Modern classic literature is generally classified as works of literature published after 1960, and what is so vital to this genre for Black authors is up until this time, Black authors were largely left out of classic literature due to systemic racism that prevented them from gaining major publications. This is not to say that there are no classic works by Black authors, but the number of Black authors who were given a voice after the civil rights movement blossomed compared to previous decades marking a major cultural moment for the world, and leaving a mark on art and culture.
With that being said, this list is celebrating the incredible voices of Black authors in modern classic literature that deserve not just a read, but to be commemorated for their contributions to literature as a whole. Check out these 10 modern classic books by Black authors that are page-turners you won’t be able to put down.
10. Beloved by Toni Morrison
Toni Morrison’s Beloved is without a doubt one of the best books from classic modern literature and is still read in literature classes around the world. This Southern Gothic book will touch your heart and leave you seeing the world differently if you haven’t read it already.
The story takes place as Sethe, a mother and free slave looks back on her life before slavery was abolished. Skipping between what her life was, what it is, and the impact of generational trauma that changes not just a person but their family. While remembering, a strange woman returns by the name of Beloved who might or might not be the ghost of her deceased baby.
9. Go Tell It To The Mountain by James Baldwin
James Baldwin is known as one of the great voices of the civil rights movement, his entire collection is a major contribution to modern classic literature. If you have yet to dive into his work, start with Go Tell It To The Mountain, a great gateway book to the world of Baldwin.
John Grimes is a young Black man growing up in Harlem, and this is his story about relationships with family and community. Throughout the book, relationships and dynamics are revealed that demonstrate the expectations that John’s family has for him, all while finding out the truth about his biological father and living with an abusive stepfather. Through the pages of this book, John’s, his mother’s and aunt’s stories become intertwined.
8. I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
Maya Anglou’s autobiography follows her early years growing up in the South. While there are no ghosts, this book is also considered a work of Southern Gothic fiction for its dark elements and features a protagonist tortured by circumstance.
Angelou tells her story from three years old to seventeen, in which the racist South becomes a mirror of identity and self-reflection in the 1930s and 1940s. In this dark yet enlightening coming-of-age story, Angelou details finding herself amidst becoming a young mother in the face of sexual assault.
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7. Kindred by Octavia E. Butler
Octavia E. Butler is a force to be reckoned with in modern classic literature, and she does not shy away from genres like dystopian novels and feminist literature.
Kindred is one of her most famous works, following Dana Black woman living her life in the 70s who is transported back to early 18th century Maryland – a time when slavery was still rampant. She has an encounter with a man who she finds out is a relative of hers – and he is a slave owner. The story follows Dana’s reckoning with the trauma placed on her ancestors and the complications of family dynamics and society.
6. Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adiche
Americanah is the definition of a modern classic novel, while it is newer compared to some of the reads on this list it is bound to be a classic for millennials.
Imefelu’s story begins in adolescence, falling in love and starting off her life in university. However after several university strikes, it becomes clear the best way for her to finish her education is to go abroad and in doing so she experiences the harsh reality of being a Black immigrant in the U.S., the sacrifice of leaving your own country, and the love you leave behind.
5. The Color Purple by Alice Walker
A list commending the great contributions of modern classic Black authors would not be complete without paying dues to the cultural phenomenon that is The Color Purple.
Alice Walker’s novel follows a young woman growing up in the South in the early 1900s as she reflects on the cards dealt to her: abuse, pregnancy, and the sensation of feeling trapped. Through letters she writes to God, she expresses and finds herself in life’s smallest pleasures that help her to move forward.
With the second major screen adaptation, it has never been a better time to read or re-read this novel.
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4. Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison
Ralph Ellison’s novel follows a protagonist who identifies as an “invisible man”. The lead reflects on his time in Harlem, university and overall delving into the layers of his identity.
The book demonstrates the intersection of social illusions and personal experiences that create a commentary on what it means to be a Black man. Ellison’s work is highly related to other philosophical novels such as The Stranger by Albert Camus, in which existentialism is put into conversation with identity. Ellison does this by adding on the layers of race, racism, and social politics. This book will make you think and open up your ideas about the world, identity, and most of all love.
3. Native Son by Richard Wright
Richard Wright’s novel Native Son takes a nightmare and makes it a reality. Thomas Bigger works for a wealthy white family, and by accident, he is responsible for the death of white women.
The story begins there as Wright explores systemic racism, the prison industrial complex, and most of all the lack of humanity that underlies the situation as his protagonist goes up against a system working against him.
2. Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston
Their Eyes Were Watching God is a heartwarming story about a young Black woman living in the South in the early 20th century, and she is dedicated to finding true love.
She narrates her story to her friend, telling a story of three marriages, and through each story, she learns about power dynamics, equality, or inequality, and what always prevails is learning to love herself before putting her heart on her sleeve.
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1. Passing by Nella Larsen
Nella Larsen’s incredible novel Passing tells the story of a young Black woman in New York City in the 1920s. One day, she crosses paths with a childhood friend who is passing as a white woman. The two friends had lost touch after Clare’s father died, and she went to live with her white aunts. She then went on to marry a racist white man, and she lives a life with his passing.
Irene on the other hand moves to New York, marries a Black doctor, and commits her time to fighting for equality. The two women live in parallel and the author makes critical comparisons about social standards, systemic racism, and friendship.
