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By: Lavanya Kathirgamanathan
In life, we all have a unique story to tell. Our stories are what shape the plot authors get to write about. Globally, in just a year, over 500,000 to 1,000,000 books are written from a variety of different genres including horror, mystery, thriller, humor, and action. These genres cater towards a variety of different audiences that allow reading to be enjoyable. Books also offer different lengths. Many books require a whole series to execute a complex plot. Every book has a beginning, middle, and an end that carries the reader through a series of events filled with entertainment.
In the world, many Black authors gain inspiration to write through their own personal experiences and creativity. In society, Black authors and people of colour are unrecognized compared to White writers, yet each story shares who they are and what they want the readers to comprehend.
Outlined is a list of authors who create unforgettable storylines and bring an engaging experience to the Black community.
Ashley C. Ford is a Black American writer and educator who writes with a focus on race and sexuality in her publications. Sites like The Guardian, Buzzfeed, and Elle are where people can read some of her written work. Ford is most famous for her book Somebody’s Daughter, an exclusive memoir that illustrates her childhood. Ford transforms the world of literature as she uses her skills and personal experiences dealing with an incarcerated father to highlight the reality of success being a Black author.
For Ford, her sense of freedom is achieved when writing pieces of literature that advocate for racial inequalities. Books are a powerful mode of resistance against oppression as our opinions and ideas are what shape and influence our audiences to behave and think differently. Books allow us to reflect on our own privilege and make use of the resources we are offered to share our voice wholeheartedly.
Chelene Knight is a Canadian writer and poet who was born in Vancouver. Knight is the author of the poetry book Braided Skin, which shares the experiences of mixed-race ethnicity, growing up in poverty, and urban childhood. Knight transforms literature by discussing the reality of growing up poor. She addresses that in circumstances where an individual is confronted with poverty there can be greater opportunities for success.
These themes shape how individuals view the term “Braided” as it can refer to an intertwining of races and blending to achieve cohesion and conformity. The book unravels concepts that can allow one to recognize symbolism of unity and hope to achieve equality.
Kern Carter is a Toronto author and freelance writer. He created a novel called Boys and Girls Screaming, which unveils the concept of how family trauma and sisterhood coincide. Carter hoped to create a storyline that sparked conversations in the community and wanted it to be an entertaining, eye-opening story. Kern’s vision is to encourage academic institutions to adopt practices in facilitating emotional support groups to those who suffer from trauma. This book highlights that schools have a responsibility to provide additional services to students. These services allow students to interact and form close relationships with those who face similar struggles.
Angie Thomas is a Black American author born and raised in Mississippi. Thomas is known for her award-winning novel, The Hate U Give. The Black Lives Matter movement played a role in the inspiration for the novel. This novel is important because it addresses issues of inequalities in the criminal justice system. When Khalil, who is unarmed in the novel, is shot by a police officer unjustly it creates stereotypes that place Black people at a disadvantage for being labelled as a criminal. This novel highlights the reality between Black people and the way they are perceived in the criminal justice system that demand reform.
Octavia E. Butler was a Black American science fiction writer raised in California. She was recognized as one of the best science fiction writers in the community. Butler illustrated Parable of the Sower, which takes place in the future and focuses on a teenager who suffers from hyper-empathy. This condition means that in circumstances where individuals face hardship their emotions are weak.
The story addresses this issue, while trying to navigate in a society that is slowly collapsing. Butler’s story line incorporates the history of how society views White people as wealthier and “more safe,” while racialized people were not treated with respect or safely. The story also focuses on Black communities futuristically, and how it might be.
Alexandra Elle is a Black American author who lives in Washington, DC. She is a bestselling author and wellness educator. Elle is known for her guide, How We Heal: Uncover Your Power and Set Yourself Free, which offers techniques on self-healing, mindfulness, and activities involving journaling.This is a space for readers to express the oppression and discrimination that they have been through for decades, and gives them a place to open up about their personal feelings.
As individuals are confronted with different lives, circumstances, and roles these healing practices are illustrated to provide a sense of direction in times of disarray. This can be useful when we go through stress and grievances that cannot be dealt with appropriately through health care services. More often, the natural route to healing is in our best interest to adopt independent practices that are healthy and positive.
Lavanya Kathirgamanathan is one of the Writers for this year’s publication at Black Voice. She’s a recent graduate from Toronto Metropolitan University, where she studied Journalism and will further her education in Human Resources at George Brown College. Lavanya has experience writing for multiple publications and has her own food blog on social media. Lavanya’s main goal as a writer for the Black Voice publication is to showcase Black excellence within the community, and in the city of Toronto.