Recent Posts
Book lovers are a small minority of the population. And even smaller than that, are Black writers and readers. Sometimes as a small minority, we need a space to exist. These are 7 Black book clubs that will refresh your soul.
Often times as a society we work around the clock, trying to get as much as we can done in one day. Those of us that are book lovers often don’t have enough time in the day to read.
This is where accountability comes in. Enter: book clubs! Their goal is to build relationships, motivate members to read more and promote self-love by giving you time to do what you love: Read! And if you’re hoping to read the work of more people of color, look no further.
Here are seven Black book clubs perfect for the busy book lover who is ready to see better representation for people of color.
Well Read Black Girl is the largest Black book club on the list by far. Not only do they read from Black authors, but they also specifically endorse work by Black women and non-binary writers. They read from established Black writers like Octavia Bulter and Toni Morrison, to newer authors like Nicole Dennis-Benn or Ann Petry.
The best part of this Black book club is that their website includes an indie bookstore finder. This tool lets you find independent bookstores to support your community.
Now, this isn’t so much a book club as it is a diaspora of Black Books at your disposal. They have Black literature materials; from books, to movies to audiobooks for purchase. You can also subscribe to have unlimited access.
This source even breaks their search down by decade. They made the list because of their enormous library of Black content. Whether you are reading from old books or new, United Black Library has you covered in terms of supplying your book club with the books you need. Did I mention, they have super cheap prices?
This Black book club is smaller and centered in Indianapolis, IN. So for those in this state, you have the opportunity to meet up with these gals. Join this group, if you are looking for contemporary or classic works of Fiction or nonfiction.
If you want more than an online discussion via comments, they meet at Irvington Vinyl and Books.
This is also not technically a black book club, but it’s worth checking out. This library has pop-up shop’s featuring only Black women authors.
They also hold workshops for Black women writers to meet up and network. This is a great opportunity to meet other book lovers and find out what’s on their must-read list.
This Black book club is based in Brooklyn, NY and was started by Yahdon Israel in 2015.
They meet up every last Wednesday of the month at The Brooklyn Circus. If you like meeting people or going out, join them! Literary Swag Book Club explained what makes them different than other book clubs below.
According to Literary Swag Book Club, “Yahdon wanted to create a community where people with various experiences, ideas, and cultural backgrounds, could talk to and come to understand one another through a mutual love of books and a respect for the people who read them.”
Mocha Girls Read is also an LA-based book club. They create a space for Black girls to meet up IRL. In fact, they are one of the few book clubs that actually has chapters.
If you are looking for a more Sorority type Black book club, check this one out. They have chapters in a San Diego, Harlem, Tempe, Tuscon, Oakland, Los Angeles, Sacramento, and Philadephia.
The last Black book club is Bookish Brown Girls. Not only are they an online resource, they also have a podcast to discuss their current read. This is great if you want an audio-based book club.
Check out this book club if you’re open to any genre. Their focus is reading from women of color (WOC) in all genres. As an added bonus, they have a genre directory of WOC writers for you to check out.
The best part of all these 7 Black book clubs is that they are all free! None of them require membership or subscriptions. All you have to do is grab a book, start reading and if you want, dare I say, participate in the online discussions.
Check out 5 Powerful Books That Represent Diversity in Modern Literature. Give these books a browse or recommend them in the Black book club you decide to join!
