The National Book Award is a prestigious literary prize awarded annually by the National Book Foundation to American authors. The award has recognized outstanding achievements in fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and young people's literature since 1950. Over the years, several Black authors have won National Book Awards for their contributions to literature and Black history.

One notable winner is Ta-Nehisi Coates, who won the National Book Award for Nonfiction in 2015 for his book "Between the World and Me," a powerful exploration of race and identity in America. In 2016, Colson Whitehead won the Fiction award for his novel "The Underground Railroad," which reimagines the historical Underground Railroad as an actual railroad system.

Other Black authors who have been honored with National Book Awards include Jesmyn Ward, James McBride, and Nikky Finney. These authors and their works have made significant contributions to the literary landscape and have helped to elevate Black history and experiences in American literature.