The Role of Black Trauma in Horror & Thriller Fiction
By: R’Chelle Mullins
Horror is a window to some of society’s deepest, darkest fears. It explores the unknown, challenges your imagination, and terrifies. As you diversify your reading and explore subgenres, you’ll quickly discover that Black horror stories often mirror current and historic events that have both defined and oppressed a race of people.
Traditionally, non-Black horror stories include Black characters as victims if they’re included in their narratives at all.
As the book space has evolved, Black authors are redefining the genre—some incorporating trauma to reflect history, while others share it with a fresh perspective, proving that Black horror doesn’t have to be defined by pain.
These authors are reshaping horror with page-turning plots and unforgettable characters.
My Sister, The Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite: Sibling loyalty and murder is on the menu.
White Smoke by Tiffany D. Jackson: A Young Adult fiction featuring a creepy small town with a haunted house at its center.
Jackal by Erin E. Adams: Black girls have disappeared for decades in this psychological, supernatural mashup.
The Between by Tananarive Due: A mind-bending supernatural thriller that explores Black spirituality and traditions.
The Reformatory by Tananarive Due: A disturbingly haunting novel based on a real-life reformatory school for children.
The Ballad of Black Tom by Victor LaValle: Reimagines Lovecraftian horror from a Black perspective.
The Good House by Tananarive Due: A supernatural tale of grief, family curses, and legacy.
Ring Shout by P. Djèlí Clark: Clark turns terrorizing members of the KKK into monsters in this reimagined historical horror mixed with elements of fantasy.
Black horror isn’t just about fear—it’s about reclaiming power, resilience, and redefining what it means to be terrified.
