african-american fiction
DEFINITION:
Like other multicultural fiction, African American literature includes many variations in tone, style, plotting and pace. African American fiction appears in every genre and, in the case of hip-hop or urban lit, has created its own. African American literature explores the role of African Americans within American society.
APPEAL:
When the many types of African American fiction are grouped together, the main appeal factor is that African Americans take center stage in these books. The diversity of the literature reflects the diversity of the African American community, so there is a broad spectrum of books within the genre, but all revolve around black characters telling their stories.
READERS:
Literary fiction of this genre has a broad mainstream appeal; anyone who reads literary fiction would be open to reading Nobel-prize winning author Toni Morrison. Some authors of popular fiction, like Terry McMillan or Walter Mosley, also have broad appeal. However, the main readership is other African Americans. As this
entire genre grows and deepens, the readership has grown as well and many library patrons now ask for the African American section of fiction, much like mystery readers often expect a separate mystery section. The popularity of the Zane books spotlighted the African American market with her bestselling titles and spawned a re-interest in black authors. Urban fiction, one the fastest growing segments of the genre, appeals mainly to teens and younger adults both male and female.
TRENDS:
Urban fiction is still driving sales and so far shows no signs of slowing down. Some of the early writers of this genre, like Nikki Turner, are turning their sales power into publishing deals for finding and publishing other authors. Recent titles from Omar Tyree, already a best-selling author, reflect the dominance of the urban fiction trend.
AUTHORS:
Classic - James Baldwin, Ralph Ellison, Donald Goines, Zora Neale Hurston, Iceberg Slim, Sister Souljah
Contemporary - Connie Briscoe, Pearl Cleage, Leesa Crosse-Smith, Eric Jerome Dickey, Marita Golden, E. Lynn Harris, Kimberla Lawson Roby, Bernice McFadden, Diane McKinney-Whetstone, Terry McMillan, Trisha Thomas, Omar Tyree, Carl Weber, Jacqueline Woodson
Erotica - Brenda Hampton, Allison Hobbs, Noire, Zane
Literary - J. California Cooper, Danielle Evans, Percival L. Everett, Ernest J. Gaines, Roxanne Gay, T. Geronimo Johnson, Edward P. Jones, Tayari Jones, James McBride, Toni Morrison, Alice Walker, Jesmyn Ward, Colson Whitehead
Mystery - Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Eleanor Taylor Brand, Attica Locke, Barbara Neely, Walter Mosley
Romance - Rochelle Alers, Alyssa Cole, Jasmine Guillory, Shirley Hailstock, Donna Hill, Brenda Jackson, Beverly Jenkins, Sandra Kitt, Mary B. Morrison, Francis Ray, Rebekah Weatherspoon
Urban Lit - Ashley Antoinette, Shannon Holmes, K’Wan, Vickie M. Stringer, Nikki Turner, Teri Woods
Like other multicultural fiction, African American literature includes many variations in tone, style, plotting and pace. African American fiction appears in every genre and, in the case of hip-hop or urban lit, has created its own. African American literature explores the role of African Americans within American society.
APPEAL:
When the many types of African American fiction are grouped together, the main appeal factor is that African Americans take center stage in these books. The diversity of the literature reflects the diversity of the African American community, so there is a broad spectrum of books within the genre, but all revolve around black characters telling their stories.
READERS:
Literary fiction of this genre has a broad mainstream appeal; anyone who reads literary fiction would be open to reading Nobel-prize winning author Toni Morrison. Some authors of popular fiction, like Terry McMillan or Walter Mosley, also have broad appeal. However, the main readership is other African Americans. As this
entire genre grows and deepens, the readership has grown as well and many library patrons now ask for the African American section of fiction, much like mystery readers often expect a separate mystery section. The popularity of the Zane books spotlighted the African American market with her bestselling titles and spawned a re-interest in black authors. Urban fiction, one the fastest growing segments of the genre, appeals mainly to teens and younger adults both male and female.
TRENDS:
Urban fiction is still driving sales and so far shows no signs of slowing down. Some of the early writers of this genre, like Nikki Turner, are turning their sales power into publishing deals for finding and publishing other authors. Recent titles from Omar Tyree, already a best-selling author, reflect the dominance of the urban fiction trend.
AUTHORS:
Classic - James Baldwin, Ralph Ellison, Donald Goines, Zora Neale Hurston, Iceberg Slim, Sister Souljah
Contemporary - Connie Briscoe, Pearl Cleage, Leesa Crosse-Smith, Eric Jerome Dickey, Marita Golden, E. Lynn Harris, Kimberla Lawson Roby, Bernice McFadden, Diane McKinney-Whetstone, Terry McMillan, Trisha Thomas, Omar Tyree, Carl Weber, Jacqueline Woodson
Erotica - Brenda Hampton, Allison Hobbs, Noire, Zane
Literary - J. California Cooper, Danielle Evans, Percival L. Everett, Ernest J. Gaines, Roxanne Gay, T. Geronimo Johnson, Edward P. Jones, Tayari Jones, James McBride, Toni Morrison, Alice Walker, Jesmyn Ward, Colson Whitehead
Mystery - Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Eleanor Taylor Brand, Attica Locke, Barbara Neely, Walter Mosley
Romance - Rochelle Alers, Alyssa Cole, Jasmine Guillory, Shirley Hailstock, Donna Hill, Brenda Jackson, Beverly Jenkins, Sandra Kitt, Mary B. Morrison, Francis Ray, Rebekah Weatherspoon
Urban Lit - Ashley Antoinette, Shannon Holmes, K’Wan, Vickie M. Stringer, Nikki Turner, Teri Woods