Banned Books By Black Authors

There are classics, middle grade books, and just books I think everyone should read here.

It is quite obvious why these books were banned & challenged, but I'll tell you why and where anyway.

tw: some books mention of police brutality, sexual abuse, racism, abduction

1. Monday's Not Coming-Tiffany D. Jackson

Claudia and Monday have always stuck together like glue, but when Claudia gets back to Washington D.C. she has two questions, "Why haven't I heard from Monday," and very soon after, "Where is she?" She is the only one who seems to have noticed Monday's disapperance as no one mentions her. She isn't even on the news even though she disappeared in the "president's backyard." A story that deals with a Black girl going missing and no attention being brought to her. A story that portrays the real life disappearances and little to no media coverage in the real world United States.

Banned Beacuse: Well the Loudoun County School District parents believe it's "dirty" and wanted it banned due to its mentions of sexual abuse and violence

How dare a book deal with real world issues that Black girls face.

2. I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings-Maya Angelou

In her poetic and powerful autobiography she talks about her life facing abandonment, prejudices, and the consequences from a man attacking her when she was eight years old. She talks about loving herself, finding her voice and power.

Banned & Continuously Challenged Because: its language & portrayal of violence, racism, sexuality, teen pregnancy

Yes, they're mad over her sharing her story.

3.The Hate U Give-Angie Thomas (now a movie btw)

Starr Carter, a 16-year-old Black girl from a poor neighborhood, attends an elite private school that is predominately white where she must code-switch to fit in. Starr witnesses a white police officer kill her childhood friend, Khalil, and speaks up about the shooting which sparks public outrage on both sides.

Banned Because: Guess why this one was banned. Schools say it goes against the police.

4.The Color Purple-Alice Walker

A classic novel, play and movie about a 14-year-old girl named Celie. She lives in the Southern United States in the early 1900s. She writes letters to God, and is repeatedly harmed by her father. Her father, Alphonso, has impregnated her before, but the baby was "abducted." She has another child by him, and he iss named Adam. Her younger sister, Nettie (12), has a man who wants to marry her, but their father arranges for him to marry Celie instead. Celie must take care of his children as they all abuse her. Eventually, Celie builds relationships with other women who have been oppressed and meets the defiant Sofia.She also meets Shug Avery, a glamourous singer. They grow "close."

There is so much that happens in this book. I didn't know where to stop.

Banned Because: sexual and racial content

5.The Bluest Eye-Toni Morrison

Toni Morrison's first novel follows a young Black girl named Pecola. It deals with her growing up following the Great Depression and being called "ugly" due to her dark skin and she believes she is inferior. Thiss causes her to want "blue eyes" because she equates them with "whiteness."

Banned Because: graphic content

6.Beloved-Toni Morrison

A family of formerly enslaved people with a home in Cincinnati that becomes haunted by a malevolent spirit.

Does have sexual abuse (r.)

Banned Because: Might as well put all of her books on here. Anyway, this one was banned because of the graphic content and racial talks

7.Song of Solomon-Toni Morrison

Follows the life of Macon "Milkman Dead III and his family. Examines family relationships & racism in America

Banned Because:you know why

8.The New Kid-Jerry Craft (based on his own experiences)

A graphic novel that tells the story of a 12-year-old Black boy that goes to a private school and experiences cutlure shock as he adjusts to a new school with little students of color.He must deal with microaggressions (like being called the wrong name) and making new friends. This graphic novel includes humor and drama that is very relevant today.

It's quite literally about a boy who goes to a new school he didn't want to go to because he wanted to go to an art school...and must fit in. He does face things as the only Black kid in the class. And this is Jerry Craft's way of giving a book to the little Black kids that may have to go to a new school in a place where they look and feel different with great art. Watch the video I put above.

Banned Because: This isn't the only middle grade book that found its way on the "banned books list" by Craft. His other one, Class Act, was banned for the same reasons. Critical Race Theory is a no no. They say that it also promoted Marxism

9.The 1619 Project: A New Origin Story-Nikole Hannah-Jones

Anthology of essays and poetry-emplains the persistence of anti-Black racism and inequality, what makes the country unique, American past & present, "hidden truths around our nation's founding and construction...but continues to shape contemporary American life."

Banned Because:in efforts to take out books on "critical race theory" in schools

10.Native Son-Richard Wright

Bigger Thomas, 20-year-old living in a poor area in Chicago (1930s). Bigger feels excluded from those who have things, and is constantly afraid of the white people as they purposefully evoke fear, and situations around him. So, he reacts with anger and violence. Wright does not excuse Bigger Thomas' crimes, but he does show the systemic causation behind them.

Banned Because: Not the only one of his that should be on this list (Black Boy is another) and it's banned for graphic/violent content

11.Their Eyes Were Watching God-Zora Neale Hurston

Another classic: main character, Janie Crawford, is recounting her life which starts with her sexual awakening and talks about finding her voice/gaining independence, her marriages and being a Black woman in the '30s.

Challenged for: sexual explicitness (challenged in Brentsville)

12.Go Tell it on the Mountain-James Baldwin

Banned Because: Banned in NY and Virginia just to name a couple of places due to it containing profanity, and sexual content (themes of rape, masturbation, violence, and degrading women & sexuality)

13.Things Fall Apart-Chinua Achebe

Pre-colonial life in the southeastern part of Nigeria and the invasion by Europeans

Main character: Okonkwo: it deals with his family, customs & society, and further into the book, the influence of European colonialism & Christian missionaries on the Igbo community

"strong man" who is pulled by fear and anger because he needs to be strong and create a legacy due to his father being a disappointment

Banned and challenged Because: critical portrayal of European colonialism

"Hey, don't tell the truth or turn the mirror on us"

14.A Lesson Before Dying-Ernest JJ. Gaines

Based on the true story of Willie Francis

Jefferson is accused and convicted of a murder. He was the sole survivor and is sentenced to death. His attorney says that justice will not be there if they take his life. Wiggins is asked to visit Jefferson before his death. They form a bond.

Deals with compassion, resistance, and human struggles

Banned Because: banned then reinstated in Savannah due to its sexual content, violence and profanity

15.All Boys Aren't Blue- George M.Johnson

A raw memoir (series of personal essays) that follows what is was like for them growing up queer and Black. It talks about what was expected of them growing up, bullies they've faced, sexual relationships, joining a fraternity in an HBCU, and Black Joy. Different trials and triumpths that they've had all come together in this memoir. It also talks about allyship.

gender identity, toxic masculinity, brotherhood etc.

Banned Because: Banned in 8 states for being "pornographic" due to it mentioning sexual abuse and consenusal sex.

I'd like to add: the author is queer & Black and it's about being queer & Black as their reasoning behind banning it

16. Stamped:Racism, Antiracism and You-Ibram X. Kendi and Jason Reynolds

History of racism and talks of anti-racism as it follows five Black historical figures and who they were as racism played a role in their lives

Continuously Challenged Because: That's easy! Vulgar language and of course discussions of race

17. The Autobiography of Malcolm X-Alex Haley & Malcolm X

Banned because:it has been described as a "guide to crime," deemed too explicit, anti-white, too political, has profanity & sexual references

18.We Rise, We Resist, We Raise Our Voices

Fifty of the diverse children's authors and illustrators come together in this book to answer "In this divisive world, what shall we tell our children?" It includes: Jason Reynolds, Jacqueline Woodson, Kwame Alexander etc. There is art, poems, letters, essays and other works.

Banned Because: Texas' Eanes Independent School District says "it promotes discrimintaion"

IT PROMOTES DISCRIMINATION. They're not even trying to hide what they mean here. How exactly---you know what

19.Ghost Boys-Jewell Parker Rhodes

Follows Jerome, a 12-year-old boy who was killed by a white Chicago police officer for holding a toy gun (mirroring Tamir Rice's death). He becomes a ghost and meets Emmett Till and must process his death, trauma, and how historical racism linked their passings.

Sarah, the daughter of the white police (murderer) can see Jerome unlike anyone else. Jerome's case goes to trial as he watches over his family.

Banned Because: it's bad to talk about police brutality because it promotes the anti-police agenda apparently

20.Black Lives Matter:from hashtag to the streets

Banned Because: Guess what this is about and why Texas' Republican State Rep Matt Krause added this to the list of over 800 books that he wanted to have banned

I would like to thank the sources I took from, especially Marlize Duncan because she wrote about banned books and provided sources that were helpful.

What are you waiting for? Go read or listen to these books. I hope you get them from your local Black owned bookstore or by them online from a Black owned bookstore like Semicolonchi.com (you can also visit semicolon)

Peace.