essayist, journalist and activist Toni Morrison, novelist, essayist, editor, teacher and professor Walter Mosley, novelist Walter Dean Myers, novelist Marilyn Nelson, poet, translator, professor Pat Parker, poet, activist Leonard Pitts, novelist, commentator, journalist, and columnist Kevin Powell, poet, activist Ishmael Reed, poet, novelist, essayist, songwriter, playwright, editor, and publisher Shawn Stewart Ruff, novelist Sonia Sanchez, poet, playwright, essayist, educator, and activist Patricia Smith, poet, playwright, author, teacher, and journalist Tracy K. Smith, poet, educator Ntozake Shange, novelist, playwright and poet Natasha Trethewey, poet, professor Alice Walker, novelist, writer, poet, and activist Margaret Walker, novelist, poet and writer Dorothy West, novelist, columnist Phillis Wheatley, poet Colson Whitehead, novelist John Edgar Wideman, novelist, author, and professor John A. Williams, novelist, journalist, and academic Harriet E. Wilson, novelist Richard Wright, novelist, poet, and essayist Sarah E. Wright, novelist Frank Yerby, novelist Al Young, poet, novelist, essayist, screenwriter, and professor Kevin Young, poet, professor, editor, and literary critic Publishers W. Paul Coates, founder of Black Classic Press Jayne Cortez, founder of Bola Press Charles F. Harris, founder of Amistad Press John H. Johnson Naomi Long Madgett, poet and founder of Lotus Press Haki Madhubuti, co-founder of Third World Press Dudley Randall, founder of Broadside Press Ishmael Reed Glenn Thompson, co-founder of Writers and Readers Cooperative Singers and musicians A Aaliyah: R&B, pop Johnny Ace: R&B Armenta Adams: Classical pianist Arthur Adams: Blues, R&B Johnny Adams: Gospel, R&B, soul, jazz Yolanda Adams: Gospel, R&B Nat Adderley: Jazz Cannonball Adderley: Jazz Jhene Aiko: R&B, hip hop Akon: R&B, pop, hip hop, dancehall Sasha Allen: R&B, rock, soul Luther Allison: Blues Amil: Hip hop Cat Anderson: Jazz Ivie Anderson: Jazz Louis Armstrong: Jazz Billy Boy Arnold: R&B Dorothy Ashby: Jazz Patti Austin: R&B, pop, jazz Roy Ayers: Jazz, funk, disco, R&B, hip hop Ayo & Teo: (African American father) Hip hop, dance, trap Ashanti: R&B B Cardi B: Hip hop Babyface: R&B Anthony Brown: Gospel Erykah Badu: Neo soul, R&B, funk, hip hop Kim Burrell: Gospel Lil Baby: Hip hop Mildred Bailey: Jazz Pearl Bailey: Vaudeville Anita Baker, R&B, soul Josephine Baker: Pop, jazz Lavern Baker: R&B Lloyd Banks: Hip hop Azealia Banks: Hip hop Dave Bartholomew: R&B, R&R Florence Ballard: R&B, pop, soul Fantasia Barrino: R&B, soul, gospel Count Basie: Jazz Swizz Beatz: Hip hop (African-American and Eritrean descent) Sidney Bechet: Jazz Madeline Bell: Soul Carey Bell: Blues Eric Benet: R&B, neo soul George Benson: Jazz,