The Free Black Women's Library

[The Free Black Women's Library]

The Free BlackWomen's Library, organized by Olaronke Akinmowo

“Access to knowledge is the superb, the supreme act of truly great civilizations. Of … Olaronke Akinmowo needs your support for The Free Bl

gofundme.com

Hello and Happy December!! I am nervous and excited to share that yesterday I launched the first crowdfunding campaign for The Free Black Women’s Library.

Thank you so much to those who have donated so far.

I have poured my everything into this project for the past 5 years. The work has felt both necessary and exhausting. It has been on shaky ground the entire time, surviving through the support of my small Patreon family and a tiny team of volunteers. I think it’s time to level up!!!

My dream wish goal, is that it moves into 2021 on a solid sustainable foundation, and with your help I know I can make it happen!!

This dream has three parts!!

1. A storefront or loft space that can house the collection of books (over three thousand and rising) and serve as a reading room, literary hub and community resource.

A space that can be used to read, write, learn, rest and connect with others. It will inclusive and accessible for all body types.

2. A van or small bus that I can convert into an official bookmobile, which can be used to transport the books from place to place, so I no longer have to rely on car services to get the books around. This has been one of the most challenging aspects of this project.

3. A librarian or highly organized person who has a deep love for books and community. This project requires ALOT of labor and I would like to hire someone to manage all of the day to day tasks. I aim to pay this person a living wage with the funds raised via this campaign.

I am asking everyone that follows me on here and enjoys my content to collaborate with me in making these three special dreams come true.

Imagine a space that is comfortable and beautiful, a space that book lovers of every age, race and gender can enjoy. A space where people can come to, to be alone or with others, build community and be inspired by the brilliance and imagination of Black women writers.

We need and deserve this space!!

With your help we can definitely make it happen!! ♥️📚🖤

Please give what you can and feel free to share this post far and wide!! THANK YOU!! ♥️📚🖤♥️📚🖤

[The Free Black Women's Library]

Thank you so much to fiber artist and dear friend of The Free Black Women’s Library Veronica Kirton Johnson for stopping by our Toni Morrison Tribute session and gifting us this gorgeous handmade quilt in honor of our literary queen!! ♥️👸🏾🖤

Veronica has been creating unique customized quilts for over 25 years and I am so grateful to have one of her pieces in the collection, most especially one dedicated to a TFBWL foremother and reason for being!! This is a stunning and sacred gift!! ♥️🖤♥️🖤

[The Free Black Women's Library]

anisfield-wolf.org

The Free Black Women's Library Is A National Movement Uplifting Black Female Authors

In 2015, Brooklyn, New York-based artist OlaRonke Akinmowo lugged 100 books -- all written by black women -- to a brownstone stoop and launched the uncertain beginnings of her newest project, the Free Black Women’s Library. Dressed in a black tank top and gold leggings, Akinmowo danced barefoot

[The Free Black Women's Library]

bookmarks.reviews

OlaRonke Akinmowo on Octavia Butler, Audre Lorde, and the Free Black Women's Library

Thank you @lithub for the feature!!

[The Free Black Women's Library]

The Free Black Women’s Library is officially installed and open, as part of the nerdy quirky pretty exhibit CURRICULUM : SPACES FOR LEARNING & UNLEARNING at

EFA Project Space

323 West 39th street

2nd floor

NYC, NY

Now until March 16. ⭐️📚

You are welcome to visit and trade books written by Black women with the library, watch the original version of Ntozake Shange’s iconic play FOR COLORED GIRLS on the monitor, read, write, draw, play, sleep, dance in the space with the books, attend our monthly book discussions on the last Sunday of each month.

January - TRAINING SCHOOL FOR NEGRO GIRLS by Camille Acker ⭐️

February- ELOQUENT RAGE by Brittney Cooper

Excited to share that Dr. Cooper will be present for this conversation!! YAY!!🙌🏾

*Please help me keep track of your trades by writing the info down on index cards stacked near non fiction, by writing date and titles*

Thank you so much to Damali, Laylah, Djibril Toure and Ursula Williams for the tactical &logistical support!!! 🖤

Thank you to the EFA team and curators for inviting me to take part in this wonderful show!!

Teachers and Art Educators take your classes to engage with this work, take your best friends and lovers, cousins, neighbors. Offer workshops, take meetings, meet up for lunch dates.

Please take pictures and tag me for the archives.

Enjoy and have fun!!

Dive into this work and let me know what thrills you.

I will be adding more details as time goes on.

This work is collaborative, joyful and sensual. This work is an exploration of the brilliance, beauty, diversity and imagination of Black womanhood and I’m thrilled to share it in this way.

More to come 🤸🏾‍♂️🤸🏾‍♂️🖤🖤📚📚☺️☺️

[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]

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]

Thank you so much Chicago, Detroit, Baltimore, Montpelier and of course my beloved NYC for holding The Free Black Women’s Library in your open loving arms last year.Taking the library and all that comes with it to various cities and communities in 2017 was awesome.  The library pops up one a month in a different location and each time feels sweet, joyful, affirming, unique, radical, and beautifully Black. Looking forward to more of this in 2018!!!