Urban Fiction / Street Lit

Urban fiction, Street Lit, or street fiction, literary genre set in a city landscape; defined as much by the socio-economic realities and culture of its characters as the urban setting. The tone for urban fiction is usually dark, focusing on the underside of city living. Profanity, sex, and violence are usually explicit, with the writer not shying away from or watering-down the material. Most authors of this genre draw upon their past experiences to depict their storylines. 

Street Lit, the most popular genre of fiction among Black youth, the urban underworlds” represented in urban fiction. Was popularized by many authors perhaps the four most prominent are–

Chester Himes
Notable works; “A Rage in Harlemâ€, “The Real Cool Killersâ€, “The Crazy Killâ€, “All Shot Upâ€, “The Big Gold Dreamâ€, “The Heat’s Onâ€, “Cotton Comes to Harlemâ€, and “Blind Man with a Pistolâ€Â 

Robert Beck Pen Name Iceberg Slim
Notable works; “Pimp: The Story of My Lifeâ€, “Trick Babyâ€, “Mama Black Widowâ€, “Naked Soul of Iceberg Slimâ€, “Long White Conâ€, “Death Wish: A Story of the Mafiaâ€, and “Airtight Willie & Meâ€. 

Ann Petry
Notable works; “Marie of the Cabin Club” (short story), “The Street (novel)â€, “Country Place (novel)â€, “The Narrows (novel)â€, “Tituba of Salem Village (historical novel for children)â€, “Harriet Tubman: Conductor On The Underground Railroad (non-fiction)â€, “Legends of the Saints (illus. Anne Rockwell)â€, “Miss Muriel and Other Stories (story collection)â€, and “In Darkness and Confusion (short story)â€. 

Donald Goines
Notable works; Kenyatta series: [all as Al C. Clark] “Crime Partnersâ€, “Death Listâ€, “Kenyatta’s Escapeâ€, and “Kenyatta’s Last Hitâ€. “Dopefiendâ€, “Whoresonâ€, “Black Gangsterâ€, “Street Playersâ€, “White Man’s Justiceâ€, “Black Man’s Griefâ€, “Black Girl Lostâ€, “Eldorado Redâ€, “Swamp Manâ€, “Never Die Aloneâ€, “Cry Revenge [as Al C. Clark]â€â€™ “Daddy Cool†and “Inner City Hoodlumâ€.