Graphic Novels About the Black Experience

Jump into the fictional world of the DC universe as Mari Jiwe gets ready to start college in New York City. Mari has always been made aware of her ancestral powers and gifts, but like most teens, she passed it off as typical family superstitious folklore. Now that she is living in the concrete jungle, Mari notices her observational skills seem to be heightened especially around animals. As she learns to juggle her new college schedule and navigate the subways, there’s an uptick in missing girls and she fears she might be next. Walls fictionalizes societal issues and places a young Black superhero at the helm to help herself and others.

Dive into an illustrated intergalactic journey where the greatest guitarist known as Jimi Hendrix takes on space where Jimi and his crew spread love and awareness with the sound of music. Approved by Experience Hendrix L.L.C.; Authentic Hendrix, LLC, writers Mellow Brown and DJ Ben Ha Meen take Hendrix to the future. Hendrix’s lyrics serve as rhythmic dialogue engulfed in a purple-hazy smoke. Bibliophiles and music aficionados will be delighted by the impressive alternate album art covers. Visually stunning and thought-provoking, Hendrix’s life is deified when his music becomes the answer to the universe’s philosophical questions making this a perfect mashup of space-rock opera.

Omar and Hassan are brothers from Somalia who live in a refugee camp in Kenya. Life is hard for them both, yet they find the will to be resilient. Omar is given a choice; he can attend school to have a chance to help his youngest brother who is nonverbal, or he can stay in his camp and wait for something to happen. They’ve lost their home and family and now all they have is each other and their foster mother. Heartbreaking, yet hopeful, Omar is a character that will stay with you for years to come.

Now in his mid-40s, Devin can’t seem to catch a break. His marriage is failing, and he won’t be winning any Father of the Year awards, either. While his debt continues to grow and his life seems out of control, he’s hit with a devastating loss: His mother’s death. While grieving and going through his family’s possessions he ignites a superpower he never knew he had. Devin can now travel in time through his nostalgic memories. By visiting a time that made him happy, he can find solace in the loss of his loved ones and try to repair his life before it’s too late.

The impeccable and courageous life of Josephine Baker is now translated for Spanish readers. Delivering the iconic life of one of the world’s greatest entertainers in powerful black and white art throughout. When Baker arrived in Paris, she was still a teen before she became the face of the Roaring Twenties. While known as one of the most glamorous celebrities of all time, Baker began to dedicate her life to ending racial segregation – something she was a victim of her entire life. From going undercover as a spy to becoming a foster mother to many multiracial children, Baker’s life remains an impressive journey of talent and fearlessness.

What happens when two marginalized girls, who also happen to be family, work together to become the superheroes their communities need? Maya is Black and Riley is Indigenous, and they are sent to live with their fiery grandmother who is a community activist. Once they settle in, they realize they are complete opposites. Riley is a lively extrovert who loves gymnastics while Maya is more introverted and only wants to focus on her robots. The two of them find themselves bonding over their new vice principal who is turning their school culture into a nightmare. The girls find the courage to fight against an unjust system where money is prioritized over the needs of the community.

A brilliant, visually reimagined tale inspired by Huckleberry Finn, both Walker and Anderson create a multigenerational epic spanning from 1885 to the present that centers on Jim’s point of view. Jim is enslaved in the South but is determined to find his family no matter where that may lead him. Jim and Huckleberry Finn travel together through Confederate military bases and camps to safe houses as they travel together in a world where men are not regarded as equals. The book transports through time by recalling Jim’s journey and history from his future descendants’ eyes as they are taught their family’s history starting with Jim’s sacrifices.

Don’t allow this oversized graphic novel pass you by! This series is written by civil rights activist Congressman John Lewis. Using his personal experiences, Lewis describes his life growing up in the Jim Crow South and how meeting civil rights icon Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., along with nonviolent acts of protests inspired him to dedicate his life to helping others. From his humble beginnings in Alabama to perfecting his charm on chickens to being one of the faces of nonviolent resistance, Lewis offers a first-hand take on the Civil Rights Movement which offers surprising new details about the historical moment.

When thespian legend Paul Robeson first performed as Toussaint L’Ouverture in the play of the same name, it was the first time Black actors in the UK had worked on a play written by a Black writer. James is recognized as a playwright but is also a historian and expert on the Haitian Revolution. In his personal archives, James kept a draft of the play which is now formatted as a visually stunning graphic novel highlighting this heroic historical event. Learn about Toussaint L’Ouverture and how he played a great part in Haiti’s independence from the French as the first successful revolt led by displaced Africans.