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The 100 greatest books ever written by African American women

The Color Purple by Alice Walker, Beloved by Toni Morrison, Ain't I a Woman? Black Women and Feminism by bell hooks - these titles are staples of many literary-enthusiasts' bookshelves. Yet, the powerful and transformative writing of Black women is too often erased from dominant narratives in literary discussion. The ZORA Canon's list of "The 100 greatest books ever written by African American Women," seeks to correct that. The list includes work from prominent literary figures and underappreciated writers, exploring multifaceted themes: friendship, oppression, love, politics, patriarchy, and spirituality, to name a few. The titles are divided into typographical and chronological categories such as Civil Rights & Black Power and A New Black Golden Age and are meant to "form a revealing mosaic of the Black American experience," while also creating an accessible list of what the selection committee deems "just great reads." The list was created by a selection committee comprised of professors, critics, authors, and other literary authorities, and is featured on ZORA, "a Medium publication for women of color." Readers who enjoy this list may also want to check out ZORA's list of "Ten to Watch," linked in this resource (under "The Next Generation"), which highlights "the next generation of greats."
Archived Scout Publication URL
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Date of Scout Publication
February 21st, 2020
Date Of Record Creation
January 28th, 2020 at 12:35pm
Date Of Record Release
February 18th, 2020 at 9:58am
Resource URL Clicks
199
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