Literary Library

Jean Toomer

December 26, 1894 - March 30, 1967African-American poet and novelistAuthor of "Cane", "Essential" and "The Wayward and the Seeking"Part of the Har...

William Demby

December 25, 1922 - May 23, 2013African-American novelist, actor, translator, professor and asst. directorAuthor of "Beetlecreek", "The Catacombs"...

Bern Nadette Stanis

December 22, 1953 - African-American novelist, short story writer and teacherAmerican actress and authorAuthor of "Situations 101: Relationships, ...

Joseph Seamon Cotter, Sr.

February 2, 1861 - March 14, 1949African-American poet, writer, playwright, community leader and educatorAuthor of "A Rhyming", "A White Song and...

Langston Hughes

February 1, 1902 - May 22, 1967African-American poet, playwright, novelist, columnist and social activistAuthor of "The Weary Blues", "Not Withou...

Carter G. Woodson

December 19, 1875 - April 3, 1950African-American historian, author and journalistAuthor of "A Century of Negro Migration", "The History of the Ne...

Ossie Davis

December 18, 1917 - February 4, 2005African-American actor, director, writer and activistAuthor of "Purlie Victorious", "Escape to Freedom: The St...

Marc Lamont Hill

December 17, 1978 - African-American academic, author, professor, activist, news commentary and television personalityAuthor of "The Classroom and...

William Cooper Nell

December 16, 1816 - May 25, 1874African-American abolitionist, journalist, publisher and writerAuthor of "Services of Colored Americans in the War...

E. B. Lewis

December 16, 1956 - African-American illustrator of children's booksIllustrator of "Talkin' About Bessie" (written by Nikki Grimes), "Coming On Hom...

Barbara Smith

December 16, 1946 - African-American lesbian feminist, socialist, scholar, lecturer, editor and publisherAuthor of "Toward a Black Feminist Criti...

Donald Goines

December 15, 1936 - October 21, 1994African-American novelistAuthor of "Dopefiend", "Black Girl Lost" and "Crime Partners"Also wrote under the pseu...