Black Authors

Courage

By: Freshta Tori Jan

Narrated by: Dalia Ramahi

Length: 1 hour 2 minutes

Abridged: No

As a girl and as part of an ethnic minority in Afghanistan, Freshta Tori Jan was persecuted relentlessly. Her family faced kidnappings and daily murder attempts on the bus, on the way to school, in the workplace, and beyond. Freshta’s school was shut down by the Taliban, and many of her friends were murdered and shot. Her journey through... Read more

Police Brutality and White Supremacy

By: Etan Thomas

Narrated by: Julian Thomas

Length: 11 hours 16 minutes

Abridged: No

Featuring original interviews with: Steph Curry, Chuck D, Yamiche Alcindor, Isiah Thomas, Jemele Hill, Craig Hodges, Stan Van Gundy, Mark Cuban, Jake Tapper, Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf, Sue Bird, Kyle Korver, Rick Strom, Cenk Uygur, Tim Wise, Chris Broussard, Breanna Stewart, Rex Chapman, Stephen Jackson, Kori McCoy, Lora Dene King, Chikesia Clemons,... Read more

Righteous Troublemakers

By: Al Sharpton

Narrated by: Al Sharpton

Length: 10 hours

Abridged: No

“This is the time. We won’t stop until we change the whole system of justice.” —Reverend Al Sharpton

In the summer of 2020, Reverend Al Sharpton stood on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his “I Have a Dream” speech, preparing to give the keynote address of theGet Your Knee Off Our NecksCommitment March.... Read more

When Winter Robeson Came

By: Brenda Woods

Narrated by: Keylor Leigh

Length: 2 hours 17 minutes

Abridged: No

The whole world seems to transform during the summer of 1965, when Eden’s cousin from Mississippi comes to visit her in L.A. just as the Watts Riots erupt, in this stirring new novel by Coretta Scott King Honor winner Brenda Woods.

When Eden’s cousin Winter comes for a visit, it turns out he’s not just there to sightsee. He wants to figure out... Read more

Fear of Black Consciousness

By: Lewis R. Gordon

Narrated by: Landon Woodson & Lewis R. Gordon

Length: 9 hours 7 minutes

Abridged: No

Lewis R. Gordon's Fear of Black Consciousness is a groundbreaking account of Black consciousness by a leading philosopher

In this original and penetrating audiobook, Lewis R. Gordon, one of the leading scholars of Black existentialism and anti-Blackness, takes the reader on a journey through the historical development of racialized Blackness, the... Read more

Ain't Burned All the Bright

By: Jason Reynolds

Narrated by: Jason Reynolds, Nile Bullock, Tatum Marylin Hal...

Length: 37 minutes

Abridged: No

NAMED A 2023 ALA NOTABLE CHILDREN’S RECORDING!

Prepare yourself for something unlike anything: A smash-up of art and text for teens that viscerally captures what it is to be Black. In America. Right Now. Written by #1 New York Times bestselling and award-winning author Jason Reynolds.

Jason Reynolds and his best bud, Jason Griffin, had a... Read more

Self-Care for Black Women

By: Oludara Adeeyo

Narrated by: Angel Pean

Length: 5 hours 12 minutes

Abridged: No

Prioritize your wellbeing with these 150 self-care exercises designed specifically to help Black women revitalize their outlook on life, improve their mental health, eliminate stress, and self-advocate.

Between micro- and macro-aggressions at school, at work, and everywhere in between, it’s tough to prioritize physical and mental wellness as a... Read more

Opal Lee and What It Means to Be Free

By: Alice Faye Duncan

Narrated by: Bahni Turpin

Length: 18 minutes

Abridged: No

Booklist starred reviewBlack activist Opal Lee had a vision of Juneteenth as a holiday for everyone. This true story celebrates Black joy and inspires children to see their dreams blossom. Growing up in Texas, Opal knew the history of Juneteenth, but she soon discovered that many Americans had never heard of the holiday. Join Opal on her... Read more

None But the Righteous

By: Chantal James

Narrated by: William DeMeritt

Length: 5 hours 6 minutes

Abridged: No

In seventeenth-century Peru, St. Martin de Porres was torn from his body after death. His bones were pillaged as relics, and his spirit was said to inhabit those bones. Four centuries later, nineteen-year old Ham is set adrift from his hometown of New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina. Hidden beneath his clothes, he wears his only valued... Read more

How to Fight Racism Young Reader's Edition

By: Jemar Tisby

Narrated by: Jemar Tisby

Length: 6 hours 20 minutes

Abridged: No

Kids deal with racism and social justice issues every day; give them the tools to effectively fight injustices using Christian principles and practical tools. In this adaptation of How to Fight Racism, New York Times bestselling author Dr. Jemar Tisby helps young readers ages 8-12 understand how everyday prejudice affects them, what they can do... Read more

Talking about Race

By: Isaac Adams

Narrated by: Rick N. Jones

Length: 6 hours 8 minutes

Abridged: No

Conversations about racism are as important as they are hard for American Christians.Yet the conversation often gets so ugly, even among the faithful who claim unity in Jesus. Why is that the case? Why does it matter? Can things get better, or are we permanently divided?In this honest and hopeful book, pastor Isaac Adams doesn't just show you... Read more

The Chosen One

By: Echo Brown

Narrated by: Echo Brown & Joniece Abbott-Pratt

Length: 9 hours 24 minutes

Abridged: No

This memoir filled with “overwhelming emotions and power” (The Mary Sue) testifies to the disappointments and triumphs of a Black first-generation college student in this exploration of the first-year experience.

There are many watchers and they are always white. That’s the first thing Echo notices as she settles into Dartmouth College. Despite... Read more

Daddy Speaks Love

By: Leah Henderson

Narrated by: Leah Henderson

Length: 5 minutes

Abridged: No

A moving tribute to the joy and grounding that fathers bring to their children's lives.

What does a daddy do? From day one, this daddy speaks love to his little one. And along with that love, his words and actions speak many other things, too: like truth, joy, comfort, and pride. Like many dads, he answers a million questions and tries to make... Read more

Operation Sisterhood

By: Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich

Narrated by: Kristen Ariza

Length: 8 hours 39 minutes

Abridged: No

Fans of the Netflix reboot of The Babysitters Club will delight as four new sisters band together in the heart of New York City. Discover this jubilant novel about the difficulties of change, the loyalty of sisters, and the love of family from a prolific award-winning author.

An Operation Sisterhood stage adaptation is coming soon to the John F.... Read more

Bedtime Bonnet

By: Nancy Redd

Narrated by: Nancy Redd

Length: 4 minutes

Abridged: No

This joyous and loving celebration of family is the first-ever picture book to highlight Black nighttime hair traditions--and is perfect for every little girl who knows what it's like to lose her bonnet just before bedtime.

In my family, when the sun goes down, our hair goes up!
My brother slips a durag over his locs.
Sis swirls her hair in a wrap... Read more

Darryl's Dream

By: Darryl "DMC" McDaniels, Shawnee Warfield, Johnn...

Narrated by: Darryl "DMC" McDaniels

Length: 11 minutes

Abridged: No

From hip-hop pioneer Darryl “DMC” McDaniels comes Darryl’s Dream, a new book about creativity, confidence, and finding your voice.

Meet Darryl, a quiet third grader with big hopes and dreams. He loves writing and wants to share his talents, but he’s shy—and the kids who make fun of his glasses only make things worse. Will the school talent show... Read more

The Sport of the Gods

By: Paul Laurence Dunbar

Narrated by: Sean Crisden

Length: 3 hours 45 minutes

Abridged: No

Berry Hamilton was living a pretty good life—up until he was accused of stealing money from his employer. Despite having worked for the family for twenty years, Berry is found guilty of a crime he did not commit and sentenced to prison. As his wife and children turn to the community, they find themselves shunned. Left with no other choice,... Read more

Honest June

By: Tina Wells

Narrated by: Tyla Collier

Length: 5 hours 5 minutes

Abridged: No

Who wouldn't want a fairy godmother? But when June's puts her under a spell where she cannot tell a lie, the truth is middle school just got a lot harder.

The truth hurts. Sixth-grader June Jackson learned that lesson early. (She told her BFF one time she didn’t like her shoes. They fought for a week!) Which is why now June tells people what they... Read more

Stacey’s Extraordinary Words

By: Stacey Abrams

Narrated by: Stacey Abrams

Length: 14 minutes

Abridged: No

The debut picture book from iconic voting rights advocate and #1 New York Times bestselling author Stacey Abrams is an inspiring tale of determination, based on her own childhood. Stacey is a little girl who loves words more than anything. She loves reading them, sounding them out, and finding comfort in them when things are hard. But when her... Read more

King of the Blues

By: Daniel De Visé

Narrated by: Cary Hite

Length: 17 hours 7 minutes

Abridged: No

Riley “Blues Boy” King (1925-2015) was born into deep poverty in Jim Crow Mississippi. Wrenched away from his sharecropper father, B.B. lost his mother at age ten, leaving him more or less alone. Music became his emancipation from exhausting toil in the fields. Inspired by a local minister’s guitar and by the records of Blind Lemon Jefferson and... Read more

Charlotte and the Nutcracker

By: Charlotte Nebres

Narrated by: Charlotte Nebres

Length: 9 minutes

Abridged: No

A reimagined and modern take on the holiday favorite, this picture book weaves together the classic Christmas tale of The Nutcracker and the true-life story of 12-year-old ballerina Charlotte Nebres, the first Black girl to play Marie in the New York City Ballet’s production.

The only thing Charlotte loves as much as ballet is Christmas. So, when... Read more

Unprotected

By: Billy Porter

Narrated by: Billy Porter

Length: 12 hours 22 minutes

Abridged: No

“This is not a coming-out story. It’s not a down-low story either. I never could have passed for straight, even if I’d wanted to, and so I never had the dubious luxury of living a lie.”From the incomparable Emmy, Grammy, and Tony Award winner, a powerful and revealing autobiography about race, sexuality, art, and healingIt’s easy to be yourself... Read more

The New Negro

By: Alain Locke

Narrated by: York Whitaker, Robin Eller, Charon Normand-Widm...

Length: 13 hours 38 minutes

Abridged: No

This anthology edited by the American writer, philosopher, and patron of the arts Alain Locke brings together some of the most influential pieces of African American works from the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Featuring the voices of Zora Neale Thurston, W. E. B. Du Bois, and Langston Hughes, Locke included commentary on the... Read more

Expository Apologetics

By: Voddie Baucham

Narrated by: Preston Butler

Length: 6 hours 58 minutes

Abridged: No

Apologetics is for everyone.The Bible is clear that all believers are called to defend their faith. However, if apologetics is the formal process that we have come to expect, this sounds like an impossible task. But what if apologetics could be part of natural, normal conversation―both from the pulpit and in everyday life?Aimed at preparing you... Read more