Top 7 Books by Black Female Authors
Top 7 Books by Black Female Authors
The subject of starting or scaling a business, navigating careers or building a personal brand is not discussed often enough within the Black community. Literacy in this area is just not as fluent as it is in other ethnic groups.
However, there are some Black Women taking steps to change this through their literary works. In this article, I feature the books of seven Black female authors, offering advice and insight surrounding the world of work and finances.
-
Heart and Hustle
Black British YouTube sensation, Patricia Bright is a leading Beauty Blogger. Patricia has been serving beauty inspiration to her followers for a while now.
However, she also has a background in business and accounting. Bright displays her passion for business on her second YouTube Channel, The Break.
Heart and Hustle (2019) is Patricia’s debut book which shares her journey to success in creating an online business and gives strategic tips to readers who are looking to do the same. The book contains sections for you to write notes reflecting on the chapter you have just read.
Heart and Hustle is a worthy book to kick start our Black business authors and books list.
-
Slay In Your Lane
Best friends Yomi Adegoke and Elizabeth Uviebinene wrote Slay in Your Lane (2019), otherwise referred to as ‘The Black Girl Bible’.
This book is jam-packed full of real-life stories from Black Women. It shares their lived experiences of navigating the world to find success in every area of their lives; from education, to work, to dating.
This collection celebrates the moves Black Women have made in the past and provides strategies for Black Women today.
-
Little Black Book
Otegha Uwagba. Photograph: Women Who
Written by Sunday Times best-selling author, and one of Forbes European 30 under 30, Otegha Uwagba , Little Black Book is a toolkit for creative working women.
Published in 2017, Little Black Book shares with readers strategies of how to build a successful self-made career. The book also includes insights from trailblazing creative women including acclaimed author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.
This resourceful book also touches on how to negotiate a pay rise, building a personal brand, networking tips, and advice on overcoming creative blocks.
On top of this, Little Black Book advises how to thrive as a freelancer, and also has an entire chapter dedicated to helping you master public speaking. It’s a complete toolkit for managing work in various environments.
-
Taking up Space: The Black Girl’s Manifesto For Change
Chelsea Kwaky and Ore Ogunbiyi were just university students when they wrote (2019). It is published under Stormzy’s #MerkyBooks, which was set up by Penguin Random House.
Now University of Cambridge graduates, the pair encourage Black Women to take advantage of opportunities in white predominant spaces; including educational institutions through this book.
Taking Up Space authentically explores the modern Black girl’s experience and tackles issues of access, classroom discrimination, and university and graduate life.
-
Black Girl Finance: Let’s Talk About Money
Selina Flavius is a London-based Senior Account Exec. This informs her positioning behind releasing her book Black Girl Finance (2021).
This book addresses the unique inequalities that Black Women face due to the duality of both their race and gender. In the Black community, financial literacy is also something that is often shied away from. Selina herself has spoken about how she grew up feeling that talking about money was inappropriate. However, she has since learnt the importance of becoming financially literate.
Black Girl Finance is specifically for helping Black Women better understand how to handle and excel in financial management.
-
More Than Enough: Claiming Space for Who You Are (No Matter What They Say)
Former Senior Beauty editor of Teen Vogue, Elaine Welteroth is a journalist and editor. Her time at Teen Vogue magazine was legendary. She played a significant part in changing the culture of the magazine to a more diverse and modern feel. Welteroth was the first Black beauty Director at Teen Vogue in 2012 and also held several other positions whilst there.
In More Than Enough (2019), Elaine touches on her Teen Vogue experience and unpacks lessons of breaking boundaries across many intersections in her life including her mixed heritage and career.
-
Loud Black Girls: 20 Black Women Writers Ask: What’s Next
Another book by the dynamic duo Yomi Adegoke and Elizabeth Uviebinene, Loud Black Girls has a similar format as Slay In Your Lane but with a different purpose.
Published in 2020, Loud Black Girls hones in on Black Women writers, asking them about progressive steps for the future. From assessing the cultural impact of Marvel’s Black Panther, to discussing how to teach the next generation of Black girls to own their voices, this anthology explores insightful narratives on the question of ‘what’s next’?
We hope these Black business authors and books help guide you on your journey in the world of work.
Written By: Maxine Harrison is our Business Editor. She is also a freelance writer and founder of the Remi Reports blog – a blog helping freelance creatives build their business and lifestyle.
Header Image by: BeffShuff