The Free Black Women's Library

[The Free Black Women's Library]

On a freezing winter’s night, a few hours before dawn on May 12, 1969, South African security police stormed the Soweto home of Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, activist and wife of the imprisoned Nelson Mandela, and arrested her in the presence of her two young daughters, then aged nine and ten.
Rounded up in a group of other antiapartheid activists under Section 6 of the Terrorism Act, designed for the security police to hold and interrogate people for as long as they wanted, she was taken away. She had no idea where they were taking her or what would happen to her children. For Winnie Mandela, this was the start of 491 days of detention and two trials.
Forty-one years after Winnie Mandela’s release on September 14, 1970, Greta Soggot, the widow of one of the defense attorneys from the 1969â -70 trials, handed her a stack of papers that included a journal and notes she had written while in detention, most of the time in solitary confinement. Their reappearance brought back to Winnie vivid and horrifying memories and uncovered for the rest of us a unique and personal slice of South Africa’s history.
491 Days: Prisoner Number 1323/69 shares with the world Winnie Mandela’s moving and compelling journal along with some of the letters written between several affected parties at the time, including Winnie and Nelson Mandela, himself then a prisoner on Robben Island for nearly seven years.
Readers will gain insight into the brutality she experienced and her depths of despair, as well as her resilience and defiance under extreme pressure. This young wife and mother emerged after 491 days in detention unbowed and determined to continue the struggle for freedom.

[The Free Black Women's Library]

The Free Black Women’s Library is an interactive biblio-installation that currently features over 900 books of varying genres written by Black women as well as visual art, film screenings, workshops, readings, book talk and critical conversations. The purpose/mission of the library is to center and celebrate the words, stories and lives of Black women from all over the world. The library pops up monthly and mainly in Brooklyn but has also been to Philadelphia, Detroit, Baltimore and Chicago.
To support the library feel free to send your favorite books by Black women to 1072 Bedford ave, box 39, Brooklyn, NY. To make a financial contribution which goes toward transportation and administrative costs as well as future website and app, you can make a donation to the crowdrise page. Thank you!!

[The Free Black Women's Library]

Blessings and Happy Wednesday BBS!! Thank you so much to all the lovely people who stopped by The Free Black Women’s Library this past Sunday!! Appreciate the beauty and brilliance you bring.
We had a good and sweet time talking about the book FRESHWATER by Akwaeke Emezi (@azemezi) trading books by Black women, connecting with each other and hanging out in the space.
Next month we’ll be chatting about the amazing memoir WHEN THEY CALL YOU A TERRORIST : a Black Lives Matter Memoir by Patrisse Khan-Cullors (@osopepatrisse) and Asha Bandele (@ashabandele713)
Join us on Sunday, April 29th, at 1p. 521 Halsey Street. See you then!! ✌🏾📚💕☺️

[The Free Black Women's Library]

“Some periods of our growth are so confusing that we don’t even recognize that growth is happening. We may feel hostile or angry or weepy and hysterical, or we may feel depressed. It would never occur to us, unless we stumbled on a book or a person who explained to us, that we were in fact in the process of change, of actually becoming larger, spiritually, than we were before. Whenever we grow, we tend to feel it, as a young seed must feel the weight and inertia of the earth as it seeks to break out of its shell on its way to becoming a plant. Often the feeling is anything but pleasant. But what is most unpleasant is the not knowing what is happening. Those long periods when something inside ourselves seems to be waiting, holding its breath, unsure about what the next step should be, eventually become the periods we wait for, for it is in those periods that we realize that we are being prepared for the next phase of our life and that, in all probability, a new level of the personality is about to be revealed.” - Alice Walker/Living by the Word

​Blessed Equinox Beloveds, now is a time of transition and deep learning, touched with sadness and confusion. These words of Alice Walker ​are like a balm to my soul. As Spring approaches, many of us are feeling an alignment to nature’s cycle, shedding and releasing shells and skins, bursting and blooming into something fresh and new. I am feeling both overwhelmed and excited by the changes. Currently in my last semester of an MFA program, working on my final portfolio project and investigating the legacy of radical Black librarianship. I am both in awe and inspired by women like Jewele Mazique, Mayme Agnew Clayton, and of course audre lorde. There is a long standing tradition in our community of finding liberation, healing, empowerment, community and joy through our words and stories, and the folks who take time to archive and provide access to them are my role models and inspiration.

Want to wish you a powerful and love filled Spring season as well as invite you to the next Free Black Women’s Library session.
We are back at cozy Bailey’s Cafe located in Bedford Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, 324 Malcolm X Boulevard. Its Happening on Sunday, March 25th from 2pm to 7pm.
We are discussing the mind-blowing debut novel from Akwaeke Emezi entitled Freshwater.
This is a gorgeous and deep read, that explores the metaphysics of identity and being, the layers of mind, body and spirit. It is a heavy and powerful story that caused a psychic shift in me upon reading. It’s now on my list of favorites.
All are welcome to take part in the conversation about the book and its characters, the conversation starts at 4pm.
(please keep in mind the book contains scenarios of physical trauma, suicidal ideation and sexual assault so most likely these topics will be discussed)
Also feel free to save the date for our April edition of the library which is happening on Sunday, April 29th from 1pm to 6pm at Ancient Song Studio, located at 521 Halsey Street, Brooklyn.
We are discussing,  When They Call You A Terrorist, A Black Lives Matter Memoir, the amazing memoir by Patrisse Khan Cullors and asha bandele.
This book is an amazing testimony, a brave and precious offering and reflection on Black womanhood, state violence, the criminalization of poverty, mental health disparities, relationship accountability, vulnerability and the power of community. This book taught me the same way Assata’s memoir taught me about Black Feminism, community organizing and I am so grateful for its existence I look forward to talking about it with you next month.
This conversation is open to all, reading the book before attending is highly recommended.

** I have consumed 8 books this year, and these are my two favorites so far!!

My next read Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi, is a YA fantasy novel that melds contemporary issue with West African mythology, its generated quite a buzz and I’m looking forward to diving in.

Please feel free to drop me a message letting me know what you are reading these days, as I would love to know!!

Thanks for all the sweet support via kind messages, book donations and financial contributions!!
and let’s continue to stay connected through social media, Instagram, Facebook & Tumblr…..

​Here’s to blooming in love, language and creativity!!
and my sincerest apologies if you are getting this message twice!!
Peace!!