As the end of the first month of 2023 nears, there are many things to look forward to as events planned throughout the year unfold.
Here are five upcoming 2023 books by Black authors to anticipate as the year progresses.
- Black Archives: A Photographic Celebration of Black Life: Curated by photographer Renata Cherlise’s latest endeavor has her piecing together a photo album featuring Black families throughout the decades. Pulling pieces from Black Archives, her multimedia platform that’s dedicated to depicting Black life, the coffee table book features over 300 memories captured in pictures. The candid images range from families on vacation to church gatherings to holiday events, “Black Archives: A Photographic Celebration of Black Life” is scheduled to be released on Feb. 14 by Penguin Random House.
- BLK Art: The Audacious Legacy of Black Artists and Models in Western Art: This debut book by author Zaria Ware shines a light on the stories of Black artists and Black subjects in famous artworks. Focused on emphasizing the importance that Black people have had on Western Art since its conception, Wade’s book covers paintings like Dutch painter Simon Maris’ famed 1906 painting “Isabella” and discusses the works of Black artists from time periods like 1920s Paris and Harlem onwards. “BLK Art” is set for release next week on Jan. 31.
- Tisa: New Generation African Poets, A Chapbook Box Set: Edited by authors Kwame Dawes and Chris Abani, this limited-edition box features up to a dozen chapbooks containing the poetry of African authors. Set for release in July, this edition is part of a project that’s been built on since its birth in 2014. With a focus on contemporary poetry, the boxset has short collections from 11 poets and has previously been hailed for sharing its platform with authors that are in the beginning phase of their careers.
- Crook Manifesto: Written by acclaimed author and winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction. Colson Whitehead’s “Crook Manifesto” is the second book of his Harlem Trilogy. In this sequel to his 2021 hit “Harlem Shuffle,” Whitehead brings characters Ray Carney and Pepper back to life to depict life in 1970s Harlem. Covering the span of five years from 1971 to 1976, the book’s set to feature interconnected plots as Carney continues to try to keep his furniture store open in time and Pepper discovers the hidden side of Hollywood. To supplement the novel, Whitehead makes references to real-world 1970s figures with storylines revolving around the Black Liberation Army, the Jackson 5 and Blaxploitation films. The book is set to be available on July 18.
- Rock, Rosetta, Rock! Roll, Rosetta, Roll!: Set to be released on Feb, 14, this children’s book written by Tonya Bolden and illustrated by R. Gregory Christie follows the life of music legend and “Godmother of Rock’n’Roll,” Sister Rosetta Tharpe. The award-winning author, who previously received the Coretta Scott King Honor award, focuses on the pioneer’s childhood in Arkansas and her love of music all the way up to her taking the music world by storm with her guitar and voice.
