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6 Must-Read Fiction Books by Black Authors

If you learn history best through fiction and want to observe Black History Month, here are six books you should read. Explore the rich tapestry of storytelling spanning from historical fiction, political drama, mystery, and global perspectives. With gripping tales of resilience and resistance to global perspectives, there’s a book for everybody to dig in to.


Mary Kay McBrayer is the author of Madame Queen: The Life and Crimes of Harlem’s Underground Racketeer, Stephanie St. Clair and America’s First Female Serial Killer: Jane Toppan and the Making of a Monster. You can find her short works on history, true crime, and horror at Oxford American,Narratively, Mental Floss, and FANGORIA, among other publications. She hosts the podcast about women in true crime who are not just victims, The Greatest True Crime Stories Ever Told. Follow Mary Kay McBrayer on Instagram and Twitter, or check out her author site here.