Black-Owned Publishing Companies Statistics

There are a great number of black-owned publishers across the US and UK. Many of these companies focus on producing content for the black community and also look to increase diversity within book publishing companies as a whole.

As of 2023, Africa World Press & The Red Sea Press have released 1,815 titles, the most out of the listed black-owned publishers.
Third World Press released the second-largest number of titles, with 278 publications.
Black Classic Press released 161 titles, the third-largest number of titles out of the listed black-owned publishing companies.
The educational publisher African American Images specializes in Afrocentric books and is able to provide authors with a mailing list consisting of 125,000 customers.
Amber Communications Group is the largest African-American publisher of self-help books and music biographies in the US.
Of the listed US black-owned publishing companies, Broadside Lotus Press has the largest history, merging in 2015 out of Broadside Press (1965) and Lotus Press (1972).
In the UK, New Beacon Books is the oldest listed black-owned publisher, formed in 1966.
During 2020, Knights Of in partnership with Jacaranda Books raised more than £174,500 through a publishing campaign named #InclusiveIndies.
80% of the money raised was shared between the two publishers.
The remaining 20% was shared with other independent diversity-led publishers.

US black-owned publishing companies

As of 2023, Africa World Press & The Red Sea Press have released 1,815 titles.
This is the most out of the listed US black-owned publishers.
Of these 1,815 titles, paperback made up 70.58% and hardback made up 29.42%.
Third World Press released the second-largest number of titles, with 278 publications.
161 titles were released by Black Classic Press who published the third-largest number of titles.

Year founded	Publisher	Paperback titles	Hardback titles	Total titles
2011	2Leaf Press	59	2	61
1983/1985*	Africa World Press & The Red Sea Press	1,281	534	1,815
1980	African American Images	134	11	145
2017	Amber Communications Group	51	0	51
1978	Black Classic Press	142	19	161
2017	BlackGold Publishing	25	0	25
1965/1972**	Broadside Lotus Press	89	19	108
2015	Cedar Grove Publishing	12	1	13
1987	Just Us Books	88	31	119
1967	Third World Press	221	57	278

*sister companies
**merged

A graph is given below to show black-owned US publishing companies by total books published:

2Leaf Press

2Leaf Press is the first US publisher led by a black/brown woman to be marketed and distributed by the University of Chicago Press.
The publisher was established in 2011 to publish alternative fiction, non-fiction, poetry and bilingual works.
The company looks to publish works by activists, academics, poets and authors alike.
They are also dedicated to making diversity and social justice publications accessible to the general public.
As of 2023, Bookdepository lists 61 titles by 2Leaf Press.
- Paperback: 59 (96.72%)
- Hardback: 2 (3.28%)

Africa World Press & The Red Sea Press

Africa World Press was formed in 1983 and produces nonfiction, poetry and photographic publications.
Its sister company, The Red Sea Press, was formed in 1985 to distribute the books of over 250 different publishing companies.
In 1987, The Red Sea Press published “Funu: The Unfinished Saga of East Timor” by Jose Ramos-Horta, who became a Nobel Peace Prize co-winner in 1996.
The mission of the companies as a whole is to provide history and culture publications, with a focus on the content of Africa.
As of 2023, Bookdepository lists 1815 titles by Africa World Press & The Red Sea Press:
- Paperback: 1281 (70.58%)
- Hardback: 534 (29.42%)

African American Images

African American Images is a publishing company which aims to principally produce educational content, with a focus on children and young adults.
The publisher looks to publish Afrocentric books that promote values such as collectivity, liberation, skill development and positive self-esteem.
The owner of African American Images, Dr. Jawanza Kunjufu, has authored 40+ books which have included US national bestsellers.
African American Images look to provide authors with a mailing list that consists of 125,000 customers.
“Countering the Conspiracy to Destroy Black Boys” sold more than 1 million copies.
As of 2023, Bookdepository lists 145 titles by African American Images:
- Paperback: 134 (92.41%)
- Hardback: 11 (7.59%)

Amber Communications Group

Amber Communications Group is the largest African-American publisher of self-help books and music biographies in the US.
The first African-American indie publisher to attain a multi-book, co-publishing/imprint agreement with a major publishing house (Wiley).
Amber Communications Group had 35 titles licensed through the Black Expressions Book Club and was also its first partnership.
As of 2023, Bookdepository lists 51 titles by Amber Communications group:
- Paperback: 51 (100%)

Black Classic Press

Black Classic Press was founded in 1978 in Baltimore, Maryland and publishes rare and culturally significant works around people of African descent.
In the US, Black Classic Press is one of the oldest indie owned black publishing companies.
In 1997, the renowned American novelist Walter Mosley made a surprising decision to publish his “Gone Fishin’” manuscript with Black Classic Press.
He did this to demonstrate to other authors that it was possible to successfully publish a book outside of mainstream publishing houses.
Annually, the company looks to publish around 6 titles.
Of these, the majority are historical, out-of-print publications which are re-introduced.
As of 2023, Bookdepository lists 161 titles by Black Classic Press:
- Paperback: 142 (88.20%)
- Hardback: 19 (11.80%)

BlackGold Publishing

The publisher was founded in 2017 to grow the visibility of black and ethnic publications.
BlackGold Publishing’s titles have won The Gavel Award (2017), Kindle’s Top 100 Award (2018) and the Indie Author Award twice (2017, 2019).
The publishing house looks to create inclusive, diverse opportunities for authors, editors, illustrators and additional staff.
As of 2023, BlackGold Publishing is a group with 75 members of staff.
Bookdepository also lists 29 titles by BlackGold Publishing as of the same year:
- Paperback: 29 (100%)

Broadside Lotus Press

Broadside Press was formed in 1965 and Lotus Press was formed in 1972. The two publication houses merged in 2015.
Each of the publication houses were originally formed to produce African American poetry and literary publications.
Collectively since forming, Broadside Lotus Press has published 150+ books to raise awareness of the creativity and history behind African American culture.
As of 2023, Bookdepository lists 108 titles by Broadside Lotus Press:
- Paperback: 89 (82.41%)
- Hardback: 19 (17.59%)

Cedar Grove Publishing

Cedar Grove Publishing produces books to champion diversity and authenticity. They feature characters that overcome adversity to achieve success.
Their publications offer an outlet for underrepresented and diverse authors.
The publisher targets various genres and niches by the use of words, pictures and technology within its products.
As of 2023, Bookdepository lists 13 titles by Cedar Grove Publishing:
- Paperback: 12(92.31%)
- Hardback: 1 (7.69%)

Just Us Books

Just Us Books was formed in 1987 by Wade and Cheryl Hudson and is now recognized as a leader in multicultural book publishing for children.
The publishing company has given many black writers, illustrators and other industry professionals their first opportunity within the children’s publishing market.
“Bright Eyes, Brown Skin” (1991) and “From a Child’s Heart” (1994) each received the Publishers Marketing Association’s Ben Franklin Award for Illustration.
The company was also named “Haki Madhubuti Publisher of the Year,” by the African American Pavilion in 2006.
As of 2023, Bookdepository lists 119 titles by Just Us Books:
- Paperback: 88 (73.95%)
- Hardback: 31 (26.05%)

Third World Press

In the United States, Third World Press is the largest independent press with a black owner.
Founded in 1967 by Haki R. Madhubuti, the company has focused on publishing fiction, nonfiction and poetry works with cultural and political themes.
“The Covenant with Black America” (2006) reached the #1 spot on the New York Times bestseller list.
“Black Men: Obsolete, Single, Dangerous?: The African American Family in Transition” has sold more than 1 million copies.
As of 2023, Bookdepository lists 278 titles by Third World Press:
- Paperback: 221 (79.50%)
- Hardback: 57 (20.50%)

UK black-owned publishing companies

As of 2023, Jacaranda Books has released 132 titles, the most out of the featured UK black-owned publishing companies.
New Beacon Books released the second-largest number of titles, with 120.
This was followed by Knights Of who released 65 titles.
Knights Of and Jacaranda Booked co-raised more than £174,500 through a publishing campaign named #InclusiveIndies in 2020.
80% of the money raised was shared between the two publishers, whilst the remaining 20% was shared with other diversity-led independent presses.

Year founded	Publisher	Paperback titles	Hardback titles	Total titles
2003	Ayebia	34	6	40
2017	Hashtag Press	41	1	42
2014	Jacaranda Books	103	29	132
2017	Knights Of	50	15	65
1966	New Beacon Books	78	42	120

A graph is given below to show black-owned UK publishing companies by total books published:

Ayebia

Based in Oxfordshire in the UK, Ayebia is an award-winning independent African and Caribbean independent publisher.
The publisher’s mission is to fight against negative stereotypes from the Western world by celebrating African and Caribbean history and culture.
Its owner, Nana Ayebia was awarded an Honorary MBE in 2011 for her services to the British publishing industry by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
As of 2023, Bookdepository lists 40 titles by Ayebia:
- Paperback: 34 (85.00%)
- Hardback: 6 (15.00%)

Hashtag Press

An independent publishing house that has published bestselling and award-winning books.
The aim of the publisher is to make publishing fair, inclusive and representative.
In 2020, Hashtag Press won “Publisher of the Year” by The People’s Book Prize.
The publisher’s bestselling books have featured in The New York Times, The Guardian, Vogue and BBC Radio.
Hashtag Press also owns the imprint Hashtag Blak, which aims to give a platform to underrepresented voices.
As of 2023, Bookdepository lists 42 titles by Hashtag Press:
- Paperback: 41 (97.62%)
- Hardback: 1 (2.38%)

Jacaranda Books

Launched in 2014, Jacaranda Books have published titles from multiple award-winning authors such as Irenosen Okojie, Fiston Mwanza Mujila, Bernice L. McFadden and Shola von Reinhold.
At the 2020 British Book Awards, Jacaranda was named “Small Press of the Year”.
The publisher launched #TwentyIn2020, an initiative to publish 20 titles by 20 black British writers within the year of 2020.
Additionally, in partnership with Knights Of, Jacaranda raised more than £174,500 through a publishing campaign named #InclusiveIndies in 2020.
80% of the money raised was shared between Jacaranda Books and Knights Of.
The remaining 20% was shared with other diversity-led independent presses.
As of 2023, Bookdepository lists 132 titles by Jacaranda Books:
- Paperback: 103 (78.03%)
- Hardback: 29 (21.97%)

Knights Of

Knights Of is a publishing company led by women of color, to bring underrepresented authors to the fore within the commercial children’s publishing space.
In 2022, the publisher won Children’s Publisher of the Year at the British Book Awards.
A Kind of Spark by Elle McNicoll was awarded both the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize and the Blue Peter Best Story Book award.
Look Both Ways by Jason Reynolds was awarded the CILIP Carnegie Medal.
As of 2023, Bookdepository lists 65 titles by Knights Of:
- Paperback: 50 (76.92%)
- Hardback: 15 (23.08%)

New Beacon Books

Founded in 1966, New Beacon Books was the UK’s first black publisher, international book distributor and specialist bookshop.
The publisher is widely recognized for having contributed to the Caribbean arts movement alongside black culture in Britain.
New Beacon Books was founded by the poet, writer and publisher John La Rose, who was also a political and cultural activist
He also co-founded the George Padmore Institute to archive materials relating to the lives of Caribbean, African and Asian communities in Britain.
As of 2023, Bookdepository lists 120 titles by New Beacon Books:
- Paperback: 78 (65.00%)
- Hardback: 42 (35.00%)

Best-selling books by black-owned companies

“The Covenant with Black America” (2006) published by Third World Press reached the #1 spot on the New York Times bestseller list.
Furthermore, its publication “Black Men: Obsolete, Single, Dangerous?: The African American Family in Transition” has sold over 1 million copies.
Dr. Jawanza Kunjufu (owner of African American Images) authored “Countering the Conspiracy to Destroy Black Boys” which sold more than 1 million copies.