Archive - History of Black Writing Blog
The Banner image for the HBW Blog, which was published from 2011-2021.
Black Literary History Making
The HBW Blog published regularly for ten years from 2011-2021 at the URL https://projecthbw.ku.edu. During that time, it served as a major forum for the exchange of information and ideas, as well as a robust network for scholars, teachers, and students from different disciplines around the world.
Guest contributors include leading scholars and writers, but most of the posts were conceived of, researched, and written by HBW's staff of undergraduate and graduate students. Its content consists of feature editorials, book reviews, memorials, and coverage of HBW programming. Altogether, 95 writers contributed more than 750 posts.
The HBW Blog Archive is searchable by topic, month and year, and contributor name.
| Blog Post/Link | Date |
|---|---|
| Book Review: Richard Wright’s The Man Who Lived Underground (2021) The phrase “previously unpublished” in the literary world invokes instantaneous anticipation, and when that phrase is paired with a writer as illustrious as Richard Wright, people mark their calendars. .. | |
| From the HBW Archives: Zora Neale Hurston The Project on the History of Black Writing has been focusing on Zora Neale Hurston’s literary work for many years. With our upcoming NEH Virtual Summer Institute “Hurston on the Horizon; Past, Present and Future”, we wanted to share a collection of past HBW blogs focusing on Hurston and her impact in the realm of Black literature. The blogs range from informational blogs on Hurston and her work, to fun pieces such as Hurston’s connection to “swag” culture. We hope you enjoy and will take the time to read through the work we’ve compiled. .. | |
| 'Lest We Forget' Hank Aaron: Blueprint for Grace This month, HBW will focus on literary and cultural history and continue to move toward the idea of Black Liberation Month (BLM). For our first blog we are featuring a piece on baseball star, Hank Aaron, written by artist, musician, athlete, and KU alum, Ernie Shelby. This is part one of the “Lest We Forget” series, where we consider impactful figures. Aaron, who was born on February 5, 1934, would have turned 87 today... | |
| HBW Reading Recommendations There’s a certain chill in the air that seems to make the world around us slow down a bit, which makes this the perfect time of year to relax and curl up with a good book... | |
| In Memoriam: Naomi Long Madgett “If I can help somebody as I pass along”: Remembering the Life and Work of Naomi Long Madgett .. | |
| The Making of the 9th Annual BLS; Black Writing in Reel Time As HBW’s 9th annual Black Literary Suite is coming to an end, I find myself reflecting on HBW’s team and all the hard work that has gone into this event. In order to highlight our amazing staff members, and give you all a better idea of what all goes into BLS, I interviewed the team responsible for the 2020 Black Literary Suite. .. | |
| NABJ/NAHJ Virtual Convention Earlier this August, HBW gave me the opportunity to attend the National Association of Black Journalists/National Association of Hispanic Journalists (NABJ/NAHJ) Joint Convention in Washington, DC.. | |
| Afro-Latinae Reading List In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, HBW has compiled a reading list for the occasion. From memoirs to graphic novels, here are 10 fantastic books by Afro-Latinae authors you should read this month.. | |
| Richard Wright’s legacy and remembering George Floyd – Part 3 (Final) In honor of Richard Wright’s 112th birthday on September 4, 2020, HBW begins a three-part series as an inter-generational family tribute to Wright’s legacy... | |
| Richard Wright’s legacy and remembering George Floyd – Part 2 In August 2020, members of the Richard Wright family wrote statements regarding the social unrest our country has faced and shared them in the “Richard Wright News Bulletin.” In honor of Richard Wright’s 112th birthday on September 4, 2020, HBW begins a three-part series as an inter-generational family tribute to Wright’s legacy. In August 2020, members of the Richard Wright family wrote statements regarding the social unrest our country has faced and shared them in the “Richard Wright News Bulletin.” In honor of Richard Wright’s 112th birthday on September 4, 2020, HBW begins a three-part series as an inter-generational family tribute to Wright’s legacy. Part II I am grateful to George Floyd for reminding me of an important truth. We do not understand the full meaning of our lives as we are living them. This truth can serve as a powerful antidote to the frustrations and self-recriminations punctuating life-long struggles that yield a sense, more often than not, of slow progress... |