Episode Details

In this episode, Sheryl McCarthy interviews OlaRonke Akinmowo, founder of The Free Black Women’s Library in Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn, which houses thousands of books by Black women and serves as a free community hub for workshops, reading groups, and cultural events. Akinmowo describes how the project began 10 years ago as a mobile stoop-based book-swap rooted in her love of reading, her artistic practice, and her desire to create empowering spaces for Black women. After the pandemic halted in-person gatherings, she crowdfunded $100,000 to open a permanent storefront that now hosts writing workshops, author talks, film screenings, and a free store. She reflects on the joy of watching visitors discover new writers and find community. Most footage and photos in this episode were provided by the library.

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