If you’re a fan of books written by black authors and are looking for dedicated black book clubs, we’ve featured 19 for you in the list below.
1. Mocha Girls Read – Indianapolis
Mocha Girls Read is a book club that welcomes black women who enjoy reading. The book club has chapters across the United States, including the cities of Harlem, New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore and Indianapolis. Mocha Girls Read’s Indianapolis chapter is led by a passionate team of co-organizers, including Anjelica Campbell and Stefanie Burnham.
Mocha Girls Read’s book club meetings are held online to discuss the monthly book or participate in other special activities like book swaps and silent reading time. Past book club meetings have covered books like “Black Cake” by Charmaine Wilkerson and “Dear Haiti, Love Alaine” by Maika Moulite and Maritza Moulite. Book club meetings are usually held on the second Saturday of the month.
Contact Mocha Girls Read – Indianapolis!
2. The Black Lesbian Book Club
Based in Washington, D.C., The Black Lesbian Book Club is a book club led by book club organizer Sian. With her at the helm, this book club of black lesbians has grown to over 2,500 active book club members. The group gets together once a month to discuss a shared book.
The Black Lesbian Book Club covers literature of varying genres and encourages book club members to read as much as they can, to fully appreciate the discussion that happens at their book club meetings. Meetings take place on the third Saturday of the month. More detailed information is available to members of their private Meetup.com website.
Speak to The Black Lesbian Book Club!
3. Washington Black Women Book Club
Black women interested in reading fiction and non-fiction books written by black authors and about the black experience should look into Washington Black Women Book Club. Organizer Tiffany welcomes all black women in Washington, D.C. area to join their future book meetings, whether online or in person.
Washington Black Women Book Club is a newer book group that plans to meet every Sunday to speak about Washington Black Women Book Club’s monthly book. “Caste: The Origins Of Our Discontents” by Isabel Wilkerson is a good example of the kind of books that the Washington Black Women Book Club will be interested in reading together in future.
Learn more about Washington Black Women Book Club!
4. Black Girl Book Club
Situated in New York, in the United States, Black Girl Book Club is run by book club organizer Tylynn. The book club focuses on being a supportive circle of black women who enjoy reading and look forward to connecting with other black women.
Black Girl Book Club has read through books like “Get a Life” by Chloe Brown and “Tanqueray” by Brandon Stanton. Book club meetings happen on the last Sunday of the month. Other activities that Black Girl Book Club has organized for its members include group bike rides and group participation in events such as literary festivals and Juneteenth Celebrations.
Take a look at Black Girl Book Club!
5. Well Read Sistas Book Club
Book club organizer Ari Gibbs is responsible for forming the book club Well Read Sistas Book Club. The book club welcomes black women who love literature and discusses books written by black authors, and talks about issues that are relevant to their life experiences. Some of the books that the Well Read Sistas Book Club has read in the past include “You Made a Fool of Death With Your Beauty” by Akwaeke Emezi and “Memphis” by Tara M. Stringfellow.
Book club meetings are held in person at The Well Read Manor, in Harlem, New York and meetings are streamed online for participants who might feel more comfortable joining from a distance. Book club meetings happen on the last Sunday every other month.
Discover more about Well Read Sistas Book Club!
6. Reading Black Book Club
Located in Seattle, Washington, in the United States, Reading Black Book Club is a book club that welcomes people of all backgrounds in the Seattle area who appreciate books written by black writers. Book club members can join the 100+ current active members in discussing shared books by black writers.
“The Vanishing Half” by Britt Bennett and “Yinka, Where Is Your Huzband by Lizzie Damilola Blackburn are a few examples of books that the Reading Black Book Club has read together as a group. Monthly book club meetings are usually in person at different local venues, such as different branches of the Seattle Public Library.
Learn more about Reading Black Book Club!
7. The Mahogany Book Club
The Mahogany Book Club is a book club located in Chicago, Illinois, in the United States. Run by group leader Deja, The Mahogany Book Club is a group of black women who get together to speak about a monthly fiction or non-fiction book they read written by black authors.
To get an idea of the kind of reading material that The Mahogany Book Club is interested in, look at “More Than Enough” by Elaine Welteroth and “Summer on the Bluffs” by Sunny Hostin. Book club meetings happen online on the last Thursday of the month. Other book club events include brunches, picnics and meet and greets with other book club members.
Check out The Mahogany Book Club!
8. The Memphis 40+ African-American Book Club Meetup Group
Serving men and women over the age of 40 with an interest in reading books by African-American authors, the Memphis 40+ African-American Book Club Meetup Group is a book club that welcomes individuals to their book club meetings. The Memphis 40+ African-American Book Club Meetup Group looks at books in different genres and will meet at various venues in Shelby County, in Memphis, Tennessee.
The Memphis 40+ African-American Book Club Meetup Group meetings happen on the last Saturday afternoon of the month and will take place in person, as long as it’s safe for participants. More detailed information about book club meeting locations will be available to book club members in their Meetup.com private group.
Connect with the Memphis 40+ African-American Book Club Meetup Group!
9. Black Reads
Black Reads is a book club run by group organizer Felicia for readers in New Orleans, Louisiana, in the United States. Today, the group has grown to over 300 book club members. Black Reads runs on a month-to-month basis, meeting regularly to discuss books written by black authors.
Book club meetings happen at different locations in the local area on the fourth Sunday of every month. “In Every Mirror She’s Black” by Lolá Ákínmádé Åkerström and “Finding Me” by Viola Davis. Locations may change but will stay within the central New Orleans area.
Find out more about Black Reads!
10. African Literature Book Club
African Literature Book Club is a book club situated in Toronto, Canada. Co-organizer Frances Nyarko-Mensah and other leaders help manage the book club of over 200+ members. African Literature Book Club focuses on fiction and non-fiction books written by authors from the African diaspora.
Some titles that African Literature Book Club has read through together include “Search Sweet Country” by Koko Laing and “The Hairdresser of Harare” by Tendai Huchu. Book club meetings happen on the second or third Saturday of the month in the afternoon at different local venues. Detailed information is available to book club members who join African Literature Book Club’s private Meetup.com group.
Plan a visit to African Literature Book Club!
11. Black Folks Reading
Based in Toronto, Canada, Black Folks Reading is a book club led by group organizer Karla. The book club welcomes black people of all genders and backgrounds who love reading who are over the age of 29 in the area. Black Folks Reading meets on Thursdays, usually during the third or fourth week of a month.
For an idea of the kind of book that Black Folks Reading is interested in going through, take a look at “All About Love” by Bell Hooks. Book club members are encouraged to provide leaders with suggestions for future books to go through as a group. Book club meetings will happen bi-monthly and will switch between in-person and online.
Contact Black Folks Reading!
12. Afro-Caribbean Book Club
Afro-Caribbean Book Club is managed by co-organizer Jacquie J and a number of other co-organizers and is a book club for people of all genders from the Afro-Caribbean diaspora. Afro-Caribbean Book Club goes through books written by authors from Africa and the African diaspora and books that speak to the situation of African people all around the world.
Situated in London, in the UK, Afro-Caribbean Book Club meets in person once a month at a local venue, like a restaurant or cafe. Meetings happen on the last Sunday of the month in the afternoon or on the last Thursday of the month, in the evening. Past book club meetings have covered books like “Open Water” by Caleb Azumah Nelson and “Sankofa” by Chibundu Onuzo.
Speak to Afro-Caribbean Book Club!
13. Black Girls Read Book Club
Situated in Chicago, Illinois, the United States, Black Girls Read Book Club is a book club for black women passionate about reading books written by black women. Black Girls Read Book Club selects one book a month to focus on for their monthly discussion, including fiction and non-fiction by black women writers.
For examples of books that Black Girls Read Book Club members can look forward to reading, take a look at “We Should All Be Millionaires” by Rachel Rodgers and “Washington Black” by Esi Edugyan. Book club meetings are online and on the last Sunday of the month, in the afternoon.
Learn more about Black Girls Read Book Club!
14. Many Shades of Brown Book Club
Many Shades of Brown Book Club supports Black women readers who want to join up with other like-minded black ladies in Dallas, Texas, in the United States. Once a month, Many Shades of Brown Book Club gathers to speak about a book written by an African-American author about African-American subject matter.
Book club meetings are welcome to suggest books to Many Shades of Brown Book Club’s organizers for future meetings. Previous books included “WILL by Will Smith and “The Vanishing Half” by Brit Bennett. Book club meetings happen on the second Saturday afternoon of every month.
Take a look at Many Shades of Brown Book Club!
15. The Center for Black Literature Monthly Book Club
Located in Brooklyn, New York, The Center for Black Literature Monthly Book Club is a book club that promotes black literature and authors. The book club encourages book club members to get together after spending the month reading the same book written by a black author and about topics that matter to the black community.
“The Man Who Cried I Am” by John A. Williams and “Confessions in B-Flat” by Donna Hill are a number of books that The Center for Black Literature Monthly Book Club have read in the past. Book club meetings are held online on the last Wednesday of the month. Interested participants must register through participation at book club meetings by emailing the Center for Black Literature.
Discover more about The Center for Black Literature Monthly Book Club!
16. The Black Authors Book Club
The Black Authors Book Club is a book club managed by Cheryl L. Wade and Sheldon A. Evans, professors at St. John’s Law, in Queens, New York, in the United States. The Black Authors Book Club focuses on books written by African-American authors that take a look at topics such as racial justice and racial awareness.
Examples of books that book club members can look forward to reading at The Black Authors Book Club include “On Juneteenth” by Annette Gordon-Reed and “Black Panther” by Reginald Hudlin. Book club meetings happen in the evenings on the first Thursday of every month.
Learn more about The Black Authors Book Club!
17. OKHA
Serving the community in London, in the United Kingdom, OKHA is a book club that serves the black and queer community. OKHA is an initiative set up by PRIM, a digital platform whose aim is to promote black writing and make it accessible to all. This group meets on the last Sunday of every month at focuses on writing – including literature, poetry and plays – done by African, Caribbean and Afro-Latinx authors.
Some of the books that OKHA plans to go through at future meetings include “The Chiffon Trenches” by Andre Leon Talley. In addition to OKHA’s monthly book club meetings, book club members can look forward to exciting events such as author Questions and Answers and film screenings.
Connect with OKHA!
18. Urban Sun: Black Voices Book Club
Urban Sun: Black Voices Book Club is a book club run through the Sun Prairie Public Library in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, in the United States. Urban Sun: Black Voices Book Club is led by group leaders Donna Mackey and Marilyn Ruffin and welcomes adult readers who are interested in reading through contemporary and historical writing by African American authors.
Urban Sun: Black Voices Book Club members can look forward to reading books like “Dear Martin” by Nic Stone and “Hidden Figures” by Margot Lee Shetterly. Meetings are on the fourth Sunday every month in the afternoon and are held online.
Check out Urban Sun: Black Voices Book Club!
19. African American Literature Book Club
Established in 2018, African American Literature Book Club is a book club located in Hartford, Connecticut, that focuses on African American fiction and non-fiction books. Members can also look forward to insightful discussions about the topics raised by these books and about topics surrounding the African American experience.
Book club meetings happen on the fourth Tuesday of the month in the evening and are facilitated by a book club member. Check out “Two Trains Running” by August Wilson and “Harlem Shuffle” by Colson Whitehead to get an idea of some of the books that African American Literature Book Club might propose as their monthly book. Book club meetings are online and registration should be done via email.
Visit African American Literature Book Club at one of their book club meetings!