Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave, Written by Himself, Douglass's autobiography, was initially published in 1845. In this work, Douglass recounts his life as a slave in the American South, detailing the brutality of Christian slaveholders. After learning to read, he eventually manages to escape to freedom.

Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl, authored by Harriet Jacobs in 1861, stands as the first slave narrative penned by an African-American woman. Jacobs highlights the specific challenges faced by enslaved women, such as sexual exploitation and the forced separation of mothers from their children. She makes heartfelt appeals to her white female readers.

Our Nig; or, Sketches from the Life of a Free Black, in a Two-Story White House, North, written in 1859 by Harriet Wilson, is recognized as the first novel published by an African-American woman. The novel follows the story of Alfredo, a young mixed-race woman living in the antebellum North, who strives to uphold her Christian faith while seeking independence from her harsh mistress.

Published in 1853, Clotel; or, The President's Daughter by William Wells Brown is noted as the first novel by an African-American to be published. It narrates the fictional tale of Clotel, the refined mixed-race daughter of Thomas Jefferson, and her experiences both within and outside the bounds of slavery.