At a time when books are being banned, classrooms are facing restrictions on how race and history can be discussed, and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs are under attack, the role of Black writers has never been more important. Throughout American history, Black authors have used literature, journalism, poetry, and scholarship to preserve truth, challenge injustice, and give voice to communities too often ignored or silenced. From the Civil Rights Movement to t

New Orleans Author Jaz Morton promotes her book, NOLA ABC’s, an alphabet book for kids with learning disabilities. NEW ORLEANS, LA — The BLK INK Book Festival is back for its fourth year, and this year’s celebration is turning the page on what it means to build community through books, storytelling, film, and culture. On Saturday, June 20, 2026, from 11 AM – 3 PM, readers, writers, filmmakers, and creatives from across the country will gather at the Pavilion of the Two Sister

When we stroll through a bookstore or scroll on BookTok and see book recommendations, it can feel like readers collectively decide what stories rise and fall. But the reality is more complicated: both publishers and readers play a role, and the balance of influence has real consequences — especially for Black authors. The Gatekeepers: Publishers and the Book Market In traditional book publishing, a relatively small group of insiders — agents, editors, and publishing houses

Valencia G. Wallace, bestselling author of the memoir Motherless Child , makes her fiction debut with The Other Auntie , Book 1 of The Auntie Diaries , a three-book psychological fiction series rooted in Louisiana culture and lived experience. Published February 25, 2026, The Other Auntie follows two sisters in a Louisiana family where loyalty matters more than truth. Grace is the other auntie, the one who never quite gets it right. Naomi is the one everybody trusts. When Gr