 Passing
by Nella Larsen
Married to a successful physician and prominently ensconced in society, Irene Redfield leads a charmed existence — until a chance encounter with a childhood friend who has been "passing for white."
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| |  Quicksand
by Nella Larsen
Brave, bold, and brilliant, Larsen's autobiographical portrait of a biracial woman's quest for self-identity and acceptance offers a cautionary tale of an individual lost between two cultures.
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 The Blacker the Berry
by Wallace Thurman
The first novel to openly address color prejudice among black Americans, this moving tale unfolds amid the Harlem Renaissance in an enduringly relevant examination of racial, sexual, and cultural identity.
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| |  Brown Girl, Brownstones
by Paule Marshall
Set in Brooklyn during the Depression and World War II, this 1953 coming-of-age novel centers on the daughter of Barbadian immigrants. "Passionate, compelling." — Saturday Review. "Remarkable for its courage." — The New Yorker.
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 Iola Leroy, or, Shadows Uplifted
by Frances E. W. Harper
This 1892 work was among the first novels published by an African-American woman. Its striking portrait of life during the Civil War and Reconstruction recounts a mixed-race woman's devotion to uplifting the black community.
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| |  Not Without Laughter
by Langston Hughes
Poet Langston Hughes' only novel, a coming-of-age tale that unfolds amid an African-American family in rural Kansas, explores the dilemmas of life in a racially divided society.
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 The House Behind the Cedars
by Charles W. Chesnutt
Originally published in 1900, this groundbreaking novel by a distinguished African-American author recounts the drama of a brother and sister who "pass for white" during the dangerous days of Reconstruction.
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| |  The Marrow of Tradition
by Charles W. Chesnutt
A landmark in the history of African-American fiction, this gripping 1901 novel unfolds against the backdrop of the post-Reconstruction South, climaxing in a race riot based on an actual 1898 incident.
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 Tales of Conjure and The Color Line: 10 Stories
by Charles Waddell Chesnutt
Ten wonderful stories by pioneer of African-American fiction: "The Goophered Grapevine," "Po' Sandy," "Sis' Becky's Pickaninny," "The Wife of His Youth," "Dave's Neckliss," "The Passing of Grandison," more. Witty, charming, insightful.
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| |  Clotel or The President's Daughter
by William Wells Brown
The first novel by an African-American, this dramatic tale tells the fate of a child fathered by Thomas Jefferson with one of his slaves. The author, a former slave, powerfully depicts racial injustice.
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 African-American Poetry: An Anthology, 1773-1927
by Joan R. Sherman
Rich selection of 74 poems ranging from religious and moral verse of Phillis Wheatley Peters (ca. 1753–1784) to 20th-century work of Countee Cullen, James Weldon Johnson, and Langston Hughes. Introduction. Includes 4 selections from the Common Core State Standards Initiative.
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| |  The Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man
by James Weldon Johnson
African-American writer's pioneering novel parallels his own life, probes the psychological aspects of "passing for white," and examines the American caste and class system. Major contribution to American literature.
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 Darkwater: Voices from Within the Veil
by W. E. B. Du Bois
The distinguished American civil rights leader first published these fiery essays, sketches, and poems nearly 80 years ago in various periodicals. This volume has long inspired readers with its militant cry for reforms for black Americans.
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| |  The Souls of Black Folk
by W. E. B. Du Bois
This landmark in the literature of black protest eloquently affirms that it is beneath the dignity of a human being to beg for those rights that belong inherently to all mankind.
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 Selected Poems
by Paul Laurence Dunbar
Comprehensive collection of one of the beloved African-American poet's works includes "Ode to Ethiopia," "Not They Who Soar," "When Malindy Sings," "We Wear the Mask, "Dinah Kneading Dough," "The Haunted Oak," more.
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| |  The Sport of the Gods
by Paul Laurence Dunbar
A landmark in African-American literature, this powerful novel was among the first realistic depictions of ghetto life. Its portrayal of the black community's social and political issues continues to resonate today.
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 Uncle Tom's Cabin
by Harriet Beecher Stowe
The moving abolitionist novel that fueled the fire of the human rights debate in 1852 and melodramatically condemned the institution of slavery through powerfully realized characters.
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| |  Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl
by Harriet Jacobs
Published in 1861, one of few extant slave narratives written by a woman. Powerful portrayal of the brutality of slave life through the inspiring tale of one woman's dauntless spirit and faith.
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 Adventures of an African Slaver
by Captain Theodore Canot
Brimming with information on every aspect of the slave trade in the nineteenth century, this detailed account by a former slave ship captain accurately portrays the appalling machinery of commercial slavery.
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| |  American Slaves Tell Their Stories: Six Interviews
by Octavia V. Rogers Albert
Vivid narratives recall life during and after the Civil War, from cruel punishments, divided families, and debilitating labor, to religious beliefs and practices, and the condition and progress of former slaves.
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 Narrative of My Escape from Slavery
by Moses Roper
This 1838 autobiography recounts the experiences of a North Carolina slave who was sold or traded until his escape to New England. Roper's moving reminiscences offer a powerful account of life in bondage.
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| |  The Narrative of William W. Brown, a Fugitive Slave
by William Wells Brown
An influential force in the abolition movement and a lasting testimonial to the injustice of slavery, Brown's 1847 Narrative offers a sincere and moving account of the author's experiences as a slave in Missouri.
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| |  Slave Songs of the United States
by William Francis Allen, Charles Pickard Ware, Lucy McKim Garrison
This 1867 landmark book was the first systematic effort to collect and preserve songs sung by plantation slaves. Most of the 130 songs, geographically arranged, were recorded directly from the singers themselves.
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 Three Narratives of Slavery
by Sojourner Truth, Harriet Jacobs, Mary Prince
Straightforward, yet often poetic, accounts of the battle for freedom, these memoirs by three courageous black women vividly chronicle their struggles in the bonds of slavery, their rebellion against injustice, and their determination to attain equality.
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| |  Twelve Years a Slave
by Solomon Northup
Kidnapped into slavery in 1841, Northup spent 12 years in captivity. This autobiographical memoir represents an exceptionally detailed and accurate description of slave life and plantation society. 7 illustrations. Index.
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| |  Up from Slavery
by Booker T. Washington
Washington (1856-1915) rose to become the most influential spokesman for African-Americans of his day. In this eloquently written book, he describes events in a remarkable life that began in bondage and culminated in worldwide recognition.
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 Women's Slave Narratives
by Annie L. Burton
Authentic recollections of hardship, frustration, and hope — from Mary Prince's groundbreaking account of a lone woman's tribulations and courage, to Annie Burton's eulogy of black motherhood.
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