The Free Black Women’s Library LA just had their first book swap at the Reparations Club and it was a total hit! People across Los Angeles came with a book and left with a totally different one. As a first time volunteer, I wasn’t sure of what to expect but I loved how everything turned out. It was so beautiful to see young Black and Latinx people, families and more gather to chat or make crafts. I’m glad that I’ll be sharing my time spreading Black Feminist Literature. 

TFBWL-LA designed the event around trading books written by Black authors across the diaspora and creating yarn dolls with kids and affirmation cards with quotes from your faves like Issa Rae and Audre Lorde. As one of the first volunteers to arrive, I helped to stamp and sort the Library’s wide selection of books. Once the event was in motion, I wore my Free Black Women’s Library pen with pride and helped (wo)man the yarn doll crafting station. 

Photo: Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times

Wondering What The ‘Library’ Is?

The Free Black Women’s Library officially began in New York. OlaRonke Akinmowo, set director and yoga instructor, set up the first book swap on the stoop of Brownstone in Brooklyn. She wanted to do something active in the community that wasn’t just about spreading awareness of  You can read more of the origin story here in OprahMag. 

During the event, I was able to ask how The Free Black Women’s Library started in Los Angeles. Asha Grant, chapter director, was floating around the Reparations Club making sure everything and everyone was in harmony. She shared with me that while living in New York, she learned about Akinmowo’s work and immediately wanted to create something similar. Grant contacted Akinmowo and asked if she could create a Los Angeles Chapter. They’ve posted Book Swap sites at places like The Underground Museum and even held events at The Huntington Library in celebration of Octavia Butler. The Libraries’ work is really gaining recognition in the community and with a recent feature in the Los Angeles Times. What’s truly rewarding is how the value of building community and affirming Black female voices in literature truly shines through. 

Why You’ll Want To Be Involved

One of the best moments of the event was seeing a woman bring in a bag full of ten books to swap. I brought one book to the book swap and as I was stamping others in TFBWL-LA’s collection, I wished I had brought more! They had Toni Morrison’s latest book The Source of Self Regard, N.K. Jemisin’s Broken Earth trilogy and the graphic novel version of Octavia Butler’s Kindred. Those books were quickly traded. I even got one the first book in N.K. Jemisin’s Broken Earth series called The Fifth Season. I had a digital copy of the book but I really wanted a copy and I’m glad I got it from The Free Black Women’s Library!

 The Free Black Women’s Library will be holding even more events this month on the 14th and 21st. Next weekend on the 14th, TFBWL-LA will hold IntersectionALLIES, a children’s book launch. On the last Sunday of the month,  the organization will continue its monthly Lavender + Lit event at The Underground Museum. If you’re in the LA area, make love, literature, and liberation a part of your day! Be sure to follow them on social media to find out more details.

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Best,

Kai