BLACK mobile logo

detroit

culture

Holiday Faith Reads from Black Authors and Black Publishers

December 28, 2025

This article highlights faith-based books authored by Black writers and published by Black presses, addressing the significant lack of diversity in religious publishing where only about 16% of religious titles come from Black creators. The piece emphasizes how the predominantly white publishing infrastructure, with roughly 72% white professionals, has historically limited which faith stories receive attention and support. To counter this narrow representation, the author recommends several titles ranging from children's books to adult devotionals that incorporate Black experiences and theological perspectives.

Who is affected

  • Black authors and illustrators of faith-based books
  • Black publishers and publishing enterprises (LaBoo Publishing Enterprise, ForWord Books, self-published authors)
  • Readers seeking diverse faith-based literature
  • The broader Christian book market and religious publishing industry
  • Specific authors mentioned: Edward Lee, Camilla Rose James, Johnny L. Moore III, Clarence KD McNair, Bridget Ledesma, Willie Mae Anthony, and the Rodgers family (Larry, Paris and Langston)
  • Publishing professionals (72% of whom are white)
  • Book lovers looking for holiday gifts

What action is being taken

  • Black authors are writing and publishing faith-based books that reflect Black experiences and theology. Black publishers are actively elevating these voices and bringing these titles to market.

Why it matters

  • The predominantly white publishing infrastructure (with 72% white professionals) has historically shaped which stories receive priority, resulting in faith literature that reflects only a narrow slice of the church. Black publishers and authors help broaden this limited perspective by bringing books rooted in Black experience and theology to readers, expanding spiritual conversations and deepening understanding of faith in a more inclusive church. This work addresses the significant underrepresentation where only 16% of religious-themed titles come from Black creators, despite Black voices being essential to the full Christian narrative.

What's next

  • No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: Michigan Chronicle