History of Black Writing
Building lasting change in the American literature canon and supporting the legacy of African-American writers, the History of Black Writing (HBW) nurtures research opportunities for students, writers, and scholars.
About
HBW is a research center focused on elevating innovative scholarship in American literature, book history, and digital humanities.
Explore the projectCelebrating 40 Years of HBW!
Since 1983, the History of Black Writing (HBW) has been dedicated to the study of Black Writing.
Learn more about our Anniversary CelebrationHistory Timeline
1983
Founded at Oxford, Mississippi
1998
Launched at the University of Kansas
2023
Celebrating 40 Years of HBW
Interactive Research and Public Engagement
HBW's research and collection building creates a corpus of fiction and non-fiction to drive public program initiatives such as the Black Literary Suite and Gems, and research institutes like Hurston on the Horizon in 2021.
Explore the program