The rising market trend for African American authors began in the 60’s with the civil rights movements but the impact of African American authors was felt before America was a nation when published black writers were slaves and abolitionists.

First to make a name was Phillis Wheatley, brought from Africa as a child and sold in Boston to the Wheatleys. She spoke no English upon arrival but under the tutelage of her owners mastered the language and as a bound slave she published Poems on Various Subjects in 1773, nearly 100 years passed before another major work of African American Literature was published in 1845. Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass. The book was published after Douglas escaped slavery for the second time. Shortly thereafter the American Civil War began, ushering in new educational freedom for African Americans.

With the turn of the 20th century that education leads to a new black culture in America were books were shared in informal urban African American book clubs. The intellectual debate began by W.E.B. Du Bois, and Booker T Washington on how an African American could best better himself still rages.

At the turn of the 21st century, another kind of change to the publishing world from every age including child targeted to adult eBooks, ingenuous metaphors on culture and race identity. When it comes to certain markets the Internet has changed publishing for African Americans. There has been a journey from African American book clubs to eBooks. Review history for the impact of this.

Advances in education in the 20th century led to cultural awareness across the black community in America. Early African American Literature was usually political or spiritual in nature because these authors were abolitionists and slaves. However poetry from Phyllis Wheatley was the first published book by an African American.

In this difficult economy the African American eBook niche market is still thriving. This is due to the fact African American authors who are looking to be published are searching the Internet black eBook industry.

African American Literature may only be a book case in your local library but any search reveals poets, fiction, novels, advice, and history even adult eBooks.

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