Early 20th Century:
* W.E.B. Du Bois: A prominent sociologist and writer, known for his groundbreaking work "The Souls of Black Folk" (1903) exploring African American identity and race relations.
* Paul Laurence Dunbar: Poet, novelist, and playwright known for his use of dialect and themes of race, particularly in his collection "Lyrics of Lowly Life" (1895).
* Charles W. Chesnutt: Author of short stories and novels like "The Conjure Woman" (1899) and "The House Behind the Cedars" (1900), exploring the complexities of race and identity in the South.
Harlem Renaissance:
* Langston Hughes: A prolific poet, novelist, and playwright, known for his vibrant and often humorous depictions of African American life, especially in "The Weary Blues" (1926) and "I, Too, Sing America" (1926).
* Zora Neale Hurston: Anthropologist, folklorist, and novelist, best known for her novel "Their Eyes Were Watching God" (1937), which explores the life of a Black woman in the South.
* Claude McKay: Novelist, poet, and activist, known for his powerful poems like "Home to Harlem" (1928) and "If We Must Die" (1919), exploring themes of race, protest, and rebellion.
Post-World War II:
* James Baldwin: Prolific essayist, novelist, and playwright, known for his searing critiques of racism and social injustice, particularly in "Go Tell It on the Mountain" (1953) and "The Fire Next Time" (1963).
* Richard Wright: Novelist, known for his powerful works like "Native Son" (1940) and "Black Boy" (1945), which explored themes of poverty, racism, and violence.
* Ralph Ellison: Novelist, known for his complex and influential work "Invisible Man" (1952), exploring themes of identity, race, and the search for self in a society that often ignores or devalues African Americans.
Contemporary Era:
* Toni Morrison: Nobel Prize-winning novelist, known for her powerful and lyrical works like "Beloved" (1987) and "Song of Solomon" (1977), exploring themes of slavery, memory, and the African American experience.
* Maya Angelou: Poet, memoirist, and activist, known for her deeply personal and inspiring works like "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings" (1969), exploring themes of resilience, hope, and the search for identity.
* Alice Walker: Novelist, poet, and activist, known for her Pulitzer Prize-winning novel "The Color Purple" (1982), exploring themes of race, gender, and the power of women.
* Sherman Alexie: Novelist, poet, and filmmaker, known for his work centering on the experiences of Native Americans, including "The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian" (2007).
* Colson Whitehead: Novelist known for his Pulitzer Prize-winning novels "The Underground Railroad" (2016) and "The Nickel Boys" (2019), both of which deal with the legacy of slavery in America.
* Jesmyn Ward: Novelist known for her works "Salvage the Bones" (2011) and "Sing, Unburied, Sing" (2017), both of which explore themes of poverty, race, and family in the American South.
This list is far from exhaustive, and many other talented authors have contributed to the rich tapestry of African American literature. It is important to continue exploring and celebrating the diverse voices and stories within this genre.