Your new TBR List for 2025: Banned Books by Black Authors
They call it a "banned book" we call it required reading. Nothing screams To Be Read (TBR) better than the label "banned" - because if someone's telling you not to read something, then you better find out what they don't want you to know.
Did you know that in 2023, the American Library Association (ALA) documented 1,247 demands to censor library books and resources? This marked a 65% increase from the previous year, with 4,240 unique book titles targeted for removal**. Titles representing the voices and lived experiences of LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC individuals made up 47% of those targeted**. To us, these statistics highlight the ongoing importance of supporting black voices in a time of unprecedented censorship in the US.
That's why for for 2025 we've rounded up the most impactful banned stories from black authors including classics like Toni Morrison's Beloved to more contemporary pieces like Caste from Isabel Wilkerson.
Here are our top 10 picks:
The Bluest Eye
by Toni Morrison
This Is Your Time
by Ruby Bridges
Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents
by Isabel Wilkerson
Their Eyes Were Watching God
by Zora Neal Hurston
The Hate You Give
by Angie Thomas
Native Son
by Richard Wright
All American Boys
by Jason Reynolds and Brendan Kiely
The Color Purple
by Alice Walker
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings
by Maya Angelou
The Autobiography of Malcom X
as Told to Alex Haley
In 2025, we are faced with a call to uncover truth where it lays and in the words of Ida B. Wells "The way to right wrongs is to turn the light of truth upon them." - The more you read the more you know and the more you know, the harder it is to turn a blind eye to the social and racial injustices the globe over. By starting with reading just one book from the list, you're taking a stand against censorship and advocating for a more just and equitable world.
Don't just stop here - see our full list of recommended banned books by black authors HERE and let us know what you are reading next. Do you think we are missing something from our top 10? We want to hear from you - share your thoughts and recommendations in the comments below. Your input helps us continue to highlight and celebrate the voices that matter.
Share your reading journey with us! Tag us on social media with your favorite banned book using #MTWReadBannedBooks and join the conversation - you might just inspire others to delve into a book they wouldn't have otherwise.
- Instagram: @mtwyouth
- Facebook: mtwyouth / More Than Words
Let's amplify the voices of Black authors and turn the page on censorship together by celebrating the resilience and creativity of these incredible authors.
Want to do more than read? Here are some resources to help fight against censorship and keep stories avaliable:
American Library Association: Provides leadership for the development, promotion, and improvement of library and information services and the profession of librarianship in order to enhance learning and to ensure access to information for all.
National Coalition Against Censorship: Promotes freedom of thought and inquiry, opposes censorship, and supports free expression through advocacy, education, and direct support to individuals and organizations facing censorship challenges
**American Library Association - Censorship by the Numbers - Censorship by the Numbers | Banned Books