Honoring Our Legacy Through Literature
At Brown But BLACK, we believe in the power of community, storytelling, and education. As an organization founded with the mission of celebrating individualism amongst Black women and girls, we’re excited to invite you to our first-ever Brown But BLACK Book Club!
This is more than just a book club—it's a celebration of our collective history, the voices of Black women, and the transformative power of reading. We are creating space with the intention of evolving our community by centering conversations around literature that reflects the shared, yet diverse experiences, triumphs, and challenges of Black women.
The Importance of Reading: The Practice of Liberation
As Black women, our relationship with reading has been profoundly influenced by the weight of American history. For example, during the Antebellum Era, literacy was deemed illegal for us, and ever since, there has been an insidious effort to undermine our humanity—yet, still, we rise.
Although the laws have changed, our pursuit of knowledge persists, and Brown But BLACK honors our legacy of liberation by reading. We believe it’s our responsibility to reclaim the knowledge we were once denied, by recounting our history, contemplating our theories, and holding space for the stories of Black women. Every time we read, we honor The Foremothers of Liberty, who fought to be heard despite efforts to silence them.
Their voices offer wisdom that transcends generations, providing us the opportunity to refine our perspectives, protect our humanity, and see the world through a more culturally relevant lens. Brown But BLACK understands that when our community engages with literature written by Black women, we expand our capacity to authentically be.
Kicking Off with bell hooks' All About Love
With this in mind, we invite you to join us as we embark on the journey of preserving our essence and reclaiming our authentic selves, our first stop will be the pages of All About Love by bell hooks. Focusing on Chapter 1, 'Give Love Clarity,' we will engage with hooks' challenge to reconsider love—not just as a feeling, but as an action. How often do we, as a society, reduce love to just an emotion, missing its power to transform both personal growth and societal healing?
Join Us!
Whether you're an avid reader or someone who’s looking for a dynamic community of Black women, this space is for you. Together, we will engage in enriching conversations, challenge our perspectives, and connect with the wisdom of our foremothers whose voices enhance our world. Bring your friends, thoughts, and questions. See you next month!
