Infinite Possibilities

at The Free Black Women's Library

A Practice of Possibility by olaronke akinmowo (hand-cut & digital collage)

Hello dear friends
Happy Black History Month!!
How is your heart??

Despite the state of the world I am feeling grateful and determined to keep pushing, thriving and creating. I have had the pleasure of witnessing the transformative power of books, art making and community for over a decade. And I am in awe of the infinite survival strategies and moments of pleasure, safety and liberation that we birth through gathering, reading, writing, and making things with each other.

It gives me hope for the future.
It encourages me to believe in us.
It is critical necessary work.

The Free Black Women’s Library offered over 80 free public programs in 2025, and I invite you to join us for more goodness in 2026!!

In February we will examine and explore our vibrant history and culture, the ways we care for each other, and the joy of expansive thinking.

Connect with us online and in person via the following public programs.
Register via hyperlinks below.

Saturday 2/7 at 3PM
A Black History Month Read - In
Community co-reading session of canonical essays written by Black Feminists scholars, activists and writers.

Sunday, 2/8 at 3PM
Liberation is Local : Food Co-ops
A panel discussion and grocery giveaway featuring members of our favorite CSA, the Brooklyn Packers.

Saturday 2/14 at 3PM
Wayward Sentences with Kameelah Janan Rasheed

An artsy writing workshop that explores writing constraints as a method to generate more feral and intuitive writing.

Sunday 2/15 at 3PM
Crochet Together with Knot Okay Club
A crochet workshop and fundraiser led by Knot Okay Club. Bring an item for The Free Black Women’s Library Period Pantry or make a donation via the their QR code to participate. Learn how to make a crochet bookmark while engaging in the mutual aid efforts that sustain us. Space is limited!!!

Sunday 2/22 at 1PM
Black Banjo Reclamation Project Monthly Meet-Up
The Black Banjo Reclamation Project meets on the third Saturday of the month at TFBWL to learn, play and practice the banjo together. All levels are welcome and no registration is required.

Tuesday 2/24 at 7PM
Black Interiority/(Hush Harbor Study Sessions on Patreon)
These hush harbor inspired monthly sessions provide an intimate space for patrons of The Free Black Women’s Library to gather, learn, read, write and reflect on the layers of our inner lives as expressed via art, music and literature. We use pre-shared materials as a jumping off point for each session. This is a space of collaborative learning, creative writing and self study.

Friday 2/27
Set It Off/ Film Screening and Discussion
Queen on Screen is a lighthearted media arts and culture series where we meet up to watch the films of Queen Latifah together and talk about the work, the era, the impact. This month’s film is 1989 bank robbing blockbuster release
We will have both herbal and mushroom tea available for purchase.
You are also welcome to bring snacks to have and share. Space is Limited!!

Sunday 3/1 at 7PM
The Free Black Women’s Library Reading Club
Our reading club meets monthly on Zoom to discuss books written by Black women and Black nonbinary authors. Our March book selection is Refusing Compulsory Sexuality/A Black Asexual Lens on our Sex Obsessed Culture by Sherronda J. Brown.
All are welcome to attend (even if you have not read the book).

We ask folks to wear masks while inside The Free Black Women’s Library space and use antibacterial gel or wash their hands upon entry.

The Secret Garden by Danielle McKinney, acrylic on canvas

Other Important Information:

The Free Black Women’s Library Reading Challenge 2026
It is year 7 of The Free Black Women’s Library Reading Challenge and I am amazed by the hundreds of people all over the world who make the commitment towards reading at least 24 books by Black women or Black nonbinary authors every year. I have created a list of 40 prompts to choose from and is not too late to join us!!
Copy and use this spreadsheet as a guide to keep track of your reads. You can also join TFBWL Discord to connect with other folks who are doing the challenge.

Patreon & YouTube
Join me on Patreon for book recommendations, monthly writing sessions and library updates. Becoming a paid subscriber is an excellent way to show appreciation for my work, as it is my only income and the key to my survival and livelihood.
You can also support me by subscribing to my YouTube channel, where I post weekly book hauls and Rambly Reactions to my favorite films, books and TV shows.

Program Proposals
The Free Black Women’s Library is currently accepting program proposals from Black women and Black queer artists, writers, healers, cultural workers, scholars, careworkers and crafty folks for our Summer/Fall calendar.
If you have a radical idea, praxis or project that you would like to teach or share with our community, you are welcome to submit it here. Due to the large volume of applications received a response is not guaranteed.

Lastly it is my birthday month (Aquas stand up!) and I will be accepting all manners of gifts, gems, plants, books, treats and random tokens of appreciation. Bobas can also be purchased for me here.

Thank you to everyone who has supported me and my work!!
Wishing you a powerful and generative Black History month!!
Blessings and peace,
Ola

The Free Black Women’s Library is a literary hub, social site, reading room, creative archive, and community care space. All ages, races, and genders are welcome to read, write, co-work, and rest in this space. This social art project features a collection of over 5000 books, a wide array of workshops and free public programs, a Free Store, a Period Pantry, a virtual Reading Club, a backyard garden, and a weekly book swap. We are located at 226 Marcus Garvey Blvd, Brooklyn, NYC, and are currently open on Wednesdays & Thursdays from 1 to 5 pm and Saturdays & Sundays from 1 to 6 pm.
We ask that folks wear masks while inside our space as well as wash their hands or use hand sanitizer upon entry.
SUPPORT OUR WORK!!