Boy have I got a deal for you … because I’m frugal (read: cheap) and who doesn’t love a little two for the price of one?
I actually debated whether or not to even do this post, because I don’t generally specifically seek out black artists. I mean, I do attempt to read diverse authors in general, but there are so many times when I’m surprised, after the fact, to find out a book was written by an author of color.
Sooo … I had mixed feelings about this post. In the end, I decided to make it. Obviously. Because we’re all here. *bangs gavel* Let the meeting of the minds begin.
What tipped the scales? I realized there are some fantastic lesser known artists that I hope people will fall in love with and look more into. This brilliant idea struck me while I was listening to YouTube and Sam Cooke came on (don’t worry, you’ll meet him later) and I went waaaait a minute.
I’ve decided to highlight both authors AND singers, because what is music except poetry set to music and infused with emotions, anyway?
I’m going to confess that some of these songs were written by white authors, but they’re sung by black singers, who absolutely slay it, so it’s obviously the perfect symbiosis. I’m also going to admit that I tried to find lesser-known artists, not necessarily super hyped, that span from a hundred years ago to more recent, so there’s a little bit of a sampling. I may not have succeeded in that, but … hey, I tried. That counts for something, right?
I’m not going to add much commentary in this post, like I normally would.
Partly because this post is so long as it is, but also because the whole point is that you should check these artists out. So my opinion of them doesn’t matter. Go form your own opinions. I can’t do everything around here, now can I?
Black Authors
✦ Langston Hughes ✦
Notable Works:
Let American Be America Again
Theme for English B
I, Too
I am the Negro bearing slavery’s scars.
I am the red man driven from the land,
I am the immigrant clutching the hope I seek—
And finding only the same old stupid plan
Of dog eat dog, of mighty crush the weak.
✦ Zora Neale Hurston ✦
Notable Works:
Their Eyes Were Watching God
Barracoon: The Story of the Last “Black Cargo”
✦ Maya Angelou ✦
Notable Works:
Caged Bird
Still I Rise
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings
You may cut me with your eyes,
You may kill me with your hatefulness,
But still, like air, I’ll rise.
✦ Jamaal May ✦
Notable Works:
A Brief History of Hostility
There Are Birds Here
Respiration
I can’t promise, when it’s time, I won’t hesitate,
cannot say I won’t forget to return in fall and
guess the names of the leaves before they change.
✦ Tochi Onyebuchi ✦
Notable Works:
Beasts Made of Night
War Girls
Riot Baby
✦ Nnedi Okorafor ✦
Notable Works:
Binti
Akata Witch
✦ Jacqueline Woodson ✦
Notable Works:
Brown Girl Dreaming
Another Brooklyn
On paper, a butterfly
never dies
✦ Kwame Alexander ✦
Notable Works:
The Crossover
Solo
Swing
In this game of life
your family is the court
and the ball is your heart.
No matter how good you are,
no matter how down you get,
always leave
your heart
on the court.
✦ Victor LaValle ✦
Notable Works:
The Changeling
The Ballad of Black Tom
Destroyer
✦ Adaobi Tricia Nwaubani ✦
Notable Works:
Buried Beneath the Baobab Tree
I Do Not Come to You By Chance
Black Singers
I’ve included embedded videos in this section of one of my favorite songs for each artist, so you can get an easy feel for them without having to do too much leg work. Trust me, I’m as opposed to leg work as the next person.
I love listening to Maya Angelou read her own works. Something about hearing it in her own voice adds to the impact. I just hate that I missed opportunities to hear her in person when she was the Artist in Residence at Wake Forest Univ.
She has such a lovely reading voice, too! I’m a bit sad that I never had the chance to see her live, either, but I was never as close to an opportunity as it sounds like you were.
Wonderful post. I’ve read some Angelou and I love Okorafor. I still need to finish the Akata Witch series. Like you, I don’t seek out authors or singers just because of a specific race . However, I will add that I love Seal and Darius Rucker and my all-time-favorite-we-would-have-married-but-he-died PRINCE! Well, and I was already married so that might have been a problem.
I still need to START the Akata Witch series, because I apparently bought it and then just … didn’t read it? xD I’m a professional at that. Oh my, Darius Rucker has such a lovely voice! Pffft, I’m sure your husband would’ve understood. I mean, it’s Prince!
Paul Laurence Dunbar is one of my favorite poets. Also I really like P. Djeli Clark’s short fiction, and am looking forward to his full-length novel!
I agree about Wayne Brady, though! He’s awesome. I’d also add Leslie Odom Jr. to this list. I love his vocals on the Hamilton original cast album.
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Oooh, I haven’t read P. Djeli Clark, but his short stories are on my TBR, and I really want to read them! They sound fantastic.
I thought about adding Leslie Odom Jr and Daveed Diggs, but … I felt like they were a given. Who doesn’t love them? Pffft. No one I trust. xD
Love this post, Sammie! I’m going to have to spend some time listening to all the songs😁 Thanks for putting this together!
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I hope you enjoy them! I had a lot of fun putting the post together, because I got to listen to all the songs again. I may have gotten lost in the YouTube rabbit hole just a teensy bit. 😉 But I eventually found my way back out.
I think all of these musical artists have seared their songs into my soul!
I’m glad to hear that! I just love them so much and think their voices are all so unique.
So you have just reminded me of a bunch of stuff I need to read- namely, Binti and War Girls. And my son would LOVE The Crossover, I am definitely putting that one on his wishlist. Have you read Riot Baby? It was phenomenal! I saw him talking about it on Trevor Noah too and I felt like every single thing he was trying to say with the book comes through so clearly, which is kind of incredible. And ALL the singers are basically incredible! I want to talk about Wayne Brady in… something, but just saying it is a spoiler if you don’t know what it is hah. So I will refrain! This is such a great idea for a post, because I agree that so often music and books evoke the same kind of feelings, so it’s a perfect pairing!
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I’m gonna go ahead and confess that I still need to read Binti and War Girls, too. xD So we can be behind together.
I think Kwame Alexander’s books are one of our more popular sports books, and he’s got several, if your son is into that. 🙂
Our library *just* got Riot Baby in the other day, and I immediately jumped on that, ha. I can’t wait to read it!
Oh nooo, now I’m curious what Wayne Brady’s in that I may or may not know. xD