The Free Black Women's Library

[The Free Black Women's Library]

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The Light Of The World featuring Trish

In this episode of The Free Black Women's Library I have the pleasure of engaging in conversation with a dear friend, brilliant teacher and avid reader. It was a joyful experience!!

The Free Black Women’s Library Podcast is up.

In this episode I talk to my dear friend Trish about books, language, audre lorde,  representation, poetry and the importance of expression.

Please give it a listen and let me know your thoughts!!

[The Free Black Women's Library]

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Click here to support The Free Black Women's Library by Ola Ronke

The Free Black Women's Library is an interactive mobile pop up library that features a vast collection of over 500 books written by Black women as well as soundscapes, visual art, writing workshops, performances and critical conversation. The goal and mission of the library is to celebrate and center the brilliance and creativity of Black women in literature as well as provide access and space to the voices rarely heard. This project is a self funded labor of love that I started in June of 2015 with just 100 books, since then the library has grown tremendously in size and impact. The library currently contains over 500 books by Black women and has been stationed monthly in public spaces through out NYC area including Concord Baptist Church, The Studio Museum of Harlem, MOCADA Museum, Afropunk Music Festival, Bedstuy Pride, Weeksville Heritage Center, New York University, Von King Park, Wendy's Subway Reading Room, Bedvyne Brew, Brooklyn Arts Exchange and Community Futures Lab. Outside of two smal grants I have been paying out of pocket to cover the expenses and it has rapidly grown beyond my capacity. I am in dire need of financial support to support its growth and maintenance. I am raising money to cover the cost of the mail box rental fees a storage space to house the books transportation to take the books from place to place A Free Black Women's Library phone app that will serve as a resource around Blacke women's literature, art, politics and history ...

I am raising money to support the growth and maintenance of The Free Black Women’s Library, a mobile library that centers and celebrates the voices of Black women in literature. The library uses books to build community by bringing people together monthly to connect around their love of reading.

Currently the collection contains almost 600 books of every genre written by Black women. The library travels throughout NYC and pops up at different locations like churches, museums, playgrounds, community gardens and anywhere else people gather. Along with the books it brings readings, performance, film screenings, writing workshops, book talks, and deep critical conversation.

All races, ages,and genders are welcome to trade books with the library. 

Please help me spread the word and give what you can.

Thanks for your support!!

[The Free Black Women's Library]

On this day last year over a 100 people gathered at Brew bar in Brooklyn for the first Free Black Women’s Library Pop up of the year. It was a mild winter so we spent the bulk of the day outside talking, laughing and exchanging books with each other. Folks of all ages, genders and races came through to share in the brilliance and magic that Black women bring and It was awesome. 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾
Featured author Kaitlyn Greenidge read from her amazing debut novel “We Love you Charlie Freeman” which ended up being a best seller and one of the best books to come out in 2016!!! It was a stellar day. 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾
This year the first pop up is happening on January 19 at Brooklyn Movement Center, located at Stuyvesant and Decatur from 5 to 9pm. This is in collaboration with actions taking place all over the globe in honor of domestic violence survivor Bresha Meadows. Hoping to see you there. ✨🙏🏾💕