Authors: Iceberg Slim

In Biography and Memoir, Literary, Urban Fiction

By Raven Leilani

Iceberg Slim’s autobiographical novel sent shockwaves throughout the literary world when it published in 1967. Groundbreaking for its authentic and oft-brutal account of the s e x trade, the book offers readers an unforgettable look at the mores of Chicago’s street life during the 1940s, 50s, and 60s. In the preface, Slim says it best, “In this book, I will take you, the reader, with me into the secret inner world of the p i m p.” With millions of copies sold, P I M P has become vital reading across generations of writers, entertainers and filmmakers alike, making it a timeless piece of American literature.

Authors: Sister Souljah

In Literary, Urban Fiction

By Willie Earl

In 1999, when she made her debut as a novelist with THE COLDEST WINTER EVER, Souljah said that she was the pioneer for starting "a renaissance, or what Chuck D of Public Enemy would call a revolution, of reading. "As of March 2016, Souljah was on the New York Times Bestseller List three times. THE COLDEST WINTER EVER was widely acclaimed for making the second wave of the genre known as street literature more popular (the first wave having been lead by Iceberg Slim and Donald Goines in the 1960s and '70s).

Authors: Jean Genet

In Biography and Memoir, Literary, Avant-garde

By Willie Earl

The original title is "Miracle de la rose," and it's the first work by Genet I'd ever read at the time. It was in his native language and I was stuck in a cell with nowhere to go. Actually taught myself to read French with this book. Can't speak it to save Baby Jesus. But being from Alabama where we practice our own form of English, I make do.

Authors: Anais Nin

In Arts & Musics, Literary

By Allegra Goodman

Nin's essence and erotic expressions, professed here in these letters, easily makes her one of the most debatable writers of the twentieth century.

Authors: Anais Nin

In Biography and Memoir, Literary

By Allegra Goodman

Nin's essence and e r o t i c expressions easily makes her one of the most debatable writers of the twentieth century.

Authors: Jesmyn Ward

In Literary

By Ashley Massey

"SALVAGE THE BONES is authentically written in ole south linguistics and is righteously bad ass." —Willie Earl Scott in SouthernDynasty.vip

Authors: Willie Earl Scott

In Literary, Suspense Thriller, Urban Fiction

By Regina Dent