This blog post is part of the Woodson Project—a series of events, posts, and book lists on subjects including empowering Black families, amplifying Black voices, exploring Black identity and intersectionality, and discovering Black influencers in STEAM. The project was created by branch staff from across NYPL to honor Dr. Carter G. Woodson, who in 1926 created Negro History Week—the precursor to Black History Month.

 

This booklist highlights some of the many audiobooks performed by Black narrators who use their vocal abilities to create compelling audio journeys and bring their own experiences and talents to stories centered on Black lives. These audiobooks—for children, young adults and adults—are all available to borrow digitally.

Contributors: Ramon Carela, Asuncion Cora, Whitney Davidson-Rhodes, Esther Jackson, Carolyn Lawerence, Dhariyah Luqman, Allison Nellis, Micheal Okoli, Rachel Roseberry, Wayne Walters.

Children's Audiobooks

Clean Getaway written by Nic Stone; narrated by Dion Graham

William Lamar, known as "Scoob," goes on a road trip thorugh the South with his grandmother in her recreational vehicle, visiting some of the major sites in the civil rights movement and learning about how people like him have been treated.

 

 

 

 

 

Isaiah Dunn Is My Hero written by Kelly J. Baptist; narrated by Adam Lazarre-White

Referring to his late father's journal for advice on how to be the man of the house, young Isaiah taps the support and ideas of two school friends who help him navigate rules and manage without superpowers.

 

 

 

 

Little Legends: Exeptional Men In Black History written by Vashti Harrison; narrated by Cary Hite, J.D. Jackson, and Vashti Harrison

New York Times bestselling author-illustrator Vashti Harrison shines a bold, joyous light on black men through history.

 

 

Magnificent Homespun Brown: A Celebration written by Samara Cole Doyon; narrated by Chrystal Bethell

Told by a succession of exuberant young narrators, Magnificent Homespun Brown is a song, a poem and a celebration about feeling at home in one’s own beloved skin. 

 

 

Shuri: A Black Panther Novel written by Nic Stone; narrated by Anika Noni Rose

An original middle grade novel starring T’Challa’s younger sister, breakout character Shuri, details her treacherous journey from Wakanda to discover what is killing the plants her people depend on for their survival.  

 

 

 

 

Young Adult Audiobooks

All The Things We Never Knew written by Liara Tamani; narrated by Sheila Hamilton

Acclaimed author Liara Tamani's luminous second novel explores love, family, heartbreak, betrayal, and the power of healing, in gorgeous prose that will appeal to readers of Nicola Yoon and Jacqueline Woodson.

 

 

 

 

The Black Kids written by Christina Hammonds Reed; narrated by Kiersey Clemons

Ashley Bennett and her friends are living the charmed life. It's the end of senior year and they're spending more time at the beach than in the classroom. They can already feel the sunny days and endless possibilities of summer.

Everything changes one afternoon in April, when four LAPD officers are acquitted after beating a black man named Rodney King half to death. Suddenly, Ashley's not just one of the girls. She's one of the black kids.

 

 

Charming As A Verb written by Ben Philippe; narrated by James Fouhey

Henri "Halti" Haltiwanger can charm just about anyone. He is a star debater and popular student at the prestigious FATE academy, the dutiful first-generation Haitian son, and the trusted dog walker for his wealthy New York City neighbors. But his easy smiles mask a burning ambition to attend his dream college, Columbia University.

There is only one person who seems immune to Henri's charms: his "intense" classmate and neighbor Corinne Troy. When she uncovers Henri's less-than-honest dog-walking scheme, she blackmails him into helping her change her image at school. Henri agrees, seeing a potential upside for himself.

 

Concrete Rose written by Angie Thomas; narrated by Dion Graham

If there's one thing seventeen-year-old Maverick Carter knows, it's that a real man takes care of his family. As the son of a former gang legend, Mav does that the only way he knows how: dealing for the King Lords. With this money he can help his mom, who works two jobs while his dad's in prison.

Life's not perfect, but with a fly girlfriend and a cousin who always has his back, Mav's got everything under control. Until, that is, Maverick finds out he's a father.

 

 

Now That I've Found You written by Kristina Forest; narrated by Shayna Small

Blacklisted from Hollywood for badmouthing a famous director, a disgraced teen star enlists the help of a cute delivery boy when her eccentric, once-famous grandmother goes missing in New York City on the eve of receiving a Lifetime Achievement Award. 

 

 

 

 

Adult Audiobooks

Deacon King Kong: A Novel written by James McBride; narrated by Dominic Hoffman

In the aftermath of a 1969 Brooklyn church deacon’s public shooting of a local drug dealer, the community’s African-American and Latinx witnesses find unexpected support from each other when they are targeted by violent mobsters. 

 

 

 

 

Fearing the Black Body: The Racial Origins of Fat Phobia written by Sabrina Strings; narrated by Allyson Johnson

There is an obesity epidemic in this country and poor black women are particularly stigmatized as “diseased” and a burden on the public health care system. This is only the most recent incarnation of the fear of fat black women, which Sabrina Strings shows took root more than two hundred years ago.

 

 

 

God-Level Knowledge Darts: Life Lessons From The Bronx written and narrated by Desus & Mero

A wild, hilarious guide to life is written by the hosts of the hit late-night show Desus & Mero and the #1 podcast Bodega Boys.

 

 

 

 

The Gumbo Coalition: 10 Leadership Lesson That Help You Inspire, Unite, And Achieve written by Marc Morial; narrated by James Shippey

Morial knew his calling from a young age—he was meant to be a leader in the fight for meaningful change. Growing up in the segregated South and helping his father realize an incredible victory as the first African American mayor of New Orleans, Morial was shown that, with the right tools, significant change is possible.

 

 

 

Hood Feminism: Note From The Women That A Movement Forgot written by Mikki Kendall; narrated by Mikki Kandall

An award-winning writer and frequent guest speaker presents a compelling critique of today’s black feminist movement that argues that modern activism needs to refocus on health care, education and safety for all women instead of a privileged few.

 

 

 

 

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Summaries provided via NYPL’s catalog, which draws from multiple sources. Click through to each book’s title for more.