americanah, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. She’s a female author and the novel has a female protagonist as well so it might fit what you’re looking for.

Two American examples, but An American Marriage and A Silver Sparrow both by Tayari Jones.

I am actually white, so probably shouldn't be posting as I don't know what it like to be black but they are great books. Apologies if they been mentioned.

Thanks so much for updating this list. They all sound great. There is so much literature out there that represents us without depicting us as victims or portraying us in a ridiculously mawkish light.
@lifeisskittles how exciting. Good luck with the submissions. Nothing wrong with mum lit

You can see on YouTube a 2015 Black History Month keynote address from Tuajuanda Jordan under the channel Wager College. Amazing woman.

Ah thanks @LloydColeandtheCoconuts and @Soma! Such lovely words of encouragement. Yes I realised I shouldn't have said the title too late (no way to delete?). I love Girl, Woman, Other also to all who are enjoying it xx

If you like romance I love all Brenda Jackson books.
I also like Dorothy Koomson