African-American Non-Fiction and Biographies

Books

• An American Insurrection: James Meredith and the Battle of Oxford, Mississippi, 1962 by William Doyle - James Meredith battled Governor Ross Barnett in his efforts to become the first African American student at the University of Mississippi, triggering government combat troops and an armed rebellion. (A 378.76283 DOY)
• Memories of Sun: Stories of Africa and America by Jane Kurtz - A collection of short stories and poems by authors from both continents about life in various African countries and some of the experiences and impressions of Americans in Africa and of Africans in America. (A 808.80326 MEM)
• Harlem Stomp: A Cultural History of the Harlem Renaissance by Laban Carrick Hill - The Harlem Renaissance was one of the most exciting and important periods in American cultural history. It was a time of intellectual, artistic, literary and political blossoming. Readers will get caught up in this exciting portrayal of an exciting time in American History. (YA 810.9 HIL)
• Hacker Cracker: A Journey from the Mean Streets of Brooklyn to the Frontiers of Cyberspace by Ejovi Nuwere - The startling, personal story of a young ghetto kid from Brooklyn who became one of the world's foremost computer hackers and then, a security specialist for one of the world's top financial firms. (YA 92 NUWERE, E)
• Growing Up X by Ilyasah Shabazz - The daughter of Malcolm X relates life as the child of famous parents, including the hard times following the assassination of her father, and how she carries on his legacy. (YA 92 SHABAZZ, I)
• Black, White & Jewish by Rebecca Walker - Walker, born to a black mother and Jewish father, describes her struggle with drugs, her complicated friendships, and her ultimate search to find her own identity. (YA 92 WALKER, R)
• Jefferson’s Children: The Story of One American Family by Shannon Lanier - Shannon Lanier tracks down and talks to members of his extended family, both white and black, who are all descendents of Thomas Jefferson and his slave, Sally Hemings. (YA 973.46 LAN)
• Project Girl by Janet McDonald - A black woman traces her journey from a childhood in a Brooklyn public housing project to law school to life in Paris, a record of achievement that did not insulate her from the effects of her upbringing. (YA 92 MCDONALD, J)
• Everybody Say Freedom: Everything You Need to Know About African American History by Richard Newman - This historical reference provides an eye-opening overview of African-American history--- from the Middle Passage to the present day--and the contributions of African Americans to the United States. (YA 973.0496 NEW)
• Passages to Freedom by David W. Blight - Presents a comprehensive study of the Underground Railroad and explores the hiding places and way stations, the various escape routes, and those who assisted in helping the slaves including Native American Indians and Quakers. (YA 973.7115 PAS)

Authors You Might Enjoy

• Anita Bunkley
• Edwidge Danticat
• Sharon Flake
• Hunter Hayes
• Angela Johnson
• Monique Morris
• Connie Rose Porter
• Sapphire
• Alice Walker
• Dorrie Williams-Wheeler
• Jacqueline Woodson