Name: From Afrekete to Mouths of Rain/Reflections on Black Lesbian Writing
Start: 2026-05-02T13:00:00-04:00
End: 2026-05-02T14:30:00-04:00
Location: The Free Black Women's Library Reading Room

$From Afrekete to Mouths of Rain\/Reflections on Black Lesbian Writing$

Join us for a writing workshop & guided discussion on Black Lesbian anthologies led by Jenia Brown.
About this Event

The Free Black Women's Library is a literary hub, social site, Black Feminist archive, and community care space that features over 5000 books by Black women and Black non-binary folks, as well as a wide range of free public programs, special events, and creative workshops, a free store, a period pantry, a backyard garden, a virtual reading club, and weekly book swap.

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The Free Black Women's Library
presents
From Afrekete to Mouths of Rain/Reflections on Black Lesbian Writing
with Jenia Brown
A writing workshop and guided discussion for Black lesbian writers.

Black lesbian anthologies connect us to our roots, ancestors, and stories. Anthologies preserve and reestablish historic texts while introducing the audience to new and emerging ideas.
Anthologies like Afrekete, Lez Talk, Mouths of Rain, Black Cherry, and Does Your Mama Know? add to the genealogy of Black lesbian feminist thought, allowing for the creation of new narratives and the reconfiguring of old ones.
Offering up a variety of pieces from diverse experiences, we are able to understand the breadth of our histories and collective knowledge.

In this workshop, we will read and reflectively write on three to five pieces from the selected anthologies:
- Afrekete: An Anthology of Black Lesbian Writing edited by Catherine E. McKinley
- Does Your Mama Know?: An Anthology of Black Lesbian Coming Out Stories edited by Lisa C. Moore
- Lez Talk: A Collection of Black Lesbian Short Fiction edited by S. Andrea Allen and Lauren Cherelle
- Black Cherry: A Black Lesbian Anthology edited by L. M. Bennett
- Mouths of Rain: An Anthology of Black Lesbian Thought edited by Briona Simone Jones

This space will center the full expanse of Black lesbian identities and experiences. Black lesbians of all gender expansive identities are welcome. This workshop is open to all Black lesbians, regardless of writing experience, and to writers of any level or genre. Texts will be provided both in advance and at the workshop.