Good Reads: Black Publishing Power

By Jodi Goodman

Racial disparity and discrimination in publishing was exposed with the #PublishingPaidMe hashtag as Black authors urged white authors to list the advances they received for their debut books. The results showed that white authors, some with no prior writing experience, frequently receive bigger advances than Black authors. As a response, Amistad Books created the Black Publishing Power initiative to encourage readers to buy two books this week by Black authors with the goal to Blackout the NYT bestsellers lists with Black voices.

We are highlighting some engaging, gorgeous and educational books written by Black authors that are guaranteed to inspire. Join us in supporting this campaign and consider adding two (or more!) from our reading list to yours.

CLOTH & KIND // Black Publishing Power

HEART TALK

Cleo Wade
@cleowade

Black:

A Celebration of a Culture

Deborah Willis

Wild Interiors: Beautiful Plants in Beautiful Spaces

Hilton Carter
@hiltoncarter

The Collected Home: Rooms With Style, Grace, and History

Darryl Carter
@darrylcarterdesign

The New Bohemians: Cool & Collected Homes

Justina Blakeney
@justinablakeney

The Chiffon Trenches: A memoir

André Leon Talley
@andreltalley

HOW TO BE AN ANTI-RACIST

Ibram X. Kendi
@ibramxk

Furnishing Forward

Sheila Bridges
@harlemtoilegirl

We’d love to hear which books by Black authors you’re currently reading. Let’s keep the conversation going and the movement pushing forward!

HEADER IMAGE // Nala in Charcoal from Kettlewell Collection