10 Banned Books By Black Authors To Add To Your TBR

In recent years, book banning has surged in the United States, with schools and libraries facing an increasing pressure to remove books that address issues like racism, sexism, and systemic inequality from their shelves. The American Library Association says challenges to books have reached record numbers in the last few years, and according to a June 2024 study in PNAS Lexus, authors of color were 4.5 times more likely to have a book banned than their white author counterpart. .

While book banning is nothing new, recent bans focus on narratives that give voice to marginalized communities or confront unsavory parts of U.S. history. Books that discuss topics, such as feminism and LGBTQ+ identities, are often labeled “inappropriate” — but these stories are essential for the education and representation of readers.

In the face of rising censorship, one of the simplest things you can do is read, share, and support banned books. Here are 10 banned books by Black authors that are worth adding to your TBR.

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

The Hate U Give follows Starr Carter, a 16-year-old girl who witnesses her childhood friend get shot and killed by a police officer. The novel has been repeatedly challenged for profanity and violence, and critics claim it promotes an anti-police message.

Beloved by Toni Morrison

Beloved tells the story of Sethe, a former slave in post-Civil War Ohio, who is haunted by the ghosts of her past. The Pulitzer Prize winner has been challenged for its graphic depictions of slavery and violence.

The Color Purple by Alice Walker

Set in early 20th century Georgia, The Color Purple follows Celie, a young Black woman navigating abuse, separation, and self-discovery through a series of letters spanning decades. The novel has been challenged for sexual content, depictions of abuse, and reported anti-Christian sentiment.

Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston

A classic of the Harlem Renaissance, Their Eyes Were Watching God follows Janice Crawford’s journey through three marriages as she searches for love and fulfillment. According to the American Library Association’s Office of Intellectual Freedom, the novel has faced challenges for its depictions of “sexual explicitness and language.”

All Boys Aren’t Blue by George M. Johnson

In All Boys Aren’t Blue, Johnson shares a series of personal experiences about growing up Black and queer in the United States. Since its release, the memoir has been one of the most challenged titles in the country because of its sexual and LGBTQ+ content.

Push by Sapphire

Push tells the story of Precious Jones, a 16-year-old girl living in Harlem who battles abuse, assault, and illiteracy. The novel has been challenged for its intense depictions of sexual abuse and incest.

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou

In I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, Angelou recounts childhood experiences with racism, trauma, and resilience in a small Southern town. The memoir has faced bans for sexual content, depictions of abuse, and “anti-white messaging.”

White Teeth by Zadie Smith

White Teeth follows two families in London as they navigate identity, religion, and conflict. The novel has been challenged for its discussions of sexuality and religious tensions.

Hood Feminism: Notes from the Women That a Movement Forgot by Mikki Kendall

In Hood Feminism: Notes from the Women That a Movement Forgot, Kendall criticizes mainstream feminism for sidelining issues that affect low-income women and women of color. The book has been challenged for its examination of race and class.

This is Your Time by Ruby Bridges

This is Your Time reflects on Bridges’s experience being integrated into a New Orleans elementary school during the Civil Rights movement. The book has faced challenges as critics argue it “might make students feel discomfort, guilt, anguish, or any form of psychological distress because of their race or sex.”

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