Banned Books by Black Authors

The books they tried to take off the shelf, in one place: banned and challenged works by Black authors, from Toni Morrison to the young-adult titles pulled from school libraries this decade. Buy them, read them, pass them on.

What is this list?

A collection of 191 books by Black authors that have been banned or challenged in American schools, libraries, or prisons, gathered from documented removal and challenge records. Every title links to where you can buy it.

Where do these books come from?

Titles are drawn from documented cases: school-district removals, library challenge records, and prison book-ban lists. Book details and covers are verified against Open Library before a title is added.

How do purchases work?

Each book links to a bookseller page for that edition. As an Amazon Associate, TUEPAC earns from qualifying purchases; proceeds support independent Black community journalism.

Classics

Beloved by Toni Morrison book coverBelovedToni Morrison Black Boy by Richard Wright book coverBlack BoyRichard Wright Giovanni's Room by James Baldwin book coverGiovanni's RoomJames Baldwin Go Tell It on the Mountain by James Baldwin book coverGo Tell It on the MountainJames Baldwin If Beale Street Could Talk by James Baldwin book coverIf Beale Street Could TalkJames Baldwin If He Hollers Let Him Go by Chester Himes book coverIf He Hollers Let Him GoChester Himes I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou book coverI Know Why the Caged Bird SingsMaya Angelou Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison book coverInvisible ManRalph Ellison Kindred by Octavia E. Butler book coverKindredOctavia E. Butler Manchild in the Promised Land by Claude Brown book coverManchild in the Promised LandClaude Brown Native Son by Richard Wright book coverNative SonRichard Wright Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler book coverParable of the SowerOctavia E. Butler Passing by Nella Larsen book coverPassingNella Larsen Roots by Alex Haley book coverRootsAlex Haley Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison book coverSong of SolomonToni Morrison Sula by Toni Morrison book coverSulaToni Morrison The Autobiography of Malcolm X by Malcolm X book coverThe Autobiography of Malcolm XMalcolm X The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison book coverThe Bluest EyeToni Morrison The Color Purple by Alice Walker book coverThe Color PurpleAlice Walker The Fire Next Time by James Baldwin book coverThe Fire Next TimeJames Baldwin Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston book coverTheir Eyes Were Watching GodZora Neale Hurston The People Could Fly by Virginia Hamilton book coverThe People Could FlyVirginia Hamilton The Street by Ann Petry book coverThe StreetAnn Petry

Contemporary fiction

Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie book coverAmericanahChimamanda Ngozi Adichie B-Boy Blues by James Earl Hardy book coverB-Boy BluesJames Earl Hardy Chain-Gang All-Stars by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah book coverChain-Gang All-StarsNana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah Friday Black by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah book coverFriday BlackNana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi book coverHomegoingYaa Gyasi Long Division by Kiese Laymon book coverLong DivisionKiese Laymon Luster by Raven Leilani book coverLusterRaven Leilani Memorial by Bryan Washington book coverMemorialBryan Washington Purple Hibiscus by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie book coverPurple HibiscusChimamanda Ngozi Adichie Push by Sapphire book coverPushSapphire Queenie by Candice Carty-Williams book coverQueenieCandice Carty-Williams Red at the Bone by Jacqueline Woodson book coverRed at the BoneJacqueline Woodson Salvage the Bones by Jesmyn Ward book coverSalvage the BonesJesmyn Ward Sing, Unburied, Sing by Jesmyn Ward book coverSing, Unburied, SingJesmyn Ward The Coldest Winter Ever by Sister Souljah book coverThe Coldest Winter EverSister Souljah The Death of Vivek Oji by Akwaeke Emezi book coverThe Death of Vivek OjiAkwaeke Emezi The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead book coverThe Nickel BoysColson Whitehead The Prophets by Robert Jones Jr. book coverThe ProphetsRobert Jones Jr. The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead book coverThe Underground RailroadColson Whitehead The Women of Brewster Place by Gloria Naylor book coverThe Women of Brewster PlaceGloria Naylor Waiting to Exhale by Terry McMillan book coverWaiting to ExhaleTerry McMillan

Middle grade

A Good Kind of Trouble by Lisa Moore Ramée book coverA Good Kind of TroubleLisa Moore Ramée Amari and the Night Brothers by B. B. Alston book coverAmari and the Night BrothersB. B. Alston Betty Before X by Ilyasah Shabazz book coverBetty Before XIlyasah Shabazz Black Brother, Black Brother by Jewell Parker Rhodes book coverBlack Brother, Black BrotherJewell Parker Rhodes Blended by Sharon M. Draper book coverBlendedSharon M. Draper Booked by Kwame Alexander book coverBookedKwame Alexander Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson book coverBrown Girl DreamingJacqueline Woodson Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis book coverBud, Not BuddyChristopher Paul Curtis Class Act by Jerry Craft book coverClass ActJerry Craft Elijah of Buxton by Christopher Paul Curtis book coverElijah of BuxtonChristopher Paul Curtis Finding Langston by Lesa Cline-Ransome book coverFinding LangstonLesa Cline-Ransome Genesis Begins Again by Alicia D. Williams book coverGenesis Begins AgainAlicia D. Williams Ghost by Jason Reynolds book coverGhostJason Reynolds Ghost Boys by Jewell Parker Rhodes book coverGhost BoysJewell Parker Rhodes Hurricane Child by Kacen Callender book coverHurricane ChildKacen Callender King and the Dragonflies by Kacen Callender book coverKing and the DragonfliesKacen Callender Look Both Ways by Jason Reynolds book coverLook Both WaysJason Reynolds New Kid by Jerry Craft book coverNew KidJerry Craft One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams-Garcia book coverOne Crazy SummerRita Williams-Garcia Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred D. Taylor book coverRoll of Thunder, Hear My CryMildred D. Taylor The Crossover by Kwame Alexander book coverThe CrossoverKwame Alexander The Only Black Girls in Town by Brandy Colbert book coverThe Only Black Girls in TownBrandy Colbert The Season of Styx Malone by Kekla Magoon book coverThe Season of Styx MaloneKekla Magoon The Watsons Go to Birmingham - 1963 by Christopher Paul Curtis book coverThe Watsons Go to Birmingham - 1963Christopher Paul Curtis This Is Your Time by Ruby Bridges book coverThis Is Your TimeRuby Bridges Through My Eyes by Ruby Bridges book coverThrough My EyesRuby Bridges Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky by Kwame Mbalia book coverTristan Strong Punches a Hole in the SkyKwame Mbalia

Movement classics

Are Prisons Obsolete? by Angela Y. Davis book coverAre Prisons Obsolete?Angela Y. Davis Blood in My Eye by George Jackson book coverBlood in My EyeGeorge Jackson Freedom Is a Constant Struggle by Angela Y. Davis book coverFreedom Is a Constant StruggleAngela Y. Davis Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl by Harriet Jacobs book coverIncidents in the Life of a Slave GirlHarriet Jacobs Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass by Frederick Douglass book coverNarrative of the Life of Frederick DouglassFrederick Douglass Revolutionary Suicide by Huey P. Newton book coverRevolutionary SuicideHuey P. Newton Seize the Time by Bobby Seale book coverSeize the TimeBobby Seale Soul on Ice by Eldridge Cleaver book coverSoul on IceEldridge Cleaver The Souls of Black Folk by W. E. B. Du Bois book coverThe Souls of Black FolkW. E. B. Du Bois The Wretched of the Earth by Frantz Fanon book coverThe Wretched of the EarthFrantz Fanon Women, Race & Class by Angela Y. Davis book coverWomen, Race & ClassAngela Y. Davis

Nonfiction & history

Becoming by Michelle Obama book coverBecomingMichelle Obama Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates book coverBetween the World and MeTa-Nehisi Coates Black Birds in the Sky by Brandy Colbert book coverBlack Birds in the SkyBrandy Colbert Four Hundred Souls by Ibram X. Kendi book coverFour Hundred SoulsIbram X. Kendi How the Word Is Passed by Clint Smith book coverHow the Word Is PassedClint Smith How to Be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi book coverHow to Be an AntiracistIbram X. Kendi Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson book coverJust MercyBryan Stevenson March: Book One by John Lewis book coverMarch: Book OneJohn Lewis March: Book Three by John Lewis book coverMarch: Book ThreeJohn Lewis March: Book Two by John Lewis book coverMarch: Book TwoJohn Lewis Me and White Supremacy by Layla F. Saad book coverMe and White SupremacyLayla F. Saad Men We Reaped by Jesmyn Ward book coverMen We ReapedJesmyn Ward Redefining Realness by Janet Mock book coverRedefining RealnessJanet Mock Sister Outsider by Audre Lorde book coverSister OutsiderAudre Lorde So You Want to Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo book coverSo You Want to Talk About RaceIjeoma Oluo Stamped from the Beginning by Ibram X. Kendi book coverStamped from the BeginningIbram X. Kendi The New Jim Crow by Michelle Alexander book coverThe New Jim CrowMichelle Alexander The Other Wes Moore by Wes Moore book coverThe Other Wes MooreWes Moore The Sun Does Shine by Anthony Ray Hinton book coverThe Sun Does ShineAnthony Ray Hinton The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson book coverThe Warmth of Other SunsIsabel Wilkerson This Book Is Anti-Racist by Tiffany Jewell book coverThis Book Is Anti-RacistTiffany Jewell When They Call You a Terrorist by Patrisse Khan-Cullors book coverWhen They Call You a TerroristPatrisse Khan-Cullors White Rage by Carol Anderson book coverWhite RageCarol Anderson Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria? by Beverly Daniel Tatum book coverWhy Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria?Beverly Daniel Tatum

Picture books

A Kids Book About Racism by Jelani Memory book coverA Kids Book About RacismJelani Memory All Because You Matter by Tami Charles book coverAll Because You MatterTami Charles Ambitious Girl by Meena Harris book coverAmbitious GirlMeena Harris Antiracist Baby by Ibram X. Kendi book coverAntiracist BabyIbram X. Kendi Before She Was Harriet by Lesa Cline-Ransome book coverBefore She Was HarrietLesa Cline-Ransome Black Is a Rainbow Color by Angela Joy book coverBlack Is a Rainbow ColorAngela Joy Change Sings by Amanda Gorman book coverChange SingsAmanda Gorman Freedom in Congo Square by Carole Boston Weatherford book coverFreedom in Congo SquareCarole Boston Weatherford Hair Love by Matthew A. Cherry book coverHair LoveMatthew A. Cherry Hands Up! by Breanna J. McDaniel book coverHands Up!Breanna J. McDaniel I Am Enough by Grace Byers book coverI Am EnoughGrace Byers I Am Every Good Thing by Derrick Barnes book coverI Am Every Good ThingDerrick Barnes Let the Children March by Monica Clark-Robinson book coverLet the Children MarchMonica Clark-Robinson Little Leaders: Bold Women in Black History by Vashti Harrison book coverLittle Leaders: Bold Women in Black HistoryVashti Harrison Nappy Hair by Carolivia Herron book coverNappy HairCarolivia Herron Not Quite Snow White by Ashley Franklin book coverNot Quite Snow WhiteAshley Franklin Of Thee I Sing by Barack Obama book coverOf Thee I SingBarack Obama Overground Railroad by Lesa Cline-Ransome book coverOverground RailroadLesa Cline-Ransome Ruby Bridges Goes to School by Ruby Bridges book coverRuby Bridges Goes to SchoolRuby Bridges Sulwe by Lupita Nyong'o book coverSulweLupita Nyong'o The ABCs of Black History by Rio Cortez book coverThe ABCs of Black HistoryRio Cortez The Undefeated by Kwame Alexander book coverThe UndefeatedKwame Alexander

Poetry & drama

A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry book coverA Raisin in the SunLorraine Hansberry Don't Call Us Dead by Danez Smith book coverDon't Call Us DeadDanez Smith for colored girls who have considered suicide / when the rainbow is enuf by Ntozake Shange book coverfor colored girls who have considered suicide / when the rainbow is enufNtozake Shange The Hill We Climb by Amanda Gorman book coverThe Hill We ClimbAmanda Gorman The Tradition by Jericho Brown book coverThe TraditionJericho Brown

YA

Ace of Spades by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé book coverAce of SpadesFaridah Àbíké-Íyímídé All American Boys by Jason Reynolds book coverAll American BoysJason Reynolds All Boys Aren't Blue by George M. Johnson book coverAll Boys Aren't BlueGeorge M. Johnson Allegedly by Tiffany D. Jackson book coverAllegedlyTiffany D. Jackson American Street by Ibi Zoboi book coverAmerican StreetIbi Zoboi A Song Below Water by Bethany C. Morrow book coverA Song Below WaterBethany C. Morrow Bad Boy: A Memoir by Walter Dean Myers book coverBad Boy: A MemoirWalter Dean Myers Beasts of Prey by Ayana Gray book coverBeasts of PreyAyana Gray Blackout by Dhonielle Clayton book coverBlackoutDhonielle Clayton Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi book coverChildren of Blood and BoneTomi Adeyemi Children of Virtue and Vengeance by Tomi Adeyemi book coverChildren of Virtue and VengeanceTomi Adeyemi Cinderella Is Dead by Kalynn Bayron book coverCinderella Is DeadKalynn Bayron Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo book coverClap When You LandElizabeth Acevedo Concrete Rose by Angie Thomas book coverConcrete RoseAngie Thomas Copper Sun by Sharon M. Draper book coverCopper SunSharon M. Draper Dear Justyce by Nic Stone book coverDear JustyceNic Stone Dear Martin by Nic Stone book coverDear MartinNic Stone Dread Nation by Justina Ireland book coverDread NationJustina Ireland Fallen Angels by Walter Dean Myers book coverFallen AngelsWalter Dean Myers Felix Ever After by Kacen Callender book coverFelix Ever AfterKacen Callender Forged by Fire by Sharon M. Draper book coverForged by FireSharon M. Draper From the Notebooks of Melanin Sun by Jacqueline Woodson book coverFrom the Notebooks of Melanin SunJacqueline Woodson Full Disclosure by Camryn Garrett book coverFull DisclosureCamryn Garrett Grown by Tiffany D. Jackson book coverGrownTiffany D. Jackson How It Went Down by Kekla Magoon book coverHow It Went DownKekla Magoon If You Come Softly by Jacqueline Woodson book coverIf You Come SoftlyJacqueline Woodson Legendborn by Tracy Deonn book coverLegendbornTracy Deonn Let Me Hear a Rhyme by Tiffany D. Jackson book coverLet Me Hear a RhymeTiffany D. Jackson Little & Lion by Brandy Colbert book coverLittle & LionBrandy Colbert Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds book coverLong Way DownJason Reynolds Monday's Not Coming by Tiffany D. Jackson book coverMonday's Not ComingTiffany D. Jackson Monster by Walter Dean Myers book coverMonsterWalter Dean Myers Odd One Out by Nic Stone book coverOdd One OutNic Stone On the Come Up by Angie Thomas book coverOn the Come UpAngie Thomas Pet by Akwaeke Emezi book coverPetAkwaeke Emezi Piecing Me Together by Renée Watson book coverPiecing Me TogetherRenée Watson Pride by Ibi Zoboi book coverPrideIbi Zoboi Punching the Air by Ibi Zoboi book coverPunching the AirIbi Zoboi Skin of the Sea by Natasha Bowen book coverSkin of the SeaNatasha Bowen Slay by Brittney Morris book coverSlayBrittney Morris Tears of a Tiger by Sharon M. Draper book coverTears of a TigerSharon M. Draper The Black Flamingo by Dean Atta book coverThe Black FlamingoDean Atta The Cost of Knowing by Brittney Morris book coverThe Cost of KnowingBrittney Morris The Field Guide to the North American Teenager by Ben Philippe book coverThe Field Guide to the North American TeenagerBen Philippe The Gilded Ones by Namina Forna book coverThe Gilded OnesNamina Forna The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas book coverThe Hate U GiveAngie Thomas The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo book coverThe Poet XElizabeth Acevedo The Skin I'm In by Sharon G. Flake book coverThe Skin I'm InSharon G. Flake The Stars and the Blackness Between Them by Junauda Petrus book coverThe Stars and the Blackness Between ThemJunauda Petrus The Voting Booth by Brandy Colbert book coverThe Voting BoothBrandy Colbert This Is My America by Kim Johnson book coverThis Is My AmericaKim Johnson This Poison Heart by Kalynn Bayron book coverThis Poison HeartKalynn Bayron Watch Us Rise by Renée Watson book coverWatch Us RiseRenée Watson We Are Not Broken by George M. Johnson book coverWe Are Not BrokenGeorge M. Johnson Whiteout by Dhonielle Clayton book coverWhiteoutDhonielle Clayton Wings of Ebony by J. Elle book coverWings of EbonyJ. Elle With the Fire on High by Elizabeth Acevedo book coverWith the Fire on HighElizabeth Acevedo You Should See Me in a Crown by Leah Johnson book coverYou Should See Me in a CrownLeah Johnson