10 Classic Black Books That Should Be Made Into Films

Erasure

by Percival Everett

Okay, not technically a classic but it most certainly is in my household. To get right to the point: it’s a story about a frustrated Black novelist who, out of frustration with not selling copies of his re-imaged Greek literature in Blackface, decides to write a book called Ma Pafology under a pseudonym Stagg R. Leigh. The book is Leigh’s blatantly offensive attempt to thumb his nose at the publishing industry, which promotes what he calls “ghetto fiction” over more “refined” art like what he writes. However to Leigh’s surprise that Ma Pafology is picked up by a major publishing house and goes on to have all sorts of commercial success.

I’m not a fan of respectability politics and this book revels in that. However, there are kernels of truth in what he writes, particularly about the lack of diverse voices and themes in publishing (and in entertainment in general). Plus the book is funny as much as it is bitingly smart. And on screen, it would definitely feel like Bamboozled, but in the publishing industry. Let’s hope that Angela Bassett and TD Jakes, who are said to be bringing this tale to screen under the title Book of the Year, actually make that happen.

So that is my list. I’m sure folks have their own ideas of classic Black literature, which would make great films. Be sure to leave them in the comment section below.