Black South Carolina authors need to be recognized on National Author’s Day. National Author’s Day is November 1st. South Carolina is filled with amazingly talented people including writers and authors. We have quite a few locally in Charleston including some at my church. I wanted to take the time to highlight some nationally known Black South Carolina authors that I know. Some I’ve met in person.
Dori Sanders
When it comes to Black South Carolina authors, Dori Sanders is very well known. Dori Sanders is from Filbert in York County. She grew up on a peach farm and is currently still farming. Fun fact, South Carolina is the largest peach-producing state. Not Georgia! Dori Sanders has 4 books: Clover, Her Own Place, Dori Sanders’ Country Cooking: Recipes & Stories from the Family Farm Stand, and Promise Land: A Farmer Remembers. I read both novels Clover and Her Own Place while in middle school. I enjoyed them. Clover was even turned into a TV movie.
Charlamagne tha God
Charlamagne tha God is from Moncks Corner. You can hear him on the radio show The Breakfast Club. His first book, Black Privilege is a must-have if you are a Black millennial. I enjoyed reading the book. Actually, this is the first ebook that I ever read. Fun fact, I met Charlamagne in Publix a few years ago. I saw this guy and he looked familiar, so I think I had a look on my face like “Don’t I know you?” He came up to me, extended his hand, and introduced himself to me. I was so shocked!! He was indeed a gentleman.
Bakari Sellers
Bakari Sellers is from Denmark. He’s a practicing attorney as well as an author. I saw him while I was at an authors’ event in Bluffton in 2022. He was promoting his children’s book, Who Are Your People? I purchased that book for my newborn son. I also have his first book, My Vanishing Country. It’s a good read too. As I was reading I put some pieces together. It dawned on me that not long ago Bakari was running to be the governor of South Carolina against our current governor, Henry McMaster! Bakari would’ve been the first Black governor of the state if he’d won.
Essie Mae Washington-Williams
Essie Mae Washington-Williams was born in Edgefield. She was the (Black) daughter of racist, segregationist Strom Thurmond. Mr. Thurmond was 100 years old and the longest-serving US Senator until he stepped down in 2003. Currently, Lindsay Graham replaced him.
Anyway, her book Dear Senator: A Memoir by the Daughter of Strom Thurmond, which was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize is another good read! In the book Mrs. Washington-Williams shared the story of being raised by her mother who she’d later find out wasn’t her mother at all, but her aunt. She also described how her biological mother and father met. He was 22 and her mom was 16. She also described the relationship she had with her father. He was definitely a part of her life. Mrs. Washington-Williams died in 2013 at the age of 87.
Kardea Brown
Kardea is also known as “Delicious Miss Brown” on her Food Network TV show. Kardea was born in Charleston. Out of all of the Black South Carolina authors I’ve listed, she is the youngest. She released her first cookbook last year. My friend Shanice and I went to her book signing in Downtown Charleston. The book is filled with over 100 recipes related to the Gullah Geechee culture. I made some chewies from her recipe and it was so good! You may also remember I went to her supper club in 2018. What an experience!
Black South Carolina Authors Honorable Mention- me!!! C. Michelle Greene-Smalls
I’m not nationally known yet, but I’m going to speak it into existence. As you may know, I published my first book, Quit Making Excuses & Loc Your Hair: Explore My Loc Hair Journey, which happens to be a bestseller. It’s available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble. You will see and hear more from me in 2024 as I promote the book.
Hopefully, in the future, I will be able to add more people to the list of Black South Carolina Authors. How did you enjoy this post? I hope you learned something new. If you would, share with a friend or hit me up to give some feedback. Thanks in advance!