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Butler began writing after saying she could write a better story than a science fiction B movie she watched at age 7, and was especially frustrated that all the black characters she found in science fiction were "feeble witted". Eventually she became the first prominent black female science fiction author. Unlike many science fiction authors, Butler wove spirituality, mysticism, and mythology into her work, particularly when related to women's and African themes. In addition she explored human (and alien) sexuality and upended gender tropes in ways such as having a male slaves carrying their masters' children, and characters who could both shape-shift and change sexes. In doing all of that, she created mythologies of her own that drew vast numbers of a wide variety of elements that tied together into a universal whole of people fighting injustice either at the personal level or in society. Her work paved the way for a multitude of black science fiction authors to follow.
Drawing on his own depressive experiences as a closeted gay man for inspiration, Harris' eleven novels about the challenges faced by gay African-American men - and showing both African-American men and women as successful in their professions and communities - became inspirational to those who saw themselves in Harris' characters. He began writing about gay men as a promise to a dying friend, and when every major publisher in America rejected his first manuscript, what would become his major novel Invisible Life, he self-published it and hand-delivered it to black-owned bookstores and beauty salons. Harris' novels celebrate male sexuality, race, and friendship realistically and unashamedly, and ultimately present optimistic stories regardless of the characters' experiences.
After starting the popular Nequai Cosmetics while in her twenties, Taylor discovered that the then-new Essence magazine was looking to hire a beauty editor, and despite never having been to college was hired at the age of 23. From there she also became the fashion editor, then editor-in-chief., then editorial director, and creating Essence Books. Under her guidance, Essence soared to a subscriber base of five million. After more than a quarter-century at Essence, Taylor left to establish the National CARES Mentoring Movement, an organization devoted to breaking the intergenerational cycles of poverty among black Americans. Along with her numerous writings for Essence, Taylor's writings about health, family, faith, and self-esteem have been collected in two books, In the Spirit: The Inspirational Writings of Susan L. Taylor and Lessons in Living.
