Black women have always been at the center of the story—even when history tried to write us out.
Thankfully, a brilliant group of contemporary African American authors is giving our foremothers the spotlight, the mic and the flowers they deserve. From Harlem to Hollywood, sewing rooms to skyways, these novels bring the past to life through the eyes of women who refused to be background characters in anyone’s story.
So grab your tea, curl up in your favorite reading chair (or, let’s be honest, the front seat while waiting on kids) and dive into this list of 10 incredible historical fiction books that celebrate the brilliance, grit and legacy of Black women trailblazers.
1. Harlem Rhapsody by Victoria Christopher Murray
You may know the Harlem Renaissance, but do you know Jessie Redmon Fauset? She was the first and only literary editor of The NAACP’s Crisis Magazine and a literary queenmaker who helped launch Langston Hughes, Countee Cullen, Nella Larson and others. This novel dives into her life and secret love affair with W.E.B. Dubois (Yes, that W.E.B), painting a vibrant portrait of the editor, educator and unsung architect of Black excellence in the arts.
2. The Unexpected Diva by Tiffany L. Warren
Step aside, Aretha, Elizabeth Taylor Greenfield was snatching wigs with her soprano before the Civil War. Known as “The Black Swan,” Eliza was a tall, dark-skinned, full-figured opera powerhouse who didn’t fit the dainty European mold—but honey, when she sang, even the Queen of England had to stop and listen. From the churches of Philly to Buckingham Palace, Warren brings this nearly forgotten diva’s story to dazzling life, showing how Eliza stared down racism, kidnappers and critics with nothing but grit, grace and a voice that could bring the house down.
3. Yellow Wife by Sadeqa Johnson
Brace yourself. This one’s heavy—but necessary. Pheby Delores Brown is born into relative privilege as the daughter of her enslaver and a favored house slave, with the promise of freedom dangling just within reach. But that promise is shattered when she’s torn from her family and forced into the brutal reality of the (real life) Devil’s Half-Acre jail—a hellish slave-trading prison in Richmond, Virginia. There, she must navigate the violent whims of her jailer, make unthinkable choices and summon an inner strength that defies the cruelty surrounding her. Johnson writes with brutal beauty and unflinching honesty, offering a deeply moving portrait of love, loss and survival against all odds.
4. By Her Own Design by Piper Huguley
Before Gucci, Dior, or McQueen, there was Ann Lowe—the Black fashion designer behind Jackie Kennedy’s wedding dress. Yep, that dress. Huguley stitches together Lowe’s untold story, revealing the creativity and quiet determination it took to thrive in a world that barely acknowledged her brilliance.
5. Take My Hand by Dolen Perkins-Valdez
Inspired by a true case that’ll make your blood boil, this story follows Civil Townsend, a young nurse in 1970s Alabama who uncovers a dark secret: Black girls being sterilized without consent. Based on the true story of Mary Alice and Minnie Lee Relf who, in 1973 at ages 12 and 14, were surgically sterilized without their consent in Montgomery, Ala, this novel is haunting, powerful and a reminder that the fight for bodily autonomy is far from over.
6. American Queen by Vanessa Miller
You’ve heard of queens in castles, but have you heard of the queen of Appalachia? Meet Louella, the real-life formerly enslaved woman who helped lead a group of freedmen and women to build the Kingdom of the Happy Land—a thriving refuge tucked in the mountains of North and South Carolina after the Civil War. Over two decades on the Montgomery Plantation, Louella learned to survive on pure hate, but when her husband William dares to dream of a different life, she finds herself leading a people toward hope. Miller’s storytelling is rich, raw and revelatory, shining a light on this extraordinary moment in Black history—where courage, faith and resilience turned former slaves into royalty on American soil.
7. Carolina Built by Kianna Alexander
Meet Josephine N. Leary, a real estate mogul before it was sexy. Born into slavery, she built a property empire in North Carolina while juggling motherhood, marriage and microaggressions (before we had the word for it). Alexander gives us a heroine who’s smart, savvy and way ahead of her time.
8.The Other Princess by Denny S. Bryce
Before Meghan Markle made headlines, there was Sarah Forbes Bonetta—a brilliant, real-life African princess dropped straight into the heart of Queen Victoria’s court. Kidnapped and enslaved as a child, Sarah is “rescued” and presented to the Queen as a living gift (yes, a gift). But Sarah isn’t just a royal accessory—she’s a linguistic prodigy, a composer and a force with a crown-worthy intellect. Bryce paints a stunning portrait of a girl caught between continents, cultures and expectations, from West Africa to Windsor Castle to Sierra Leone. As Sarah battles racism and dreams of a place to truly call home, The Other Princess offers a gripping, regal, and deeply emotional story of survival, identity and ancestral power.
9. Let Us March On by Shara Moon
Set against the backdrop of the Civil Rights Movement, this lyrical debut follows Claudia “Cece” Washington, a student activist swept up in the Montgomery Bus Boycott. With poetic prose and heart-tugging moments, Moon gives us Cece’s voice, pride and courage—reminding us that change has always worn heels and a press-and-curl.
10. Island Queen by Vanessa Riley
Move over, Bridgerton—Dorothy “Doll” Kirwan Thomas was building empires, sipping rum and collecting coins centuries before anyone thought to write a corset scene. Born into slavery on the Caribbean island of Montserrat, Doll bought not only her freedom but that of her mother and sister, then hustled her way to the top of colonial society. Riley spins a sumptuous tale of a woman who became one of the wealthiest landowners in the West Indies, juggling lovers, merchants and even a future king (yes, that King William IV). From Dominica’s markets to London’s elite salons, Island Queen is the ultimate tale of power, perseverance and doing what a woman’s gotta do—especially when the world tells her she can’t.
Bonus: The Queen of Sugar Hill by ReShonda Tate
Yes, yours truly wrote this one—and I poured my whole heart into honoring Hattie McDaniel, the first Black woman to win an Oscar (and the first to have to fight tooth and nail just to sit in the room). This book dives into Hattie’s journey from maid roles to movie star, and the behind-the-scenes pain that came with her spotlight. Her story is as layered as her Sunday pound cake and just as rich.
These books aren’t just historical—they’re her-storical. They speak to the resilience, brilliance, and boldness of Black women whose names you need to know. Add them to your reading list, gift them to your besties and keep turning the pages—because our stories are just getting started.
Want more Black brilliance in your bookshelf? Let us know on IG and Facebook @DefenderNetwork with your favorite historical fiction by Black authors!
