African American author Maya Angelou looks off-camera in a close-up portrait

African American Authors

From James Baldwin and Maya Angelou to Toni Morrison and Ta-Nehisi Coates, this collection includes a host of America's most celebrated black authors speaking candidly about how race and racism inform their writing.

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February 18, 2009

16:52

Ta-Nehisi Coates' 'Unlikely Road to Manhood'

Atlantic contributing editor Ta-Nehisi Coates describes growing up with a father who was a member of the Black Panthers in his new memoir, The Beautiful Struggle.

Interview

Ta-Nehisi Coates

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May 21, 1984

55:08

James Baldwin Analyzes Racism.

Legendary writer James Baldwin is the author of modern classics such as "Notes of a Native Son," "Tell Me How Long the Train's Been Gone," and "Go Tell It On the Mountain." Here, Baldwin delivers a lecture and has a "rap" session with students at an event at Lehigh University.

James Baldwin

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October 19, 2012

38:07

Baratunde Thurston Explains 'How To Be Black'

From the comedian and digital director of The Onion, a satirical self-help book for anyone who has a black friend, wants to be the next black president or speak for the black community.

Interview

Baratunde Thurston

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August 29, 2012

38:09

Victor LaValle On Mental Illness, Monsters, Survival.

In the author's latest novel, The Devil in Silver, a man is mistakenly committed to a mental hospital where a buffalo-headed monster stalks patients at night. LaValle tells Fresh Air why he picked monsters, about his family history of mental illness and how he had his own brush with psychological problems.

Interview

Victor D. LaValle

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September 18, 2014

36:21

The Long, Scary Journey From A 'Terrorist's Son' To A Peace Activist

Zak Ebrahim's father was convicted as a conspirator of the 1993 World Trade Center bombing. Fr most of his life, Ebrahim lied to people about who his father was. His new memoir tells his story.

Interview

Zak Ebrahim

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August 5, 1986

28:04

Another Chapter in Her Autobiography

Writer Maya Angelou's newest installment in her series of autobiographical books, called All God's Children Need Traveling Shoes, has just been published. She returns to Fresh Air to talk about the influence her childhood had on her life and career.

Writer Maya Angelou rests her head pensively on her hands in this black and white portrait

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November 18, 1981

52:46

A Writer Gets to the "Heart" of her Past

Poet Maya Angelou has written a new memoir which details her relationship with her son while she worked as a singer and civil rights activist. She discusses the impact of prominent African American leaders like Billie Holiday, Martin Luther King, Jr., and Malcom X had on her personally and intellectually.

Interview

Maya Angelou

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September 14, 1987

27:28

Toni Morrison on Writing "Beloved."

Author Toni Morrison, acclaimed for her honest depiction of black life in her books, Song of Solomon, Sula, and Tar Baby. Her first novel in seven years has just been published. It's titled Beloved.

Interview

Toni Morrison

Search the Fresh Air Archive

African American Authors

Ta-Nehisi Coates' 'Unlikely Road to Manhood'

James Baldwin Analyzes Racism.

Baratunde Thurston Explains 'How To Be Black'

Victor LaValle On Mental Illness, Monsters, Survival.

The Long, Scary Journey From A 'Terrorist's Son' To A Peace Activist

Another Chapter in Her Autobiography

A Writer Gets to the "Heart" of her Past

Toni Morrison on Writing "Beloved."

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