Help Art Official Media compile the most compelling urban authors on the literary scene. Of course, some people might not classify all the authors as urban but everyone is entitled to an opinion.
The criteria of the writers was compiled according to the ideas and stories expressed. Anything to do with African American relationships to the environment or each other.
The list consists of some of my favorite authors that speak to all aspects of life. Specific emphasis was given to authors who self-published or were published by an independent press in order to make a living through their art.
If you have other authors who you think should be included in our top authors list, please contact us. I’ll review the book(s) and the site and if the author fits, I’ll add him/her to the list.
- Relentless Aaron – Push
- Marc Anthony – Streets of New York
- James Baldwin– Fire Next Time
- Treasure Blue – Harlem Girl Lost
- Gwendelyn Brooks
- Sandra Cisneros – A House on Mango Street
- Andrea Blackstone – Nympho
- Wahida Clark
- Michael Chan
- John Henry Clark
- Eric Jerome Dickey
- W.E.B. Dubois – Souls of Black Folk
- Michael Eric Dyson – Dyson Reader
- Kwon – Still Hood
- Richard Jeanty –
- Roy Glenn –
- Donald Goines – Dopefiend
- Shannon Holmes – B-More Careful
- Chester Himes
- bell hooks – Art of My Mind
- Langston Hughes
- Keith Lee Johnson – Sugar and Spice
- Iceberg Slim – Pimp
- Jihad –
- Maxine Kingston – Woman Warrior
- Jawanza Kunjufu – Conspiracy to Destroy Males
- Jessica Tilles
- Malcolm X
- Kwame Teague – Dutch III
- Vickey Stringer – Dirty Red
- Nikki Turner – Riding Dirty on 95
- Toni Morrison – The Bluest Eye
- Walter Mosley
- Omar Tyree
- T. Styles – Black and Ugly
- Sista Souljah – Coldest Winter Ever
- Tavis Smiley – Covenant with Black America
- Soujourner Truth – Autobiography
- Kashamba Williams –
- QB Wells – Blackface, Doughboy
- Dr. Frances Welsling – Isis Papers
- Teri Woods – Dutch I, Dutch II
- Saul Williams
- Kevin Weeks – Streetlife Series
- Carl Weber –
- Richard Wright – Blackboy
- Cornel West – Race Matters
- Trista Russell – Fly on the Wall
- Zane – Addicted
- Kiki Swinston – Candy Shop
- Jason Poole – Larceny
