“We. Need. Fire. 

We are just as. Pushed aside as ever 

And have to fight for respect.”

—Adrienne Kennedy, 2022 Gold Medal for Drama, The American Academy of Arts and Letters

Willow Books (2022)

978-1-7379876-7-3 paperback

494 pages

SPECIAL!

Order Black Fire This Time for 50% off Now thru April 30:

Editor: Dr. Kim McMillon

Foreword by Ishmael Reed

Introduction by Dr. Margo Natalie Crawford

A new anthology on the history and legacy of the Black Arts Movement. In a Foreword by Ishmael Reed, Black Fire—This Time is described as a 21^st century “update” that builds upon the traditions of Alain Locke’s The New Negro (1920) and Amiri Baraka and Larry Neal’s Black Fire: an anthology of Afro-American Writing (1968).

Edited by Dr. Kim McMillon and with an Introduction by Dr. Margo Natalie Crawford, the theme of this anthology is “Black is Beautiful, Black is Powerful, Black is Home. ”Exploring the past, present and future of Black writing, this collection bridges many of the founders of the Black Arts Movement—including Nikki Giovanni, Sonia Sanchez, Haki Madhubuti, Amiri Baraka, Wanda Coleman, Dudley Randall, Eugene B. Redmond and Askia Touré—with contemporary established writers in the tradition such as Willow’s own brian g. gilmore—to Ishmael Reed’s “younger generation”—Karla Brundage, Allison E. Francis, Tongo Eisen-Martin and C. Liegh McInnis. 

Designed as an open conversation between generations bridging hearts and minds across decades, Black Fire—This Time’s works are rooted in preservation, reverence and discovery. It also stands out for its inclusion of voices that have been underrepresented in Black Fire in particular, writers such as Nikki Giovanni and James Baldwin, in an effort to provide a more complete view of the myriad perspectives on Black identity and writing.

BFTT events will take place nationwide throughout the year with a special live event at the San Francisco Public Library in early November.

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Ask for Black Fire—This Time AT YOUR FAVORITE LIBRARY

Libraries across the country are hosting events–check our calendar often!

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LISTEN to Black Fire—This Time Podcast

A new playlist, Black Fire This Time Podcast

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Black Fire—This Time contains works spanning nearly 60 years representing numerous poets, writers and literary estates including (in no particular order):

CONGRATS TO OUR SUMMER FELLOWS!

We are pleased to announce our successful first summer fellowship! Black Fire–This Time Summer Fellows worked with the BFTT Digital Collection and completed projects based on the collection.

Tamara J. Madison

Orlando, FL

Primary genre:  Poetry

“I welcome the critique sessions, guest readings, and weekly check-ins of this fellowship and writing community to assist me in developing my second full-length manuscript. Madisonboro is a collection of poems created from photos, letters, oral history, and other documents from my family’s archives illustrating the agency of people of color to thrive against the challenges of slavery, poverty, racism, gender bias, and colorism in 19th and 20th century America. As a poet/writer, editor, and writing instructor, I am continually seeking writing community and opportunities for professional development and creative exploration.”

Jacquese Armstrong

Jackson, MS

Primary genre:  Poetry

“My introduction to the Black Arts Movement came in a literature course in college. It changed the whole meaning of poetry in my mind and ignited a fire which until this day has not been extinguished. With no intention of writing poetry, I found a voice because of the Black Arts Movement. Although I have had a chapbook and full-length collection of poetry published, I have had no formal training in the arts. An older person of modest means, I know that expensive classes are not in my future. I am at a plateau and in need of a jumpstart.”

Naomi Extra

Montclair, NJ

Primary genre: Poetry

“Currently, I am working on an essay that explores Yusef Komunyakaa’s contribution to the genre of jazz poetry which I plan to submit to an anthology call. I am also working on a collection of poems that explores jazz against the backdrop of race, technology, black girlhood, and memory. Both of these projects would benefit from broader historicization of jazz poetry within the context of the Black Arts Movement as well as a deeper understanding of the aesthetic and political possibilities of the genre. Lastly, the fellowship would help me to prepare for teaching on the subject in the fall.”

Cynthia Roby

Bridgeport, CT

Primary genre: Prose

“This fellowship will make me accountable for writing time management, allow me to network with my peers, support my efforts to redirect and focus on preparing my fiction manuscript, and receive critiques. The exposure to published authors, weekly readings, and ability to ask questions will definitely help my growth in the craft.”

Leslie McGraw

Ann Arbor, MI

Primary genre: Poetry

“I am a poet, community marketing strategist and literary activist. After time away from creative writing to focus on my media specialist career and documentary participation chronicling my great grand-uncles’ cold case from his civil rights and voting rights work in the 1940s, this fellowship will help me get back into my creation rhythm.”

EVENTS

Daly City Public Library, San Mateo County California (VIRTUAL)

 Judy Juanita

Tureeda Mikell

Elijah Pringle

C. Liegh McKinnis

Venus Jones

Tongo Eisen-Martin, San Francisco Poet Laureate

Hosted by Heather Buchanan, Publisher

June 4 @ 4pm PST

Sims Library of Poetry Los Angeles (VIRTUAL)

“The Literary Candle Has Been Lit!“

Ishmael Reed

Connie Owens Patton

Raymond Nat Turner

Michael Warr

Gloria House (Aneb Kgositsile)

June 24 (all day)

American Library Association Diversity in Publishing Showcase (Washington, DC)

June 30 @ 7pm EST

Black Fire–This Time SOUTH

Mona Lisa Saloy, Louisiana Poet Laureate

Lenard D. Moore

James E Cherry

and many more TBA

July 16 @ 1pm PST

San Francisco Public Library Reading (VIRTUAL)

Karla Brundage

devorah major

Halifu Osumare

Staajabu and V.S. Chochezi

Elijah Pringle III

Thurman Watts

Ishmael Reed

Margo Natalie Crawford

Raymond Nat Turner

Venus Jones

Elaine Brown

July 30 @ 2pm (EDT) (IN-PERSON & VIRTUAL)

BFTT Northeast Launch Hoboken Public Library

Quincy Troupe

Margaret Porter-Troupe

Keisha-Gaye Anderson

Megha Sood

Raymond Nat Turner

August 4 @ 6:30pm (ET) (VIRTUAL)

BFTT Midwest TBA

August 24 @ 7pm (EDT) (VIRTUAL)

BFTT Queens Public Library

Sonia Sanchez

Raymond Nat Turner

Megha Sood

Keisha-Gaye Anderson

October 2022

Thursday, October 27, 5pm PT/8pm ET

Big BAM Theory of Creation: Afrofuturism and the Black Arts Movement

Special nationwide simulcast reading of Askia Toure’s “Sun Ra Resurgent”

Lineup TBA

November 2022

Dillard University/UC Merced Humanities Event

November 1

Details TBA

FEBRUARY 2023

Virginia State University Black History Month Program

Including:

brian g. gilmore

Lenard D. Moore

Darrell Stover

Lamont Lilly

Keisha-Gaye Anderson

Raymond Nat Turner

Pamela D. Reed

Alan King

Museum of the African Diaspora, San Francisco

February 23, 2022

A Special Black History Month Event! Lineup TBA

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About the Black Arts Movement (1965-1975) from the National Archives:

The Black Arts Movement started in 1965 when poet Amiri Baraka [LeRoi Jones] established the Black Arts Repertory Theater in Harlem, New York, as a place for artistic expression.

https://www.archives.gov/research/african-americans/black-power/arts

This renaissance of Black Pride illuminated Black Life amidst and in reaction to the vast cultural, political, and social upheaval of the times through poetry and small press publications, plays, illustrations, artwork, and more… 

https://calendar.syracuse.edu/events/2020-feb-26/black-arts-movement-popup-exhibit/

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CONTACT US for more information: