Black Literary Organizations

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The List is Growing and Growing…

We love words and books and writers and readers. We also love our Blackness and Brownness. We’re starting and running organizations that put our literary needs first. Don’t see your favorite organization? Make a request using the form at the bottom of the page.

• Léonicak Valcius: Assistant Agent based in Toronto Canada. She is actively growing her client list with a direct mandate to work with Writers of Color.

• Jackson Agency: Tiauna Jackson is a talent and literary agent for the Jackson Agency. She made history by becoming the first Writer’s Guild of America franchise in Atlanta, Georgia and is believed to be the first known Black woman with 100 percent ownership of her agency to become a WGA franchise in Los Angeles.

• Here Wee Read: Mom of two, Charnaie shares her reading and travel journeys on this blog filled with children’s literature recommendations.

• Black Girls Lit (Buffalo, NY): A monthly, online book club for Black women and our allies. It exclusively highlights black authors and their work, as well as encourages people to unite through education and literacy.

• Book Pearls (Chester, VA): Organized by author Renee Wardrett-Bailey, they meet on the 4th Friday of every month at 7pm. Contact is by email.

• Mocha Girls Read (Online and various in-person cities): A monthly book club that also host other bookish events.

• The Bibliophiles (Kenilworth, NJ): The are the oldest, continuously operating, incorporated Black book club in America, now operating for 34 years.

• Well-Read Black Girl (Brooklyn, NY): A monthly in-person and online book club that also host bookish events in the New York area, including the Well-Read Black Girl Festival.

• Eso Won Books (Los Angeles, CA)

• Malik Books (Los Angeles, CA)

• Source Booksellers (Detroit, MI)

• Kitchen Table Literary Arts (Tampa, FL): Book clubs, writing workshops, creative writing classes, and more.

• The World Stage (Los Angeles, CA): Programing includes writing workshops, as well as music and dance classes.

• The Brown Bookshelf: “Designed to push awareness of the myriad Black voices writing for young readers. Our flagship initiative is 28 Days Later, a month-long showcase of the best in Picture Books, Middle Grade, and Young Adult novels written and illustrated by Black creators.” 

• Literary Narratives (London, UK): Host writing classes, job opportunities, and writing resources for London based writers of color.

• B.L.A.C.K 2 Life: (Waxahachie, TX): Their mission to “empower black men to strengthen underserved communities through education and inspiration” has lead to promoting childhood literacy, mentorship, scholarship promotion, community service initiatives, and charitable giving in Dallas, Atlanta, New York, D. C., and Shreveport.

• BLACK* Artists on the Move (UK and International): An organization and directory supporting artists of Afrikan, Caribbean, Asian, South American, and non-European descent. We work in imaginative ways to create opportunities and training for artists working in different disciplines.

• The Conscious Kid (Los Angeles, CA): Celebrating diversity through research and youth development. They also have monthly book subscriptions for children of all ages.

• I, Too Arts Collective (East Harlem, NYC): Operating out of the Harlem brownstone where Langston Hughes once lived, they provide writing programing with the commitment of nurturing underrepresented voices.

• Black and Highly Dangerous: A weekly podcast to bridge the gap between Blackademia, Black professionals, and The People through interviews and scholarly perspectives.

• Black Chick Lit: Host Dani and Mollie use their bi-monthly podcast to talk about books written by and about Black women.

• Bookcetera: A weekly podcast that talks books and all things art culture.

• KikiTalks: Thoughts and readings from Akilah Bolden-Monifa, the multifaceted “Black-lesbian-Arianna-Huffington” based in Oakland, CA.

• Minorities in Publishing: “Discussing diversity (or lack thereof) in the book publishing industry with other professionals working in-house as well as authors and those in the literary scene.”

• Simply Stylus (Houston, TX): An online software program that lets you plan your writing from start to finish.

• Belonging Books, LLC (Cleveland, OH): “An inclusive publishing house founded on intersectional feminist principles that publishes romantic and erotic stories, emphasizing the ideals of mutual respect, honesty, and authenticity.”

• BLF Press (Clayton, NC): “An independent Black feminist press dedicated to amplifying the work of women of color.”

• Flowered Concrete (New York, NY): Education press focused on poetry and vibrant media.

• Just Us Books (East Orange, NJ): Black interests books for children.

• Market FirftyFour (Global): Publishes books in African languages from African writers.

• Pan African Publishing House (Dallas, TX): Home to Pan African authors and history. Pan African Publishing House can also be found @PanAfricanPH on Instagram and Twitter, and can be reached by direct messages.

• Vital Narrative Press (Memphis, TN): A publishing platform for writers of color.

• World Stage Press (Los Angles, CA): Created as an extension to The World Stage writer’s workshops for African American writers.

• Jack Jones Literary Arts (Los Angles, CA): “Publicizes bold, forward-thinking literature that privileges narratives told by black women and women of color.”

• The Literary Revolution (Atlanta, GA): A multifaceted company that publishes Black literature as well as consults literary professionals to help them succeed in publishing.

• Bad Alibi: A monthly subscription box focused on adult mystery and thriller novels. Each box includes a short piece on a different author to showcase their work to a broader audience.

• Call Number: A quarterly, library-inspired book subscription box that celebrates contemporary Black literature and authors of the African Diaspora. Curated by a real librarian and comes with bookish/library-related items.

• Just Like Me: Monthly delivery of 2-3 books and bookish swag for children.

• My Lit Box: A quarterly subscription box focused on Authors of Color. You can choose boxes that contain Adult Fiction, YA Fiction, or Black Women authors.

• Black History Every Day: Daily Black history facts curated Akilah Bolden-Monifa, the multifaceted “Black-lesbian-Arianna-Huffington” based in Oakland, CA.

• Brittle Paper: The go-to site for African Literature with news and updates on authors, publications, events, and lifestyle.

• Girl, Have You Read: A comprehensive website dedicated to Black romance (#BlackLove) which includes a blog, podcast, reviews, author directory, and reading services.

• Kiki Posts: An LGBT publication by People of Color curated and managed by Akilah Bolden-Monifa, the multifaceted “Black-lesbian-Arianna-Huffington” based in Oakland, CA.

Know of any POC organizations, publishers, press, or nonprofits changing lives through lit? Include as much information as possible to the form below so I can add them to this resource page.