21st-century African-American writers

Voddie Tharon Baucham, Jr. was an American Reformed Baptist pastor, author, and educator. He served as Dean of Theology for nine years, from 2015 to 2024, at African Christian University in Lusaka, Zambia.

American talk show host, actress, producer, and author (born 1954)

African American novelist, essayist, and academic (1931–2019)

American diplomat and political scientist (born 1954)

Curtis James Jackson III, known professionally as 50 Cent, is an American rapper, actor, television producer, record executive, and businessman. Born in Queens, a borough of New York City, Jackson began pursuing a musical career in 1996. In 1999–2000, he recorded his debut album, Power of the Dollar, for Columbia Records. During a shooting in May 2000, he was struck by nine bullets, causing its release to be canceled and Jackson to be dropped from the label. His 2002 mixtape Guess Who's Back? was discovered by Detroit rapper Eminem, who signed Jackson to his label Shady Records that year.

American actress, comedian, author and television personality

Nigerian writer (born 1977)

American filmmaker (born 1957)

American doctor and NASA astronaut

American author and activist (1952–2021)

Ashley Nicolette Frangipane, known professionally as Halsey, is an American singer-songwriter and actress. Noted for her distinctive singing voice, she has received numerous accolades, including three Billboard Music Awards, a Billboard Women in Music Award, and an American Music Award, as well as nominations for three Grammy Awards. She was on Time's annual list of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2020.

American poet and activist

Scott Ramon Seguro Mescudi, also known by his stage name Kid Cudi, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer, actor, and fashion designer. Born and raised in Cleveland, Cudi moved to New York City in pursuit of a musical career, where he first gained recognition for his song "Day 'n' Nite". Initially self-published on his MySpace page, the song became a hit online and served as a catalyst for Cudi to team up with record producers Plain Pat and Emile Haynie to record his first full-length project, a mixtape titled A Kid Named Cudi (2008). Its release helped Cudi rise to prominence and establish a fanbase, catching the attention of rapper Kanye West—who signed Cudi to his GOOD Music label by late 2008.

Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States since 1991

American basketball player

American actress (born 2003)

American actor (born 1937)

Eric Leroy Adams is an American politician and former police officer who served as the 111th mayor of New York City from 2022 to 2025. A member of the Democratic Party, Adams was an officer in the New York City Transit Police and then the New York City Police Department (NYPD) for more than 20 years, retiring at the rank of captain. He served in the New York State Senate from 2006 to 2013, representing the 20th district in Brooklyn. In 2013, Adams became the first black American to be elected Brooklyn Borough President; he was re-elected in 2017.

American novelist (born 1969)

American comedian, writer, actress and voice artist

American film director

American journalist (1941–2006)

American writer

American media personality (born 1964)

American writer and director (born 1979)

Amerie Mi Marie Rogers Nicholson (born January 12, 1980) is an American singer, songwriter, actress and writer. She has released four studio albums to date: All I Have (2002), Touch (2005), Because I Love It (2007), In Love & War (2009). She is best known for her 2005 single "1 Thing".

American comedian and actress (born 1979)

Novelist, short story writer, memoirist

Ghanaian-American novelist

British-American philosopher and writer

American gymnast

American environmental activist (born 2003)

American writer

American actress and comedian

American poet and author

American comedian, writer, producer and actress

American law professor; witness in Clarence Thomas controversy

American writer

American comedian and writer

American playwright (1945-2005)

Lena Waithe is an American actress, producer, and screenwriter. She is the creator of the Showtime drama series The Chi (2018–present) and the BET comedy series Boomerang (2019–20) and Twenties (2020–21). She also wrote and produced the crime film Queen & Slim (2019) and is the executive producer of the horror anthology series Them (2021–present).

American singer, musician, poet, writer, and actor

American actor and political candidate (born 1966)

American poet, writer and activist

Sierra Leonean-American ballet dancer (1995–2024)

American writer

American businessman and motivational speaker

American rapper

A'ja Riyadh Wilson is an American professional basketball player for the Las Vegas Aces of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). Wilson is regarded by many as the best female basketball player of her generation, and is widely considered one of the greatest WNBA players ever.

American actress, activist (b. 1964)

American rapper, record producer and actor from Mississippi

American children's writer and novelist (born 1963)

American novelist (born 1952)

American comedian

American weather presenter, journalist, television personality, and author (born 1954)

American comedian, actor, writer and director

Nigerian-American author

American playwright

American writer (born 1956)

American actor, artist, and professional football player (1939–2017)