Join AWP in honoring Black History Month this February! AWP has put together a list of resources, previous AWP events, and recommended reads on Bookshop.org to help us celebrate and reflect on the great contributions of Black writers and their stories year-round.

From The Writer’s Chronicle

In Our Way: Racism in Creative Writing by Claudia Rankine, October/November 2016

Whole Sight: Notes on New Black Fiction by Charles Johnson, February 1985

Rewatch Online Events

Virtual AWP in Conversation: Celebrating Black Poetry with Cave Canem

Virtual AWP Pedagogy: Reclaiming Genre Fiction for the Creative Writing Classroom

#AWP22 Honoring the Endeavor with Cornelius Eady & Toi Derricotte

#AWP21 Event Tribute to June Jordan, Sponsored by Copper Canyon Press

NBCC Award Winners Edwidge Danticat and Sarah M. Broom on Finding Home

Legacy Conversations with C.S Giscombe and Nathaniel Mackey, Sponsored by Cave Canem

AWP Virtual Book Club featuring Horsepower by Joy Priest

Virtual AWP: Conversations with Writers featuring Maurice Carlos Ruffin & Regina Brooks

Online Events

All events appear in ET.

Wednesday, February 1

8:00–9:30 p.m.— Washington DC History & Culture presents: National Museum of African American History & Culture - Livestream Tour. Join Robert Kelleman and Michele Ballard as they give information about a selection history exhibits around the museum. Registration is free, and this event will take place online.

Thursday, February 2

6:00–7:00 p.m.— Come learn and compete at Black History Month Trivia hosted by Noir Louisville BRG Collective. Registration is free, and this event will take place online.

Sunday, February 5

8:00–9:30 p.m. Melaneyes Media presents What and Why We Celebrate Black History Month? Get answers to the who, why, what, and how of everything Black History Month. Learn why Black History Month takes place during February, what other countries celebrate it, and more. Event organizers ask that a donation of any denomination be made to reserve your ticket for this online event.  

Wednesday, February 8

Noon–1:00 p.m.— Join Oakland Community College for The National African American Read-In. Come discover new Black authors and hear excerpt readings from those you know and love. Registration is free, and this event will take place online.

Sunday, February 19

8:00–9:30 p.m.— African Symbols Decoded: An Online Black History Month Presentation with Melaneyes Media. Learn about West African Andinkra symbols, ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics, and flags, images, and symbols created by Black trailblazers in America. Registration is free, and this event will take place online.