Books by Black British Authors to Read for Black History Month (& All Year Round)
In short, I haven’t read nearly enough Black authors, and especially not enough Black British authors, whose stories are woven into the same place I grew up in. That’s on me and this list is part of doing that work.
Through Nomad Book Club, I’m committed to reading a book from every country in the world, and that project has already opened up so many voices and places I might never have found otherwise.
But reading globally doesn’t let me off the hook for reading closely to home.
So this list is both a starting point and an ongoing commitment. Whether you’re looking to dive deep into personal memoirs, fictional explorations of Black life in the UK, or poetry that challenges the status quo, here’s a list of must-read books by Black British writers.
Read them for Black History Month (October in the UK), or of course, any time you see fit.
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Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links and as an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. This means I earn a small commission if you choose to make a purchase using a link, but at no cost to you. I’ve included Amazon links to each recommended book as well as Spotify, and Bookshop.org (US and UK) where available.
1. Small Island by Andrea Levy
This award-winning novel explores the experiences of Jamaican immigrants in post-World War II Britain.
Told from multiple perspectives, Small Island unpacks themes of racism, displacement, and identity as it weaves together the lives of Hortense and Gilbert, two Jamaican immigrants, and Queenie, a white British woman.
Levy masterfully portrays the cultural tensions between the colonised and colonisers, and how the ripple effects of colonialism continue long after the Empire dissolves.
A must-read for anyone looking to understand the complex histories of Caribbean migration to Britain.
“How come England did not know me?”
2. Girl, Woman, Other by Bernardine Evaristo
Winner of the 2019 Booker Prize, Girl, Woman, Other is a bold, polyphonic novel that follows the lives of twelve characters, most of whom are Black British women.
Evaristo’s experimental style allows each character’s story to unfold with poetic rhythm, creating a kaleidoscope of perspectives on gender, race, sexuality, and family.
The novel spans over a century, offering a rich tapestry of Black British life and inter-generational storytelling. Evaristo’s work is both a celebration of Black womanhood and a critique of the systems that marginalise it.
“That’s the problem with history, we like to think it’s a book—that we can turn the page and move the f*** on. But history isn’t the past, it’s the present. We carry it with us.”
3. Natives: Race and Class in the Ruins of Empire by Akala
In this groundbreaking memoir and polemic, musician, poet, and political activist Akala dissects the realities of being Black and working-class in Britain.
Part history lesson, part personal reflection, Natives draws on Akala’s own experiences growing up in a working-class, mixed-race family in London, as well as his observations of systemic racism in education, the police, and the media.
The book’s sharp analysis of how race and class intersect in the UK makes it essential reading for anyone interested in British history, race relations, and social justice.
“I was born in Britain. But I was not born British.”
4. Queenie by Candice Carty-Williams
Carty-Williams’ debut novel, Queenie, is an honest, witty, and often painful exploration of a young Black British woman’s mental health struggles.
The novel follows Queenie Jenkins, a 25-year-old journalist navigating life in London while grappling with a difficult breakup, microaggressions in the workplace, and her identity as a Black woman in predominantly white spaces.
Through Queenie’s journey, Carty-Williams tackles important themes such as mental health, racism, and sexism, making it both a relatable and thought-provoking read.
“Everyone’s got an opinion, then one day you realize that the only opinion that matters is your own.”
I listened to the audiobook of this novel, and was surprised by it. The heroine is messy, traumatised and often misunderstood; her actions and reactions can be infuriating, but you’re always rooting for her. I really wanted her to get a happy ending.
5. Ordinary People by Diana Evans
Set in South London, Ordinary People tells the story of two couples navigating the trials of middle age, parenthood, and changing identities.
The novel examines the emotional impact of life transitions, the erosion of dreams, and the complexities of love.
Evans’ writing is lyrical and perceptive, offering an intimate portrayal of Black British middle-class life.
The novel was shortlisted for the Women’s Prize for Fiction and is often praised for its depth of character and keen social commentary.
“Grief was a country where there was no getting to know the roads.”
6. Brit(ish): On Race, Identity and Belonging by Afua Hirsch
In this memoir, Afua Hirsch, a journalist and former barrister, explores her own mixed-race identity and what it means to be Black in Britain today.
Brit(ish) addresses the complicated dynamics of race, class, and identity in a country that prides itself on being post-racial, yet continues to perpetuate exclusionary practices.
Through personal anecdotes and historical analysis, Hirsch sheds light on the erasure of Black British history and challenges the myth of a homogeneous British identity.
“Britishness is not just a legal status. It’s a sense of belonging. But belonging is complicated. It’s about who gets to decide who belongs.”
7. The Good Immigrant, edited by Nikesh Shukla
This anthology, edited by Nikesh Shukla, brings together essays from 21 writers of color, reflecting on what it means to be a person of color in Britain today.
Featuring contributions from authors like Reni Eddo-Lodge, Inua Ellams, and Musa Okwonga, the collection covers a broad range of topics, including immigration, assimilation, and identity.
While not exclusively focused on Black British experiences, The Good Immigrant offers a broad lens on race in the UK, making it an essential collection for understanding the modern immigrant experience.
“In Britain, race is never explicitly an issue; the problem is always class, or geography, or social deprivation, or some other side reason.”
There’s also a follow-up version focused on the United States, titled The Good Immigrant: 26 Writers Reflect on America, which is edited by Nikesh Shukla and Chimene Suleyman.
8. Why I’m No Longer Talking to White People About Race by Reni Eddo-Lodge
This provocative and deeply insightful book started as a blog post that went viral. Eddo-Lodge examines the structures of systemic racism in Britain, including the nation’s reluctance to discuss race.
Drawing on history, politics, and personal experience, she breaks down how privilege operates, why it’s so difficult for white people to engage meaningfully with the topic of race, and what needs to change.
Why I’m No Longer Talking to White People About Race is an urgent and necessary call to action that has sparked important conversations across the UK.
“Structural racism is dozens, or hundreds, or thousands of people with the same biases joining together to make up one organisation, and acting accordingly.”
This is my top non-fiction recommendation on this list. It should be essential reading for all Brits.
9. The Black Flamingo by Dean Atta
A coming-of-age verse novel, The Black Flamingo follows Michael, a mixed-race gay teenager, as he navigates his identity and self-expression.
Michael finds freedom and belonging when he joins his university’s drag society, taking on the persona of the Black Flamingo.
Atta’s poetic language captures the beauty and complexity of finding one’s place in the world, while addressing themes of intersectionality, sexuality, and race with sensitivity and grace.
“I am a man and I am not afraid to wear a dress, do my face, paint my nails. I am not afraid to be fabulous.”
10. Sista Sister by Candice Brathwaite
Brathwaite, known for her work as an advocate for Black motherhood, brings her signature blend of warmth and honesty to this collection of essays.
Sista Sister addresses life lessons for Black women on topics like beauty standards, self-worth, and navigating predominantly white spaces.
Brathwaite’s voice is both affirming and empowering, offering advice for those striving to maintain authenticity in a world that often seeks to undermine it.
“You were not put on this earth to give all of yourself, and have nothing left to give yourself.”
11. White Teeth by Zadie Smith
Smith’s genre-defining debut novel follows two wartime friends, Archie Jones and Samad Iqbal, and their families as they navigate multicultural London from the 1970s through the early 1990s.
Written when Smith was just 24, the novel won the Whitbread First Novel Award and the Guardian First Book Award, and it’s widely credited with helping define a new wave of British fiction centered on race, immigration, and identity.
It’s funny, sprawling, and endlessly quotable; a great entry point if you’re new to her work.
“Every moment happens twice: inside and outside, and they are two different histories.”
12. Noughts & Crosses by Malorie Blackman
Blackman, a former UK Children’s Laureate, flips the script on race and power in this dystopian YA series, imagining a Britain where Black people (“Crosses”) rule and white people (“Noughts”) are the oppressed underclass.
The book has become a staple on UK school reading lists and was even voted ahead of A Tale of Two Cities in a national poll of best-loved books.
It’s a smart, accessible way into conversations about prejudice for younger readers, but it holds up just as well for adults.
“I pulled him closer to me, wrapping my arms around him, kissing him just as desperately as he was kissing me. Like if we could just love long enough and hard enough and deep enough, then the world outside would never, could never hurt us.”
This series is a must-read for any teen or tween, which is roughly how old when I read it. I was mostly swept up in the romance plot, but the flipping of privilege and power on an alternate Earth did not go over my head.
13. Refugee Boy by Benjamin Zephaniah
Zephaniah, the beloved poet, novelist, and activist who passed away in 2023, wrote this YA novel about Alem, a boy caught between war-torn Ethiopia and Eritrea, who is left alone in London by his father to keep him safe.
It won the 2002 Portsmouth Book Award and remains one of the most widely taught novels on the refugee experience in UK schools.
Zephaniah’s warmth and directness as a writer make this a moving, humane read for teens and adults alike. I also have a great affection for him, as a fellow Brummy!
“This planet is for everyone, borders are for no one. It’s all about freedom.”
14. Black and British: A Forgotten History by David Olusoga
Historian and broadcaster David Olusoga traces the long, often erased history of Black people in Britain, from Roman-era Britain through the World Wars to the Windrush generation.
The book won the 2017 PEN Hessell-Tiltman Prize and the Longman History Today Trustees’ Award, and was longlisted for the Orwell Prize.
“We have developed what amounts to a cultural blind spot about these chapters of our past, and our collective squeamishness that prevents us from openly discussing British slavery and the darker aspects of British imperialism has rendered us unable to properly appreciate the place of black people and Africa in our national story.”
More Books by Black British Authors
Whether you’re reading them during Black History Month or at any time of year, these works, rooted in Black British experiences, will expand your understanding of Britain’s diverse and complex cultural landscape.
Let me know if you have any others to add to this list of books by Black British authors in the comments below.
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More UK Travel
I was born and raised in the UK, though I’ve spent most of my adulthood living overseas.
For UK travel recommendations, you can read my UK Guide here, filled with lesser-known destinations and local insights, including the best bookshops in Birmingham (my home town), London and Edinburgh.
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Travel Book Journal
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More Fantastic Books & Where to Find Them
For more of what to read where, check out my full Travel Books Guide, filled with book recommendations for different destinations, the most beautiful bookstores around the world, tips on how to get the best deals on audiobooks and e-books, as well as more literary travel.
Travel Essentials
Here are the websites and services I personally use and recommend.
FLIGHTS: The best deals can be found on Skyscanner, Google Flights and Kiwi.
TRAVEL INSURANCE: I recommend World Nomads for travel insurance because you can purchase once you’re already overseas and you can easily extend your policy. For digital nomads, I recommend and personally use Genki.
E-SIM: For travel in Europe, I use an e-sim with GoMobile, which is a provider based in Malta, but you need to be there to set it up.
ACCOMMODATION: I use Booking.com for hotels and Airbnb for apartments. For Colivings, I usually book privately, but Coliving.com is a good place to start.
THINGS TO DO: I use Viator or Get Your Guide for booking day trips, city tours and other activities, though I often check reviews on TripAdvisor too.
Amy Poulton
I’m Amy, an explorer of real and fictional worlds. A word huntress. An escape artist. A page traveller.
I started this blog in 2015 when I was living as an expat in Hong Kong, as a way to keep in touch with friends and family back home. Later, I wrote about my backpacking adventures in Southeast Asia and Mexico, as well as my other experiences living overseas in Italy and Thailand.
Two years ago, I started my next chapter as a digital nomad and travelling cat mom. And of course, I’ve been journeying through books all that time, too.
Now I host Nomad Book Club and literary reading retreats, and offer trip planning services.
Learn more about me and the Page Traveller blog here.