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!!
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!! ✌🏾📚💕☺️
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!! ✌🏾📚💕☺️
“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!!
Today’s gem 💎
a vintage Black Feminist text - HOME GIRLS/ A BLACK FEMINIST ANTHOLOGY edited by Barbara Smith.
“I have always felt that Black Women’s ability to function with dignity, independence, and imagination in the face of total adversity - that is, in the face of white America - points to an innate feminist potential. To me the phrase “act like you have some sense” probably spoken by at least one Black woman to every Black Child ever lived is a cryptic warning that says volumes about keeping your feet on the ground and your ass covered” - Barbara Smith
My book 6 for The Free Black Women’s Library Reading Challenge, “When they call you a terrorist: A Black Lives Matter Memoir” written by @osopepatrisse and @ashabandele713 has shifted everything in my bones, muscles and blood. Its just so so good. It’s a brave and beautiful offering and I found myself in so much of its words. I also found strength, vulnerability, power, love, organizing strategy, Black history and Black culture, also the criminalization of Black bodies, also how poverty is violent, also mental health struggles, also the possibilities of reproductive justice and relationship accountability. It is dense and beautiful and important. I loved it so much! It reminds me of how I felt when I first read Assata. Motivated, inspired and ready to learn more.
Save the date, The Free Black Women’s Library session is set for Sunday, April 29 and we will be discussing this amazing book!! 521 Halsey Street in Bedstuy, Brooklyn.
Stay tuned for more info!!
TBT to the Free Black Women’s Library session summer 2016, celebrating Black Women’s Literature on a Brooklyn stoop, we talked about gentrification and the myth of safe spaces. The library now has three times this many books, (almost one thousand)
it’s a bit overwhelming but I’m enjoying the ride regardless!! Stop by Sunday January 28th, from noon to 5 to check out the collection. Bring a good book written by a Black woman to get one.
521A Halsey street, Brooklyn.
“All good secrets have a taste before you tell them and if we’d taken a moment to swish this one around in our mouths, we might have noticed the sourness of an unripe secret, plucked too soon, stolen and passed around before it’s season.” ⭐️The Mothers by Brit Bennett ⭐️
Book 1 for The Free Black Women’s Library Reading Challenge done!! Whew!! So so good!!
A book that centers friendship between women. ✅
In this case two motherless teenage girls who form a deep connection and together work through their wounds of loss & loneliness. It was sad, excellent, beautifully written and hella relatable. LOVED it ⭐️👌🏾💕