Essays
Why Black Fantasy Is Important
Book influencer Krystal shows why Black stories in fantasy are essential. From magic to myth, she reminds us that seeing yourself in the story changes everything.
Krystal is known for shedding light on diverse stories through her thoughtful reviews and recommendations. While she reads and recommends across genres, she primarily focuses on fantasy and science fiction. Krystal uses her voice to share her passion for storytelling and has built her Written Reveries community of readers, where they connect over their shared love of stories and the importance of reading diversely on Booktok, Bookstagram, Booktube, as well as on her Bindery.Â
Getting lost in a Black fantasy book was the first time I ever felt seen and the first time I believed I had both the autonomy and the power to enact change: to change my personal circumstances and to maybe someday change the world. Growing up, I was always an avid reader, but when I first discovered Fantasy, I was enamored. From then, my nose was always in a book. When I read Black fantasy for the first time, it changed everything. It was like breathing. How had I gone so long without having something I needed? Reading for me was always an escape, but now it was catharsis. Â
Black fantasy and science fiction provide a unique perspective shaped by the authors’ identities and experiences. In any time period or setting, Black stories across the diaspora draw inspiration from shared history, folklore, and mythos, expanding the scope and imagination of the genre. Put plainly, diverse literature mirrors our world and plays an integral part in creating bridges of understanding in a world that needs more empathy.
In Black fantasy, anything is possible. Marginalized groups have the power to organize, rebel, and fight back against corrupt leadership. Women with little autonomy can find a path to resistance. Characters facing obstacles, both physical and emotional, can choose to use their powers for good or bad to change their circumstances. These vast narratives, systems of magic or science, and substantial world-building give characters the means to fight for justice, revenge, or love, and sometimes all three at once. Â
This representation gives Black authors and characters the visibility they deserve, and by extension, their readers. Black readers of all ages benefit from seeing themselves reflected in powerful stories. Readers outside of the Black diaspora benefit by engaging with a worldview different from their own. Reading these stories offers not only a way to escape but also a way to celebrate the contributions of Black authors.
If you are looking to read more fantasy and sci-fi by Black Authors, here are a few titles to start with:Â Â
