Photo by Clarke Sanders
If you are looking for some black women fiction with strong female leads, then you’ve come to the right place because I have made a list of books centered around that theme!
The literary world now has lots of black women fiction with strong female leads, but you know what? We could always have some more! My name is Tish Barnhardt, and I’m the author of the book, So You Want To Be A First Lady? I’m excited to share this article with all of you because we get to talk about the representation of black women as strong female leads in fiction writing.
With that said, let’s get the ball running and start off the list with a fantastic book below!
So You Want To Be A First Lady? by Tish Barnhardt
Photo from Tish Barndhardt
The challenges that certain First Ladies faced are discussed in the book, and these issues can relate to any woman who is suffering in silence because she is afraid of being judged, embarrassed, or ashamed. Many women who hold leadership positions suffer verbal, physical, and psychological, including sexual abuse from their husbands, but they choose to keep quiet.
A First Lady’s life behind the scenes when she’s the wife of a well-known pastor can be terrible, despite the appearance of perfection that she presents to the public. But because of the power of one’s faith in God, hope and freedom can still be attained even in the midst of darkness. Discover life-changing realizations and knowledge in every chapter of this awesome book.
Whatever Happened to Interracial Love? by Kathleen Collins
Photo from Amazon
The black female characters are shown from various points of view in this delightful collection of short stories by the late writer and director Kathleen Collins. It was published last year after being found in a trunk by her daughter, Nina. The characters’ refusal to fall neatly into any one category is my favorite feature about them.
Collins also embraces their sexuality, brilliance, and loneliness without holding back. However, they are not women to be pitied; rather, there’s a boldness to these drawings that invites you to trust the people and accompany them on their adventures.
Whatever Happened to Interracial Love is truly one of the best black women fiction with strong female leads readers can get. It deserves to be a part of anyone’s list of books with wonderfully nuanced black female protagonists.
What We Lose by Zinzi Clemons
Photo from Amazon
If you’re looking for a book deserving of the critical acclaim it received upon its premiere, What We Lose is worth your time. It’s a personal story of the pain that nearly destroys Thandi, a young, black South African lady who lives in Pennsylvania with a middle-class family.
The story takes into account the harsh, pressing duties of parenthood while capturing the loving bond Thandi has with her mom. We meet Thandi, a woman who is devoid of roots in the world and must figure out how to fulfill her ambitions.
A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry
Photo from Goodreads
Although “A Raisin in the Sun” is a play rather than a book, I believe Beneatha Younger to be among the most iconic black female characters ever. She exudes enthusiasm, hope, angst, and a confused, disorganized philosophy. By the play’s conclusion, though, she has changed into someone who understands that compassion is necessary for her political sensibility to exist.
Nervous Conditions by Tsitsi Dangarembga
Photo from Electric Literature
The protagonist of this Zimbabwean bildungsroman, written and directed by Dangaremba, is Tambu. She attends mission school and lives in colonial Rhodesia, where her strict uncle looks after her. The twin attacks of colonization and male dominance challenge her and her cousin Nyasha as they work to forge their own identities.
Salvage the Bones by Jesmyn Ward
Photo from Amazon
The protagonist in Jesmyn Ward’s second book, Salvage the Bones, a National Book Award winner, is Esch. She is aloof and bookish but nonetheless connected to her family as they prepare for Hurricane Katrina. Her varied passions keep the book alive.
Enjoy These Black Women Fiction With Strong Female Leads Today
I hope that all of you have fun with this list I made. The literary world could use black women fiction with strong female leads. You can’t go wrong with these books, so go ahead and start reading them today!
Click here to buy a copy of So You Want To Be A First Lady? And read a story that you will enjoy from start to finish!
