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.

The first African American to become famous in the writer community was Phillis Wheatley. When she first arrived and was sold to the Wheatleys in Boston she did not speak any English. Her owners taught her the English language and she did well. As a slave, in 1773, she published many poems on different topics. Almost another hundred years went by before another African American was published… Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass was published in 1845. This book was published after Douglass escaped slavery for the second time. Before long the American Civil War started. This era gave way to the new educational freedom for African Americans.

At the turn of the 20th century, African American book clubs were formed and a new black culture where books were shared in the informal book clubs. There was a debate between Booker T Washington and W.E.B. DuBois on how African Americans can better themselves.

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.

In the 20th century, progress in education led to cultural awareness across the black community in America. Because the authors were abolitionists and slaves, early African American literature was either political or spiritual. However, Phillis Wheatley’s poetry was the first published book by an African American.

African American authors looking to be published are exploring the internet black eBook industry where the African American Literature eBook niche market is thriving even in this difficult economy.

Any search shows that poets, fiction, novels, advice, history and adult eBooks are plentiful which means African American Literature is not just a book case in your local library.

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