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African American History Books

Discover the unfiltered stories, cultural achievements, and defining moments that shaped African American history.

African American history is central to understanding the United States. From slavery and segregation to sports breakthroughs, cultural renaissance, biblical scholarship, poetry, and the rebuilding of Black Wall Street, these books provide powerful insight into struggle, strength, and transformation.

Explore our African American History Books collection and engage with voices that shaped the nation.

Why Study African American History?

African American history resources help readers:

  • Understand slavery, segregation, and civil rights

  • Explore cultural and literary expression

  • Study economic empowerment movements

  • Recognize athletic and social pioneers

  • Reclaim overlooked historical narratives

Black history is American history.

Reframing the American Story

Some works challenge traditional narratives and highlight underrepresented contributions.

Black AF History: The Un-Whitewashed Story of America presents a bold reinterpretation of American history centered on Black experience, resistance, and achievement.

Reexamining history broadens national understanding.

Black Wall Street & Economic Empowerment

The Greenwood District of Tulsa became a symbol of Black economic independence.

Black Wall Street: From Riot to Renaissance in Tulsa's Historic Greenwood District explores the rise, destruction, and rebuilding of Tulsa’s Greenwood community following the 1921 massacre.

Economic resilience remains a defining theme in African American history.

Sports & Breaking Barriers

Athletics often reflect broader civil rights struggles.

Larry Doby in Black and White: The Story of a Baseball Pioneer chronicles the life of Larry Doby, one of Major League Baseball’s earliest Black players, who broke color barriers shortly after Jackie Robinson.

Sports history highlights courage in the face of discrimination.

Faith & Biblical Identity

Religion has played a central role in African American cultural life.

Blacks in the Bible: Volume I: the Original Roots of Men and Women of Color in Scripture explores interpretations of biblical texts through the lens of African and African-descended identity.

Spiritual scholarship has long supported cultural affirmation.

Poetry & Cultural Expression

Art and poetry have served as powerful vehicles for voice and identity.

Obsidian Sun: A Poetry Compilation of Fiery Blackness: A Poetry Compilation of Fiery Blackness presents poetic reflections on identity, struggle, and empowerment.

Literary expression preserves emotional and cultural truth.

African American History as Living Legacy

African American History Books support:

  • Civil rights education

  • Economic history study

  • Sports and cultural biography

  • Spiritual identity exploration

  • Artistic and poetic expression

Understanding this history strengthens awareness of ongoing social change.

Featured African American History Books

Black AF History: The Un-Whitewashed Story of America
A bold reinterpretation of American history centered on Black voices.

Black Wall Street: From Riot to Renaissance in Tulsa's Historic Greenwood District
A study of economic achievement and tragedy in Tulsa’s Greenwood community.

Larry Doby in Black and White: The Story of a Baseball Pioneer
A biography of a barrier-breaking MLB player.

Blacks in the Bible: Volume I: the Original Roots of Men and Women of Color in Scripture
A faith-centered exploration of identity and scripture.

Obsidian Sun: A Poetry Compilation of Fiery Blackness
A poetic celebration of Black identity and expression.

How to Choose the Right African American History Book

Let your focus guide your selection:

  • Civil rights & reinterpretation: broader historical narratives

  • Economic history: Greenwood and Black entrepreneurship

  • Sports pioneers: barrier-breaking biographies

  • Faith & scripture: biblical identity studies

  • Cultural expression: poetry and creative works

African American history spans politics, faith, culture, and innovation.

Summary

African American History Books illuminate strength, struggle, and achievement.

  • Focused on truth-telling and cultural reclamation

  • Grounded in biography, scholarship, and art

  • Designed to deepen historical awareness

From Tulsa’s Black Wall Street and Major League Baseball integration to reinterpretations of American history, biblical scholarship, and poetic expression, these books offer structured insight into the enduring impact of African American communities.

Explore African American History Books and engage with stories that continue to shape the nation.

FAQs

Why is African American history important?
It is foundational to understanding the political, cultural, and economic development of the United States.

What was Black Wall Street?
The Greenwood District in Tulsa, Oklahoma, known for its thriving Black-owned businesses before the 1921 massacre.

Who was Larry Doby?
A Major League Baseball pioneer who broke the American League color barrier.

Does African American history include literature and poetry?
Yes. Cultural expression is a central part of historical identity.

Is faith important in African American history?
Yes. Religious traditions have played a major role in community resilience and civil rights leadership.

6246 Results

6246 Results

The Rising Generation: Gradual Abolition, Black Legal Culture, and the Making of National Freedom
The Rising Generation: Gradual Abolition, Black Legal Culture, and the Making of National Freedom

The Rising Generation: Gradual Abolition, Black Legal Culture, and the Making of National Freedom

$34.95
Tragedy in Black Baseball: Early Deaths of 136 Negro Leaguers, 1871-1950
Tragedy in Black Baseball: Early Deaths of 136 Negro Leaguers, 1871-1950

Tragedy in Black Baseball: Early Deaths of 136 Negro Leaguers, 1871-1950

$49.95
Jim Crow in the Asylum: Psychiatry and Civil Rights in the American South
Jim Crow in the Asylum: Psychiatry and Civil Rights in the American South

Jim Crow in the Asylum: Psychiatry and Civil Rights in the American South

$34.99
Red Hot City: Housing, Race, and Exclusion in Twenty-First-Century Atlanta
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Red Hot City: Housing, Race, and Exclusion in Twenty-First-Century Atlanta

Red Hot City: Housing, Race, and Exclusion in Twenty-First-Century Atlanta

$23.99
$26.95
Unsung: Unheralded Narratives of American Slavery & Abolition
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Unsung: Unheralded Narratives of American Slavery & Abolition

Unsung: Unheralded Narratives of American Slavery & Abolition

$21.99
$22.99
Ethiopia and the Origin of Civilization
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Ethiopia and the Origin of Civilization

Ethiopia and the Origin of Civilization

$14.99
$19.94
From Superman to Man
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From Superman to Man

From Superman to Man

$15.99
$16.97
Up From Slavery by Booker T. Washington
Up From Slavery by Booker T. Washington

Up From Slavery by Booker T. Washington

$9.99
Bad Blood
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Bad Blood

Bad Blood

$17.99
$19.99
We the People: The World in Virginia
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We the People: The World in Virginia

We the People: The World in Virginia

$21.99
$29.95
Arabia Mountain National Heritage Area
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Arabia Mountain National Heritage Area

Arabia Mountain National Heritage Area

$17.99
$18.99
Makers & Shakers: A Hidden History of Black Americans in Booze
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Makers & Shakers: A Hidden History of Black Americans in Booze

Makers & Shakers: A Hidden History of Black Americans in Booze

$17.99
$24.99
The Trembling Hand: Reflections of a Black Woman in the Romantic Archive
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The Trembling Hand: Reflections of a Black Woman in the Romantic Archive

The Trembling Hand: Reflections of a Black Woman in the Romantic Archive

$23.99
$32.00
My Selma: True Stories of a Southern Childhood at the Height of the Civil Rights Movement
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My Selma: True Stories of a Southern Childhood at the Height of the Civil Rights Movement

My Selma: True Stories of a Southern Childhood at the Height of the Civil Rights Movement

$7.99
$9.99
Reckoning: Protest. Defiance. Resilience.
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Reckoning: Protest. Defiance. Resilience.

Reckoning: Protest. Defiance. Resilience.

$39.99
$55.00
Reclamation: Sally Hemings, Thomas Jefferson, and a Descendant's Search for Her Family's Lasting Legacy
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Reclamation: Sally Hemings, Thomas Jefferson, and a Descendant's Search for Her Family's Lasting Legacy

Reclamation: Sally Hemings, Thomas Jefferson, and a Descendant's Search for Her Family's Lasting Legacy

$13.99
$17.99
We Are Each Other's Harvest: Celebrating African American Farmers, Land, and Legacy
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We Are Each Other's Harvest: Celebrating African American Farmers, Land, and Legacy

We Are Each Other's Harvest: Celebrating African American Farmers, Land, and Legacy

$28.99
$39.99
Before the Mayflower: A History of the Negro in America, 1619-1962
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Before the Mayflower: A History of the Negro in America, 1619-1962

Before the Mayflower: A History of the Negro in America, 1619-1962

$13.99
$14.95
The Cause of Freedom: A Concise History of African Americans
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The Cause of Freedom: A Concise History of African Americans

The Cause of Freedom: A Concise History of African Americans

$16.99
$17.99
The Negro Motorist Green-Book: 1938 Facsimile Edition
The Negro Motorist Green-Book: 1938 Facsimile Edition

The Negro Motorist Green-Book: 1938 Facsimile Edition

$8.99
Black Walden: Slavery and Its Aftermath in Concord, Massachusetts
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Black Walden: Slavery and Its Aftermath in Concord, Massachusetts

Black Walden: Slavery and Its Aftermath in Concord, Massachusetts

$24.99
$29.95
Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass
Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass

Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass

$7.99
Black Cowboys of the Old West: True, Sensational, And Little-Known Stories From History
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Black Cowboys of the Old West: True, Sensational, And Little-Known Stories From History

Black Cowboys of the Old West: True, Sensational, And Little-Known Stories From History

$11.99
$14.95
An American Beach for African Americans
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An American Beach for African Americans

An American Beach for African Americans

$14.99
$19.95
Bloods: Black Veterans of the Vietnam War: An Oral History
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Bloods: Black Veterans of the Vietnam War: An Oral History

Bloods: Black Veterans of the Vietnam War: An Oral History

$7.99
$9.99
The Death of Reconstruction: Race, Labor, and Politics in the Post-Civil War North, 1865-1901
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The Death of Reconstruction: Race, Labor, and Politics in the Post-Civil War North, 1865-1901

The Death of Reconstruction: Race, Labor, and Politics in the Post-Civil War North, 1865-1901

$31.99
$37.00
Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemings: An American Controversy
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Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemings: An American Controversy

Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemings: An American Controversy

$17.99
$24.95
My Soul Is Rested: The Story of the Civil Rights Movement in the Deep South
My Soul Is Rested: The Story of the Civil Rights Movement in the Deep South

My Soul Is Rested: The Story of the Civil Rights Movement in the Deep South

$19.99
Unrequited Toil: A History of United States Slavery
Unrequited Toil: A History of United States Slavery

Unrequited Toil: A History of United States Slavery

$29.99
The Trinity: John F. Kennedy, Lyndon B. Johnson, and Civil Rights in African American Memory
The Trinity: John F. Kennedy, Lyndon B. Johnson, and Civil Rights in African American Memory

The Trinity: John F. Kennedy, Lyndon B. Johnson, and Civil Rights in African American Memory

$27.99
Slave Rebellions and the Making of the Modern Prison
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Slave Rebellions and the Making of the Modern Prison

Slave Rebellions and the Making of the Modern Prison

$63.99
$64.95
Baltimore's Black Arts Then & Now: Behind the Scenes of a Collaborative Public Humanities Project
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Baltimore's Black Arts Then & Now: Behind the Scenes of a Collaborative Public Humanities Project

Baltimore's Black Arts Then & Now: Behind the Scenes of a Collaborative Public Humanities Project

$24.99
$26.99
The Amazing Life of Jeffrey Deroine: Enslaved Trader, Prairie Diplomat, and Missouri Settler
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The Amazing Life of Jeffrey Deroine: Enslaved Trader, Prairie Diplomat, and Missouri Settler

The Amazing Life of Jeffrey Deroine: Enslaved Trader, Prairie Diplomat, and Missouri Settler

$32.99
$33.99
One True Church: An American Story of Race, Family, and Religion
One True Church: An American Story of Race, Family, and Religion

One True Church: An American Story of Race, Family, and Religion

$24.99
Mura Dehn: Champion of Black Social Dance and the Traditional Jazz Dance Company
-27%
Mura Dehn: Champion of Black Social Dance and the Traditional Jazz Dance Company

Mura Dehn: Champion of Black Social Dance and the Traditional Jazz Dance Company

$23.99
$32.95
Hidden History of Black Cincinnati
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Hidden History of Black Cincinnati

Hidden History of Black Cincinnati

$15.99
$21.99
Bring Judgment Day: Reclaiming Lead Belly's Truths from Jim Crow's Lies
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Bring Judgment Day: Reclaiming Lead Belly's Truths from Jim Crow's Lies

Bring Judgment Day: Reclaiming Lead Belly's Truths from Jim Crow's Lies

$20.99
$27.95
An Unholy Traffic: Slave Trading in the Civil War South
An Unholy Traffic: Slave Trading in the Civil War South

An Unholy Traffic: Slave Trading in the Civil War South

$38.99
Step by Step!: How the Lincoln School Marchers Blazed a Trail to Justice
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Step by Step!: How the Lincoln School Marchers Blazed a Trail to Justice

Step by Step!: How the Lincoln School Marchers Blazed a Trail to Justice

$20.99
$22.00
Deep North: Stories of Somali Resettlement in Vermont
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Deep North: Stories of Somali Resettlement in Vermont

Deep North: Stories of Somali Resettlement in Vermont

$10.99
$14.00
Cudjo's Own Story of the Last African Slaver
Cudjo's Own Story of the Last African Slaver

Cudjo's Own Story of the Last African Slaver

$13.99
Black Leaders in the Civil Rights Movement: A Black History Book for Kids
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Black Leaders in the Civil Rights Movement: A Black History Book for Kids

Black Leaders in the Civil Rights Movement: A Black History Book for Kids

$14.99
$19.99
24: Life Stories and Lessons from the Say Hey Kid
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24: Life Stories and Lessons from the Say Hey Kid

24: Life Stories and Lessons from the Say Hey Kid

$17.99
$24.00
Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl
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Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl

Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl

$11.99
$15.00
The Forest People: Africa's Pygmy Tribes Along the Congo River - their Hunter-Gatherer Culture, Village Customs and Bond with Nature
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The Forest People: Africa's Pygmy Tribes Along the Congo River - their Hunter-Gatherer Culture, Village Customs and Bond with Nature

The Forest People: Africa's Pygmy Tribes Along the Congo River - their Hunter-Gatherer Culture, Village Customs and Bond with Nature

$12.99
$13.98
She Came to Slay: The Life and Times of Harriet Tubman
-27%
She Came to Slay: The Life and Times of Harriet Tubman

She Came to Slay: The Life and Times of Harriet Tubman

$18.99
$25.99
Black Power and Palestine: Transnational Countries of Color
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Black Power and Palestine: Transnational Countries of Color

Black Power and Palestine: Transnational Countries of Color

$22.99
$28.00
Prince Among Slaves (Anniversary)
Prince Among Slaves (Anniversary)

Prince Among Slaves (Anniversary)

$15.99