Black
We are literary organizations at the center of the shift in American letters — a Black shift. Black literature empowers us to actualize our humanity and liberation.
Black
Literature
for Black Liberation
We are organizations at the center of the shift in American letters — a Black shift. Black literary word empowers us to actualize our humanity and liberation.
“Furious Flower brings such a wide array of poets at the same time in the same place, who are at multiple levels in their careers.” Tyehimba Jess
“A true gift of the Hurston/Wright workshops is the simple beauty of being with writers in the spirit of Black joy, criticality, and real love for each other’s work.” monét cooper
“As a literary arts publication rooted in collective action, Obsidian is the creative archive of our diverse and innovative community.” Duriel E. Harris
“Cave Canem is a fortification. Even if you are not a poet, or black, it is a fortification of your language, your history, and your future.” Terrance Hayes
A Black Collective Fundraiser 
A Black Collective Fundraiser
A Black Collective Fundraiser
Getting Word: Black Literature for Black Liberation is an annual collective fundraiser calling for the long-term monetary support of the Black literary arts organizations responsible for producing America’s leading authors.
Cave Canem Foundation
For 25 years Cave Canem has cultivated the artistic and professional growth of Black Poets.
Founded by Toi Derricotte and Cornelius Eady in 1996 to remedy the under-representation and isolation of Black poets in the literary landscape, Cave Canem Foundation is a home for the many voices of Black poetry and is committed to cultivating the artistic and progressional growth of Black poets.
Furious Flower Poetry Center
Founded on JMU Campus, Furious Flower is the nation’s first academic center for Black poetry.
In the almost twenty-five years since it began, Furious Flower's programs have reached thousands of poets, educators, students, and poetry lovers around the world. Today, the mission of the center is to ensure the visibility, inclusion and critical consideration of Black poets in American letters, as well as in the whole range of educational curricula. Our programming seeks to cultivate an appreciation for poetry and students of all levels-from elementary to graduate school and beyond.
Hurston/Wright Foundation
For over 30 years, Hurston/Wright has celebrated, nurtured and showcased Black writers in all phases of their writing journey.
The Hurston/Wright Foundation supports Black writers in developing their writing and creating quality literature. Providing intensive writing workshop retreats, residencies, and craft talks, Hurston/Wright's mission is mentor, recognize and provide community for Black writers. In addition, we strive to connect writers with reading audiences, creating spaces for engagement. Co-founded by multi-genre writer Marita Golden, Hurston/Wright produces The Black Writer's Studio podcast, and presents several awards, including the annual Hurston/Wright Legacy Awards.
Obsidian: Literature & Arts in the African Diaspora
An award-winning peer-reviewed journal and publishing platform for critical and creative Black literature and arts.
Celebrating over 47 years, Obsidian was founded by late poet Alvin Aubert with help from poet Sonia Sanchez. Aubert mobilized energy created by the Black Arts Movement to address the lack of venues for writers of African descent. Published biannually in print and year-round online, Obsidian supports the contemporary poetry, fiction, drama/performance, visual and media art of Africans globally, and remains an independent beacon for critical-creative Black thought.
The Watering Hole
Founded in 2013, The Watering Hole builds Harlem Renaissance spaces for poets of color in the south.
The Watering Hole invests in pursuing the craft of poetry. We are a home where poets of color in the South can learn and grow at each others' feet. As a multiethnic, intergenerational, intersectional Tribe, we meet poets at every level from Slam to Ph.D. to beginner, from Gwendolyn Brooks scholar to Kendrick Lamar aficionado, from retiree to elementary school student.
Getting Word Juneteenth 
Getting Word Juneteenth
Getting Word Juneteenth
Our campaign begins on Juneteenth, the date in 1865 when Black folks in Texas “Got Word” of the Emancipation Proclamation and ends on July 4th–another holiday of liberation. Our goal is simple: to link the newly minted holiday of Juneteenth to a tradition of supporting the organizations behind America’s Black authors.
Donate
#FUNDBLACKLITERATURE
#FUNDBLACKLITERATURE
#FUNDBLACKLITERATURE
Support the organizations that nurture Black writers. This Juneteenth, join our movement to #FundBlackLiterature.
”When you’re a Black writer, you have something for your art that no one else can possibly have.
Jericho Brown
”The presence of Furious Flower in the world makes me feel frisky and ageless, flamboyant and fierce.
Rita Dove
”I am grateful for this space that allows for my personal and historical epiphanies to rise.
Tracey K. Smith
Getting Word is thankful for our donors and their contributions to #FundBlackLiterature!
2024 Donors
Anonymous
Jami Attenberg
Jen Benka
Bookshop
Fanny Brewster (in honor of Ruth Jackson)
Marie Brown
Sarah Browning
Christina Burroughs (in honor of Toi Derricotte)
Dorothy Chen
Nandi Comer
John Keene (in honor of Carolyn Micklem)
Peace Keenen
Michele Kotler
Lauriece Lane
Ann Long
Yolanda M Elder
Shalewa Mackall
Kathryn Manck
Walter Mosley
Janet Rickles (in honor of Kate Rushin)
August Roberts
Emily Rutter (in honor of Tiffany Austin)
Ann Saunders (in honor of Doris E. Saunders)
Laura Sweeney
Adrienne Torf (in honor of Cornelius Eady)
Lori Lynn Turner
Joanne V. Gabbin (in honor of Nikki Giovanni and Gwendolyn Brooks)
Rosalynde Vas Dias
Margo Viscusi
Colin Walker
Casey Wilkinson
2023 Donors
Giuseppe Alletti
Lauren Alleyne
Kate Berube
Claire Brown
Sarah Browning
Jorge Carillo
Cathy Che
Carla Chissell
Sharon Christensen
Aaron Coleman
Nicelle Davis
Jody Fagan
Raina Fields
Jodi Fisler
Jessica Flamholz
Melissa Frederick
Joanne Gavvin
L. Renée Harrison
Laura Hillegas
Tyehimba Jess
Yeva Johnson
Kelli Kane
Katy Manck
Kevin Maness
Mark McBride
McKinley Melton
Opal Moore
Sara Murphy
Vincente Perez
Tara Reeser
Charles E Roberson
Shalon Santana
Evie Shockley
Theodore Shouse
Abigail Sprenkle
Sarah Stone
Meg Thompson
Selena Vallespir
Claudia Wair
Ebonya Washington
Lauren WB Vermette
Evie Shockley
Jen St. Jude
The Shipman Agency, Inc.
D’mani Thomas
Todd Truffin
Romaine Washington
Amy Whitfield
Crystal Wilkinson
Kristine Yohe
2022 Donors
Shirley A Jones-Luke
Akila Worksongs
Lillian Allen
Kendra Armer
Jacquese Armstrong
Jen Benka
Bookshop
Marie Brown
Sharon Browning
Sarah Burnes
Sheila Carter-Jones
Denise Chapman
Cathy Linh Che
Sharon Christensen
Desiree Cooper
Marisa Crane
Adrienne Crezo
Shameka Cunningham
Samantha Dickhut
Mary Dysart
Natasha El-Scari
Elyce Elder
Madison Garvin
Maria Hamilton Abegunde
Audrey Hipkins
JoD Hooper
Daniel Jackson
Tayari Jones
Quincy Scott Jones
Kelli Kane
Michelle Keita
Paul Koniecki
Christina Kukuk
Anna Mirzayan
Shauna Morgan
Betty Neals
Northwestern University Press
Bethany Nowviskie
Connie Pan
Hermine Pinson
Tara Reeser
Michele Russo
Leona Sevick
Jennifer Shannon
Rone Shavers
Evie Shockley
Jen St. Jude
The Shipman Agency, Inc.
D’mani Thomas
Todd Truffin
Romaine Washington
Amy Whitfield
Crystal Wilkinson
Kristine Yohe
Inaugural Donors
Liz Ahl
Jesse Alexander
Norma Rock
Lauren K Alleyne
Jubi Arriola-Headley
Becca Auers
Susanna Baird
Jennifer Baker
Alyson Bardsley
Dr. Herman Beavers
Jen Benka
Lucy Bernholz
C. Jean Blain
jon bodie
Bookie’s — Chicago and Homewood
Olivia Bolden
Kalifa/Carlene S. Bonnivier
Lisa Bowden
Leo E. Bowman, Sr.
Sarah Browning
CM Burroughs
Chelsea Carr
Erica Cavanagh
Sharon Christensen
Nichole Christian
Helen Churko
Ryan Clark
Aaron Coleman
Nandi Comer
CA Conrad
Desiree Cooper
Nina Corwin, LCSW
Allen Dance
Matthew F Davis
Shelley A. Davis
Christina Davison
Robin DeRosa
Nicole Dewey
Charlotte Donlon
Kenning Editions
Natasha Ria El-Scari
teri elam
Douglas R Ewart
Carolyn F
Latorial Faison
Gibson Fay-LeBlanc
Jasmine Flowers
T. Ford
Aricka Foreman
Claire Forster
Sherese Francis
Katie Freeman
Allyson Frink
Drs. Joanne and Alexander Gabbin
Ana Garcia Doyle & Jim Doyle
Katharine Gaskin
April Gibson
Barbara Goldberg
Sheree L. Greer
Christopher & Nadia Greggs
Kevin J Hamilton
Maria Hamilton Abegunde
Chere R. Hampton
Bill Haney
Duriel E. Harris
Crit C. Harris, Jr.
Julia Haverstock
Terrance Hayes
Amara Heller
Travis Helms
Heraty Law
Niki Herd
Audrey & Ray
Paul Hlava
Jennifer Huang
Erica Hunt
Atainyene Ibia
Stacy-Marie Ishmael
Ashaki Jackson
Elliot Jackson
Marianne Jackson
Chantal James
E.J. Antonio
Tyehimba Jess
Jacqueline Johnson
Jen Sinclair Johnson
Karma Mayet
Dinah Johnson
Debora Johnson-Ross
Kelli Kane
Douglas Kearney and Nicole McJamerson
M. Nzadi Keita
Jourdan Keith
Ragan Kensington
Angela Kinamore
Siobhan Kinane
Hayley Kolding
Michele Kotler
Oni Lasana Productions
A. J. Lee
Becky Lee
Sueyeun Juliette Lee
Andrea Lewis
Maurisa Li-A-Ping
A JMU Librarian
Marva Lord
Monifa Love
Jennifer Lunden
Shalewa Mackall
Nick Makoha
Shikha Malaviya
Katy Manck
Lisa Marquis
Chad Mazero
Michael McGriff
McKinley E. Melton
Megan Milks
Mary Kenagy Mitchell
Michael Mlekoday
Dr. Marilyn S Mobley
Opal Moore
JPM
Tracie Morris
Kortney Morrow
Danielle Motelow
Carole Nash
Gale Naylor
Marilyn R Nelson
Irina Nersessova
Ijeoma Njaka
January Gill O’Neil
Adrienne Oliver
Julie Patton
Ali Pearl
Joanne Peluso
Saleem Hue Penny
Alice Quinn
Anne Rashid
Dr. Pamela D. Reed
Tara Reeser
Sandra Rivers-Gill
Patrick and Mary Rose
Susan Ryan
Lauri Scheyer
Rone Shavers
Richard Shaw
Evie Shockley
Leslie Helene Siegel
Ira Silverberg
Murray Silverstein
Cody Sisco
Deanna and James K.A. Smith
Patricia Smith
Rochelle Spencer
Lynne Thompson
Tony Trigilio
Diane Turner
Chase Twichell
Sonya Vann DeLoach
Margo Viscusi
Robert Wallace
Hao Wang
Romaine Washington
Afaa M. Weaver 尉雅風
The Word Works
Nancy White
h. s. whitecloud
Tyrone Williams
Lisa Willis
Robin Woolery
Dave Wooley and Kris Sealey
Ellen Wright
Estella Young
Burgi Zenhaeusern
