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| Founders Wade Hudson, Cheryl Willis Hudson, Paul Coates, Haki Madhubuti and Kassahoun Checole speak at IBPA's Legends of Black Independent Publishing panel |
As we start the second week of Black History Month, we hope this post will be an encouraging reminder of companies that are doing the work. Institutions that have made sharing our stories their mission. Black-owned publishers that celebrate Black people, Black culture, and Black histories in their books all year round. We’re proud to be one of them.
Let’s pour into these institutions! Read their books. Buy directly from their websites if you can. (Many carry titles that are difficult to get elsewhere.) Recommend their books. Check them out at your local library, and if they’re not on the shelves — request them. Share and comment on their social media posts. Sign up for their mailing lists. Spread the word about the work they’re doing.
Third World Press - the oldest Black publishing company in the world. Founded in 1967, it’s one of the last-remaining Black Arts Movement institutions. https://thirdworldpressfoundation.org
Black Classic Press - founded in 1978 and devoted to publishing obscure and significant works by and about people of African descent. https://www.blackclassicbooks.com
Africa World Press - in business since 1983, its mission is to provide high quality literature on the history, culture, politics of Africa and the African Diaspora. https://africaworldpressbooks.com
Just Us Books - founded in 1988, we publish children’s books that center and celebrate Black people, history and culture. https://justusbooks.com
Amber Communications - the largest African American publisher of self-help books and music biographies. http://amberbookspublishing.com
Dare to Be King - provides services and products, including books and workshops, to help inspire and support boys of color. https://daretobeking.net
Universal Write Publications - publishes a variety of topics through the framework of Black scholars who write through the African lens. https://uwpbooks.com
Urban Ministries, Inc. - publisher of books, magazines, curricula, and more for African and African American churches since 1970. https://urbanministries.com
And this is just a start. Comment below to shout out other Black-owned book publishers that are doing this important work!
