Black History Month is a time for learning, reflection, and celebration, but it’s important to continue this engagement all year long. One powerful way to do this is by reading literature from Black authors, and as a Brit, I’m choosing to focus on books by Black British authors.
The following books offer vital perspectives on identity, culture, and history, bringing forward voices that have been historically underrepresented.
Whether you’re looking to dive deep into personal memoirs, fictional explorations of Black life in the UK, or poetry that challenges the status quo, here’s a list of must-read books by Black British writers. Read them for Black History Month (January in the US or October in the UK) or of course, any time you see fit.
I’ve included Amazon links to each book, but you can also read where to get e-books and audiobooks for free for alternatives. (Check out how to gift Kindle books and how to gift Audible for digital versions.)
- 1. Small Island by Andrea Levy
- 2. Girl, Woman, Other by Bernardine Evaristo
- 3. Natives: Race and Class in the Ruins of Empire by Akala
- 4. Queenie by Candice Carty-Williams
- 5. Ordinary People by Diana Evans
- 6. Brit(ish): On Race, Identity and Belonging by Afua Hirsch
- 7. The Good Immigrant, edited by Nikesh Shukla
- 8. Why I’m No Longer Talking to White People About Race by Reni Eddo-Lodge
- 9. The Black Flamingo by Dean Atta
- 10. Sista Sister by Candice Brathwaite
- More Books by Black British Authors
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1. Small Island by Andrea Levy
This award-winning novel explores the experiences of Jamaican immigrants in post-World War II Britain. Told from multiple perspectives, Small Island unpacks themes of racism, displacement, and identity as it weaves together the lives of Hortense and Gilbert, two Jamaican immigrants, and Queenie, a white British woman.
Levy masterfully portrays the cultural tensions between the colonised and colonisers, and how the ripple effects of colonialism continue long after the Empire dissolves. A must-read for anyone looking to understand the complex histories of Caribbean migration to Britain.
“How come England did not know me?”
2. Girl, Woman, Other by Bernardine Evaristo
Winner of the 2019 Booker Prize, Girl, Woman, Other is a bold, polyphonic novel that follows the lives of twelve characters, most of whom are Black British women. Evaristo’s experimental style allows each character’s story to unfold with poetic rhythm, creating a kaleidoscope of perspectives on gender, race, sexuality, and family.
The novel spans over a century, offering a rich tapestry of Black British life and inter-generational storytelling. Evaristo’s work is both a celebration of Black womanhood and a critique of the systems that marginalise it.
“That’s the problem with history, we like to think it’s a book—that we can turn the page and move the f*** on. But history isn’t the past, it’s the present. We carry it with us.”
3. Natives: Race and Class in the Ruins of Empire by Akala
In this groundbreaking memoir and polemic, musician, poet, and political activist Akala dissects the realities of being Black and working-class in Britain.
Part history lesson, part personal reflection, Natives draws on Akala’s own experiences growing up in a working-class, mixed-race family in London, as well as his observations of systemic racism in education, the police, and the media. The book’s sharp analysis of how race and class intersect in the UK makes it essential reading for anyone interested in British history, race relations, and social justice.
“I was born in Britain. But I was not born British.”
4. Queenie by Candice Carty-Williams
Carty-Williams’ debut novel, Queenie, is an honest, witty, and often painful exploration of a young Black British woman’s mental health struggles. The novel follows Queenie Jenkins, a 25-year-old journalist navigating life in London while grappling with a difficult breakup, microaggressions in the workplace, and her identity as a Black woman in predominantly white spaces.
Through Queenie’s journey, Carty-Williams tackles important themes such as mental health, racism, and sexism, making it both a relatable and thought-provoking read.
“Everyone’s got an opinion, then one day you realize that the only opinion that matters is your own.”
5. Ordinary People by Diana Evans
Set in South London, Ordinary People tells the story of two couples navigating the trials of middle age, parenthood, and changing identities. The novel examines the emotional impact of life transitions, the erosion of dreams, and the complexities of love.
Evans’ writing is lyrical and perceptive, offering an intimate portrayal of Black British middle-class life. The novel was shortlisted for the Women’s Prize for Fiction and is often praised for its depth of character and keen social commentary.
“Grief was a country where there was no getting to know the roads.”
6. Brit(ish): On Race, Identity and Belonging by Afua Hirsch
In this memoir, Afua Hirsch, a journalist and former barrister, explores her own mixed-race identity and what it means to be Black in Britain today. Brit(ish) addresses the complicated dynamics of race, class, and identity in a country that prides itself on being post-racial, yet continues to perpetuate exclusionary practices.
Through personal anecdotes and historical analysis, Hirsch sheds light on the erasure of Black British history and challenges the myth of a homogeneous British identity.
“Britishness is not just a legal status. It’s a sense of belonging. But belonging is complicated. It’s about who gets to decide who belongs.”
7. The Good Immigrant, edited by Nikesh Shukla
This anthology, edited by Nikesh Shukla, brings together essays from 21 writers of color, reflecting on what it means to be a person of color in Britain today. Featuring contributions from authors like Reni Eddo-Lodge, Inua Ellams, and Musa Okwonga, the collection covers a broad range of topics, including immigration, assimilation, and identity.
While not exclusively focused on Black British experiences, The Good Immigrant offers a broad lens on race in the UK, making it an essential collection for understanding the modern immigrant experience.
“In Britain, race is never explicitly an issue; the problem is always class, or geography, or social deprivation, or some other side reason.”
There’s also a follow-up version focused on the United States, titled The Good Immigrant: 26 Writers Reflect on America, which is edited by Nikesh Shukla and Chimene Suleyman.
8. Why I’m No Longer Talking to White People About Race by Reni Eddo-Lodge
This provocative and deeply insightful book started as a blog post that went viral. Eddo-Lodge examines the structures of systemic racism in Britain, including the nation’s reluctance to discuss race.
Drawing on history, politics, and personal experience, she breaks down how privilege operates, why it’s so difficult for white people to engage meaningfully with the topic of race, and what needs to change. Why I’m No Longer Talking to White People About Race is an urgent and necessary call to action that has sparked important conversations across the UK.
“Structural racism is dozens, or hundreds, or thousands of people with the same biases joining together to make up one organisation, and acting accordingly.”
9. The Black Flamingo by Dean Atta
A coming-of-age verse novel, The Black Flamingo follows Michael, a mixed-race gay teenager, as he navigates his identity and self-expression. Michael finds freedom and belonging when he joins his university’s drag society, taking on the persona of the Black Flamingo.
Atta’s poetic language captures the beauty and complexity of finding one’s place in the world, while addressing themes of intersectionality, sexuality, and race with sensitivity and grace.
“I am a man and I am not afraid to wear a dress, do my face, paint my nails. I am not afraid to be fabulous.”
10. Sista Sister by Candice Brathwaite
Brathwaite, known for her work as an advocate for Black motherhood, brings her signature blend of warmth and honesty to this collection of essays.
Sista Sister addresses life lessons for Black women on topics like beauty standards, self-worth, and navigating predominantly white spaces. Brathwaite’s voice is both affirming and empowering, offering advice for those striving to maintain authenticity in a world that often seeks to undermine it.
“You were not put on this earth to give all of yourself, and have nothing left to give yourself.”
More Books by Black British Authors
Whether you’re reading them during Black History Month or at any time of year, these works, rooted in Black British experiences, will expand your understanding of Britain’s diverse and complex cultural landscape.
Let me know if you have any others to add to this list of books by Black British authors in the comments below.
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