In celebration of Black History Month, we’re spotlighting some of our incredible partners, doing work year-round that uplifts Black writers and illustrators. We invite you to support and uplift these organizations and Black artists year round.
Torch Literary Arts
Torch Literary Arts started as a passion project in August of 2006 by Amanda Johnston to foster a supportive community of Black women writers, emerging and experienced. Fueled by wisdom and writings from other poets, novelists, and screenwriters, the award-winning Torch Magazine emerged to amplify Black women’s voices. After the pandemic, Amanda and Torch’s board of directors realized how critical Black women’s stories are for those facing isolation, grief, and creative rebirth. After much consideration and support, Torch Literary Arts registered as a 501(c)3 nonprofit to sustain the organization and increase impact through exceptional programs that shine a light on Black women writers.
Today, Torch Literary Arts is a resource and destination for Black women writers and readers across the diaspora with over 16,000 annual visitors to TorchLiteraryArts.org, over 3,000 in-person and virtual audience members, and over 10,000 followers on social media.
Black Pearl Books
Black Pearl Books is a black-woman-owned independent bookstore in Austin, TX, and family-run business whose mission is to promote diversity, inclusion, and representation through literature.
From the owner: “Outside of pearls representing my birth month of June, black pearls represent so much of who we are and strive to be as a bookstore: independence, strength, loyalty, and healing. Legend has it that black pearls symbolize wisdom and knowledge which is apropos to our story. Some cultures believe black pearls are a symbol of hope, while others believe they carry healing powers and protect from negative energy. The rare black pearl (a.k.a. the Queen of Pearls) represents everlasting love, which aligns with our founding principle – Love One Another as I Have Loved You (John 13:34).
How could I have chosen anything else – what other name would have been as fitting?”
UT Warfield Center
Established in June 1969, the John L. Warfield Center for African and African American Studies (WCAAAS) is the research, programming, and community engagement division of the Department of African and African Diaspora Studies at The University of Texas at Austin. WCAAAS supports the research and programmatic initiatives of its faculty affiliates and students, collaborates with local organizations, and encourages creative work connected to people of African descent around the world. The Center exists as a lasting tribute to Dr. John Lewis Warfield, who served as former Director of the Center for African and African-American Studies and Associate Professor of Educational Psychology at UT Austin for 26 years.
