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HBW Student Staff

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.

Students gather around poet Nikki Giovanni during HBW’s 2017 "An Evening with Nikki Giovanni" event.

About

HBW is a research center focused on elevating innovative scholarship in American literature, book history, and digital humanities.

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Black Writing Exhibition Opening

Celebrating 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 Celebration

History Timeline

1983
Founded at Oxford, Mississippi
1998
Launched at the University of Kansas
2023
Celebrating 40 Years of HBW
HBW Student Staff

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.

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Connect with HBW

HBW is an expanding community of scholars and researchers. See what events are happening by connecting on social media.

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