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Amistad's Legacy

A Chronicle of African-American Voices

Discover Amistad โ„น๏ธ View Catalog ๐Ÿ“š

About Amistad Press

An Esteemed Imprint

Amistad Press stands as a significant and venerable imprint within the publishing landscape, dedicated exclusively to the African-American market. Acquired by HarperCollins in late October 1999, it holds the distinction of being the oldest imprint of its kind. Its name is a profound homage to the historical slave ship, La Amistad, site of a pivotal revolt in 1839, symbolizing a commitment to narratives of resilience and liberation.

Genesis and Vision

The foundation of Amistad Press is intrinsically linked to the vision of Charles F. Harris (1934โ€“2015). Harris initiated the quarterly anthology Amistad at Random House in the 1970s. Following various collaborative publishing ventures, he formally launched Amistad Press Inc. as an independent imprint in 1986. His leadership continued at HarperCollins, where he served as vice president and editorial director until 2003, shaping the imprint's distinct identity.

Publishing Philosophy

Publishing approximately ten titles annually, Amistad Press strategically focuses on narrative nonfiction, eschewing a primary pursuit of commercial fiction success. This approach allows for a deeper exploration of themes pertinent to the African-American experience, history, and culture. As of December 2020, the imprint maintained a robust catalog of around 154 titles in print, reflecting its sustained contribution to literature.

Literary Catalog

Comprehensive Listing

Below is an exhaustive compilation of works published under the Amistad Press imprint, meticulously cataloged by title, author(s), and year of publication. This list serves as a testament to the imprint's enduring commitment to showcasing diverse voices and significant narratives within African-American literature.

Title Author(s) Year
32 Candles: A Novel Ernessa T. Carter 2011
Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man Steve Harvey 2009
Act Like a Success, Think Like a Success: Discovering Your Gift and the Way to Life's Riches Steve Harvey 2014
African Beginnings James Haskins and Kathleen Benson 1998
After the Dance: My Life with Marvin Gaye Jan Gaye 2015
The Air Between Us: A Novel Deborah Johnson 2009
Alek: My Life from Sudanese Refugee to International Supermodel Alek Wek 2008
All Aunt Hagar's Children: Stories Edward P. Jones 2006
All the Right Stuff Walter Dean Myers 2012
American Tapestry: The Story of the Black, White, and Multiracial Ancestors of Michelle Obama Rachel L. Swarns 2013
Another Brooklyn Jacqueline Woodson 2016
At Home with Muhammad Ali Hana Ali 2019
Autobiography of My Dead Brother Walter Dean Myers 2005
Bad Boy: A Memoir Walter Dean Myers 2001
Balm: A Novel Dolen Perkins-Valdez 2015
Barracoon: The Story of the Last "Black Cargo" Zora Neale Hurston 2018
Beauty and the Beast H. Chuku Lee 2014
Bebop Express H. L. Panahi 2005
Before the Legend: The Rise of Bob Marley Christopher Farley 2007
Better Than Good Hair: The Curly Girl Guide to Healthy, Gorgeous Natural Hair! Nikki Walton and Ernessa T. Carter 2013
Between Father and Son: An African-American Fable Eric V. Copage 2005
Big Jabe Jerdine Nolen 2003
Biscuit Wants to Play Spinner Rack Alyssa Satin Capucilli 2001
Black Detroit: A People's History of Self-Determination Herb Boyd 2017
Black is Brown is Tan Arnold Adoff 2002
Black Pearls: Daily Meditations, Affirmations, and Inspirations for African-Americans Eric V. Copage 2005
Black Pearls for Parents: Meditations, Affirmations, and Inspirations for African-American Parents Eric V. Copage 2005
The Blacker the Berry Joyce Carol Thomas 2008
The Book of Luke: My Fight for Truth, Justice, and Liberty City Luther Campbell and Tanner Colby 2015
Bound for Canaan: The Epic Story of the Underground Railroad, America's First Civil Rights Movement Fergus Bordewich 2006
Boycott Blues: How Rosa Parks Inspired a Nation Andrea Davis Pinkney 2008
Brick by Brick Charles R. Smith, Jr. 2012
Bronzeville Boys and Girls Gwendolyn Brooks 2006
Brothers & Sisters: Family Poems Eloise Greenfield 2008
Building a New Land: African Americans in Colonial America James Haskins and Kathleen Benson 2001
Burn My Heart Beverley Naidoo 2008
By Love Possessed: Stories Lorna Goodison 2012
Career GPS: Strategies for Women Navigating the New Corporate Landscape Linda Villarosa 2011
Chasing Space Leland Melvin 2017
Coach Carter Jasmine Jones 2004
Come to Win: Business Leaders, Artists, Doctors, and Other Visionaries on How Sports Can Help You Top Your Profession Venus Williams and Kelly E. Carter 2011
Confessions of a Video Vixen Karrine Steffans 2006
Conversations with God: Two Centuries of Prayers by African Americans James M. Washington 2014
Coretta Scott Ntozake Shange 2009
Crystal Walter Dean Myers 2002
A Cupboard Full of Coats: A Novel Yvette Edwards 2012
Danitra Brown, Class Clown Nikki Grimes 2005
Danitra Brown Leaves Town Nikki Grimes 2001
Darius & Twig Walter Dean Myers 2013
Dark Girls Bill Duke and Shelia P. Moses 2014
Daughters of Men Rachel Vassel 2011
Deconstructing Sammy: Music, Money, Madness, and the Mob Matt Birkbeck 2008
Dr. Susan Taylor's Rx for Brown Skin: Your Prescription for Flawless Skin, Hair, and Nails Susan C. Taylor 2008
Defining Moments in Black History: Reading Between the Lies Dick Gregory 2017
Donavan's Double Trouble Monalisa DeGross 2007
Donavan's Word Jar Monalisa DeGross 1998
Don't Ever Wonder: A Novel Darren Coleman 2005
Don't Know Much About Martin Luther King Jr. Kenneth C. Davis 2005
Doo-Wop Pop Roni Schotter 2008
Dope Sick Walter Dean Myers 2009
The Dream Bearer Walter Dean Myers 2003
Embracing the Love God Wants You to Have: A Life of Peace, Joy, and Victory Taffi Dollar 2014
Endangered: A Novel Jean Love Cush 2014
Escaping the Delta: Robert Johnson and the Invention of the Blues Elijah Wald 2014
Every Time a Rainbow Dies Rita Williams-Garcia 2001
Eye on the Struggle: Ethel Payne, the First Lady of the Black Press James McGrath Morris 2015
Fake ID Lamar Giles 2014
Fat Albert: Gonna Have a Good Time! Acton Figueroa 2004
Fat Albert: Hey, Hey, Hey! Acton Figueroa 2004
Fat Albert: The Movie Novel Mike Milligan 2004
Finding Samuel Lowe: China, Jamaica, Harlem Paula Williams Madison 2015
Flower Girl Butterflies Beth Fitzgerald Howard 2004
Forty Minutes of Hell: The Extraordinary Life of Nolan Richardson Rus Bradburd 2011
Freedom's a-Callin Me Ntozake Shange 2012
The Friendly Four Eloise Greenfield 2006
From Harvey River: A Memoir of My Mother and Her Island Lorna Goodison 2009
God Bless the Child Billie Holiday, Jr. and Arthur Herzog, Jr. 2003
God, Can You Hear Me? Justine Simmons, Robert Papp and Rev Run 2007
God Loves Haiti: A Novel Dimitry Elias Lรฉger 2015
Gone Crazy in Alabama Rita Williams-Garcia 2015
The Gospel Cinderella Joyce Carol Thomas 2004
The Great Migration: Journey to the North Eloise Greenfield 2010
Guardian Julius Lester 2008
Handbook for Boys: A Novel Walter Dean Myers 2002
The Harlem Hellfighters: When Pride Met Courage Walter Dean Myers and Bill Miles 2005
Harlem Renaissance Party Faith Ringgold 2015
Harriet Tubman: Conductor on the Underground Railroad Ann Petry 1995
Hattie McDaniel: Black Ambition, White Hollywood Jill Watts 2007
He Said, She Said Kwame Alexander 2013
Hold the Flag High Catherine Clinton 2005
Honey, I Love Eloise Greenfield 2002
Honoring Sergeant Carter: A Family's Journey to Uncover the Truth About an American Hero Allene Carter and Robert L. Allen 2004
A House Is Not a Home: A B-Boy Blues Novel James Earl Hardy 2006
How They Got Over: African Americans and the Call of the Sea Eloise Greenfield 2002
Hush, Little Baby Brian Pinkney 2006
I Am Number Four Pittacus Lore 2011
I Can Make a Difference: A Treasury to Inspire Our Children Marian Wright Edelman 2005
Ida B. Wells: Let the Truth Be Told Walter Dean Myers 2008
I'll Find a Way or Make One: A Tribute to Historically Black Colleges and Universities Dwayne Ashley, Juan Williams, and Adrienne Ingrum 2007
I'm Every Woman: Remixed Stories of Marriage, Motherhood, and Work Lonnae O'Neal Parker 2006
In the Land of Milk and Honey Joyce Carol Thomas 2012
In the Land of Words: New and Selected Poems Eloise Greenfield 2003
In My Momma's Kitchen Jerdine Nolen 1999
In the Spirit Susan L. Taylor 1994
It Ain't All for Nothin' Walter Dean Myers 2003
I've Seen the Promised Land: The Life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Walter Dean Myers 2003
Jumped Rita Williams-Garcia 2009
Just As I Am Cicely Tyson 2021
Justin and the Best Biscuits in the World Mildred Pitts Walter 2010
Keep Your Head to the Sky: My Life with Earth, Wind & Fire Maurice White and Herb Powell 2015
The Known World Edward P. Jones 2003
Langston Hughes: American Poet Alice Walker 1974
Let the Lion Eat Straw Ellease Southerland 2005
Let's Get It On: A Novel Jill Nelson 2010
Let's Talk About Race Julius Lester 2005
The Life of Herod the Great Zora Neale Hurston 2025
Lift Every Voice and Sing James Weldon Johnson 2007
Little Divas Philana Marie Boles 2005
The Little Mouse ABC Katharine Holabird 1983
Lockdown Walter Dean Myers 2010
Lone Bean Chudney Ross 2012
Lost in the City: Stories Edward P. Jones 2012
A Love Noire: A Novel Erica Simone Turnipseed 2004
Love the One You're With: A B-Boy Blues Novel James Earl Hardy 2003
Mahalia Jackson: Walking with Kings and Queens Nina Nolan 2015
Malcolm X: A Fire Burning Brightly Walter Dean Myers 2003
A Man for All Seasons: The Life of George Washington Carver Stephen Krensky 2008
Marshalling Justice: The Early Civil Rights Letters of Thurgood Marshall Michael G. Long 2011
Martin Scorsese Presents The Blues: A Musical Journey Peter Guralnick, Robert Santelli, and Holly George-Warren 2004
McGuffey's Eclectic Primer William Holmes McGuffey 1979
Me & Neesie Eloise Greenfield 2004
Memories of Sun: Stories of Africa and America Jane Kurtz 2003
Miss Jessie's: Creating a Successful Business from Scratch---Naturally Miko Branch 2015
Mr. and Mrs. Prince: How an Extraordinary Eighteenth-Century Family Moved Out of Slavery and into Legend Gretchen Holbrook Gerzina 2009
Monster Walter Dean Myers 1999
Monster's Chef: A Novel Jervey Tervalon 2014
More: A Novel Austin Clarke 2009
The Mother of Black Hollywood Jenifer Lewis 2017
Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters John Steptoe 1987
Music from Our Lord's Holy Heaven Brian Pinkney 2005
My Daddy, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Martin Luther King, III 2013
The Neighborhood Mother Goose Nina Crews 2004
Nephew: A Memoir in Four-Part Harmony MK Asante 2024
A Nest Full of Stars James Berry 2004
New Daughters of Africa: An International Anthology of Writing by Women of African Descent ed. Margaret Busby 2019
No Laughter Here Rita Williams-Garcia 2003
Not Guilty Jabari Asim 2013
Now Is Your Time! The African-American Struggle for Freedom Walter Dean Myers 1992
O Holy Night: Christmas with the Boys Choir of Harlem Faith Ringgold 2004
Obama: From Promise to Power David Mendell 2007
Obama: The Historic Campaign in Photographs Deborah Willis and Kevin Merida 2008
Obama: A Promise of Change David Mendell 2008
One Crazy Summer Rita Williams-Garcia 2010
The Other Side of Truth Beverley Naidoo 2012
P.S. Be Eleven Rita Williams-Garcia 2013
Passport Diaries: A Novel Tamara Gregory 2006
Pictures for Miss Josie Sandra Belton 2003
Pitching in for Eubie Jerdine Nolen 2007
The Polished Hoe: A Novel Austin Clarke 2004
Pound for Pound: A Biography of Sugar Ray Robinson Herb Boyd and Ray Robinson, Jr. 2006
A Pride of African Tales Donna Washington 2003
The Pursuit of Happyness Chris Gardner 2006
Ray & the Best Family Reunion Ever Mildred Pitts Walter 2002
Redbone: The Millionaire and the Gold Digger Ron Stodghill 2008
Satch & Me Dan Gutman 2006
Scorpions Walter Dean Myers 1988
Shifting Through Neutral Bridgett M. Davis 2005
Shooter Walter Dean Myers 2004
Should America Pay? Slavery and the Raging Debate on Reparations Raymond Winbush PhD 2003
Spectacle: The Astonishing Life of Ota Benga Pamela Newkirk 2015
Spinning the Globe: The Rise, Fall, and Return to Greatness of the Harlem Globetrotters Ben Green 2006
Start Where You Are: Life Lessons in Getting from Where You Are to Where You Want to Be Chris Gardner and Mim E. Rivas 2009
Straight Talk, No Chaser: How to Find, Keep, and Understand a Man Steve Harvey 2010
Street Love Walter Dean Myers 2006
Suitcase Mildred Pitts Walter 2006
Sweet Whispers, Brother Rush Virginia Hamilton 1983
A Teacher's Guide to American Tapestry: Common-Core Aligned Teacher Materials and a Sample Chapter Rachel L. Swarns and Amy Jurskis 2014
This Is the Dream Diane Z. Shore and Jessica Alexander 2005
This Voice in My Heart: A Runner's Memoir of Genocide, Faith, and Forgiveness Gilbert Tuhabonye and Gary Brozek 2007
Unburnable Marie-Elena John 2007
Unruly: The Highs and Lows of Becoming a Man Ja Rule 2014
The Vow: A Novel Denene Millner, Angela Burt-Murray, and Mitzi Miller 2006
Walter Dean Myers Walter Dean Myers 2003
The Warrior Method: A Parents' Guide to Rearing Healthy Black Boys Raymond A. Winbush 2001
Washington: How Slaves, Idealists, and Scoundrels Created the Nation's Capital Fergus Bordewich 2008
We Troubled the Waters Ntozake Shange 2009
We Were There: Voices of African American Veterans, from World War II to the War in Iraq Yvonne Latty and Ron Tarver 2005
Web of Lies Beverley Naidoo 2006
Wench: A Novel Dolen Perkins-Valdez 2010
When Grandmama Sings Margaree King Mitchell 2012
When Harriet Met Sojourner Catherine Clinton 2007
The White Masai: My Exotic Tale of Love and Adventure Corinne Hofmann 2007
Winning the Money Game: Lessons Learned from the Financial Fouls of Pro Athletes Adonal Foyle 2015
Words of Wisdom: Daily Affirmations of Faith Rev Run 2006
Words with Wings: A Treasury of African-American Poetry and Art Belinda Rochelle 2000
Your Brain Is a Muscle Too: How Student Athletes Succeed in College and in Life Andre Hayes and Vince Fudzie 2013

Historical Context & Impact

A Pillar of Black Literature

Amistad Press has established itself as a cornerstone in the preservation and dissemination of African-American literary heritage. Its inception by Charles F. Harris was a deliberate act to create a dedicated platform for voices that had historically been marginalized or underrepresented in mainstream publishing. The imprint's commitment extends beyond mere publication; it actively engages in curating narratives that reflect the depth, complexity, and resilience of the Black experience across various genres, particularly excelling in narrative nonfiction.

Evolution and Acquisition

The journey of Amistad Press began with the anthology Amistad, nurtured by Harris within Random House before its formal establishment as an independent entity in 1986. This period of independence allowed the imprint to cultivate its unique editorial voice. The subsequent acquisition by HarperCollins in 1999 marked a significant transition, integrating Amistad's specialized mission into a larger corporate structure while retaining its core identity. Harris's continued role ensured the imprint's editorial integrity and vision were maintained through the early 2000s.

Enduring Significance

The legacy of Amistad Press is measured not only by the volume of its publications but by their profound cultural and intellectual impact. By consistently championing authors who explore themes of identity, history, social justice, and cultural richness, Amistad has played an indispensable role in shaping the literary canon. Its catalog represents a vital resource for scholars, students, and readers seeking a comprehensive understanding of African-American contributions to literature and society.

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References

References

  1.  "Media Makers: Charles F. Harris" (interview date: 6/8/2005, 7/28/2005 and 8/2/2005), The History Makers.
  2.  Amistad imprint books search at publisher (search results)
A full list of references for this article are available at the List of Amistad Press books Wikipedia page

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