The best books about women of color finding their stories

Who am I?

As an author, editor, and woman of color, I celebrate stories that reflect a diversity of voices. Good storytelling allows us to catch a glimpse into lives that may be similar or different from ours, that champion what makes us unique while reminding us that we are not alone.  


I wrote...

Nonwhite and Woman: 131 Micro Essays on Being in the World

By Darien Gee (editor), Carla Crujido (editor),

Book cover of Nonwhite and Woman: 131 Micro Essays on Being in the World

What is my book about?

Nonwhite and Woman: 131 Micro Essays on Being in the World is a collection of micro essays by established and emerging women of color writers inspired by Lucille Clifton’s luminous poem, "won’t you celebrate with me". These true stories, all of them 300 words or less, speak to otherness, familial relationships, impossible beauty standards, ancestral heritage, coming of age, and owning one’s place in the world. 

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The books I picked & why

Colonize This! Young Women of Color on Today's Feminism

By Daisy Hernández (editor), Bushra Rehman (editor),

Book cover of Colonize This! Young Women of Color on Today's Feminism

Why did I love this book?

Originally published in 2002, Colonize This! brings together the voices of young women of color writing about their experiences of race and gender in America. The 2019 edition features essays by a new generation of feminists of color writing on issues such as police violence, transgender rights, and immigration. These fresh voices are intermixed with essays from the original 2002 publication, creating a poignant feminist dialogue.

By Daisy Hernández (editor), Bushra Rehman (editor),

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Colonize This! Young Women of Color on Today's Feminism as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

It has been decades since women of color first turned feminism upside down, exposing the feminist movement as exclusive, white, and unaware of the concerns and issues of women of color from around the globe. Since then, key social movements have risen, including Black Lives Matter, transgender rights, and the activism of young undocumented students. Social media has also changed how feminism reaches young women of color, generating connections in all corners of the country. And yet we remain a country divided by race and gender.

Now, a new generation of outspoken women of color offer a much-needed fresh dimension…


Book cover of Well-Read Black Girl: Finding Our Stories, Discovering Ourselves

Why did I love this book?

In this anthology, twenty-one Black women writers, including Jesmyn Ward, Gabourey Sidibe, Lynn Nottage, and Tayari Jones, write about the first time they saw themselves reflected in literature. This moving collection of essays is at once a love letter to books and an exploration of the intersection of race, gender, and the written word.    

By Glory Edim,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Well-Read Black Girl as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

'Required reading.' - Cosmopolitan
'This should be read as a sacred text. Here, you will bear witness to a perpetual salvation song.' - Jason Reynolds

Remember that moment when you first encountered a character who seemed to be written just for you? That feeling of belonging remains with readers the rest of their lives - but not everyone regularly sees themselves reflected on the pages of a book.

In this timely anthology, Glory Edim, founder of the online community, Well-Read Black Girl, brings together original essays by some of America's best black women writers to shine a light on how…


Girls Write Now Unmuted: The 2021 Anthology

By Girls Write Now, Molly MacDermot (editor),

Book cover of Girls Write Now Unmuted: The 2021 Anthology

Why did I love this book?

This annual anthology, published by the nonprofit organization Girls Write Now, showcases the voices of young women writers from a diverse range of backgrounds. These anthologies are a treasure trove of fiction, poetry, essays, and drama by emerging writers. Pick up the latest copy to get a glimpse at the future of literature.

By Girls Write Now, Molly MacDermot (editor),

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Girls Write Now Unmuted as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Censored. Repressed. Subdued. Bound. Muted. No more. 


In a world pushed to the precipice of change, in a society that values the tried and true over the dynamic and new, what does it mean to be unmuted? In this anthology, a chorus of young women and gender-expansive teens give voice to fear and silence, hold nothing back, and demand justice. To be unmuted right now requires a new brand of bravery and these writers show us how it’s done. Using stories, poems, essays, fiction, drama, interviews, and more, they report on a global pandemic, a climate crisis, and the movement…


This Bridge Called My Back: Writings by Radical Women of Color

By Cherrie Moraga (editor), Gloria Anzaldúa (editor),

Book cover of This Bridge Called My Back: Writings by Radical Women of Color

Why did I love this book?

In the preface to the fourth edition of This Bridge Called My Back, editor Cherrie Moraga writes that the anthology was created with a “hope for revolutionary solidarity.” This groundbreaking collection of essays, poems and artwork remains a moving testimony of the experiences of women of color in America.

By Cherrie Moraga (editor), Gloria Anzaldúa (editor),

Why should I read it?

1 author picked This Bridge Called My Back as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

classic collection of feminist writings


When the Light of the World Was Subdued, Our Songs Came Through: A Norton Anthology of Native Nations Poetry

By Joy Harjo (editor), LeAnne Howe (editor), Jennifer Elise Foerster (editor)

Book cover of When the Light of the World Was Subdued, Our Songs Came Through: A Norton Anthology of Native Nations Poetry

Why did I love this book?

Edited by former Poet Laureate Joy Harjo, this poetry collection does not exclusively feature women, but we all need more poetry in our lives. This expansive collection of native voices spans from 17th century to the 20th, and is the most historically comprehensive collection of native poetry to date. When the Light of the World Was Subdued should be recommended reading everywhere.

By Joy Harjo (editor), LeAnne Howe (editor), Jennifer Elise Foerster (editor)

Why should I read it?

1 author picked When the Light of the World Was Subdued, Our Songs Came Through as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

United States Poet Laureate Joy Harjo gathers the work of more than 160 poets, representing nearly 100 indigenous nations, into one momentous volume. This landmark anthology celebrates the indigenous peoples of North America, the first poets of this country, whose literary traditions stretch back centuries.

Opening with a blessing from Pulitzer Prize winner N. Scott Momaday, the book contains powerful introductions from contributing editors who represent the five geographically organised sections. Each section begins with a poem from the massive libraries of oral literatures and closes with emerging poets, ranging from Eleazar, a seventeenth-century Native student at Harvard, to Jake…


5 book lists we think you will like!

Interested in women of color, African American authors, and African Americans?

9,000+ authors have recommended their favorite books and what they love about them. Browse their picks for the best books about women of color, African American authors, and African Americans.

Women Of Color Explore 12 books about women of color
African American Authors Explore 25 books about African American authors
African Americans Explore 626 books about African Americans

And, 3 books we think you will enjoy!

We think you will like The Memo, Revolutionary Mothering, and Writing the Range if you like this list.