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Kweli Journal

@kwelijournal.bsky.social

620 followers 170 following 230 posts

Award-winning literary magazine and nonprofit. Kweli means truth. We seek out, support, and publish writers of color who sing the truth. See upcoming workshops, events, and programs: linktr.ee/kwelijournal. Photo: Tandem Collective

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Kweli Journal @kwelijournal.bsky.social · Dec 12

✨COVER REVEAL ✨ We're thrilled to share SING THE TRUTH: The Kweli Journal Short Story Collection will be published by Authors Equity, distributed by Simon & Schuster in MAY 2025! Feat. Edwidge Danticat, K-Ming Chang & more. Learn about the book 👇🏾

#booksky #writersky #writersofcolor #bipocwriters

Art: Colorful abstract face
Sing the Truth
The Kweli Journal Short Story Collection
Edited by Laura Pegram
Foreword by Edwidge Danticat

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Unite Against Book Bans @uabookbans.bsky.social · 20h

2,452 unique titles were targeted for censorship in 2024, the 3rd highest ever recorded by @amlibraryassoc.bsky.social For #BannedBooksWeek & #LetFreedomReadDay, curb censorship by joining #UniteAgainstBookBans to get action opportunities, info & tools/resources: uniteagainstbookbans.org/take-action

821 attempts to censor library books and materials in 2024. ALA American Library Association.

2,452 unique titles targeted for censorship in 2024. ALA American Library Association.

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Lee & Low Books @leeandlow.bsky.social · 23h

📚This #BannedBooksWeek, co-owner/publisher Jason Low reminds us: book bans aren't just about books—they're part of a broader attack on truth, institutions, and democracy itself.

➡️Read his call to action in @ala-booklist.bsky.social: www.booklistonline.com/products/981...

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Malinda Lo @malindalo.bsky.social · 22h

Can you believe I’m still going to be talking about banned books in March 2026?! Yes, because the problem isn’t going to go away at the end of Banned Books Week. This will be an amazing event!

awpwriter.bsky.social @awpwriter.bsky.social · 23h

Check out this #AWP26 featured event: “The Right to Read vs. Book Bans: Stories & Advice from the Front Lines, Sponsored by Blue Flower Arts”! Join @malindalo.bsky.social, Ibi Zoboi, and @mobrowne.bsky.social with @andrewkarre.bsky.social on March 5!

The Right to Read vs. Book Bans: Stories & Advice from the Front Lines, Sponsored by Blue Flower Arts

Thursday, March 5, 1:45 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. ET

conference.awpwriter.org

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Honorée Fanonne Jeffers @blklibrarygirl.bsky.social · 1d

Remember when I said something nice was coming today? Well: I was asked to write the introduction to the new edition of Toni Morrison’s BELOVED! I’m so honored and happy! Here’s the new cover—that’s my name down at the bottom!!!!

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Macmillan Children's School & Library Marketing @mackidssl.bsky.social · 1d

We believe that every person, of every age, of every race, of every gender, no matter who they love, or where they live, should have access to books that reflect and expand their worldview. #UniteAgainstBookBans #BannedBooksWeek

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Kweli Journal @kwelijournal.bsky.social · 1d

💖✨ Our heartfelt gratitude to our festival cover artist Patrick Dougher and to our partners at New York Law School and Akwaaba Brooklyn.

We can’t wait to see y’all!

Kweli Journal @kwelijournal.bsky.social · 1d

As always, our program is tailored to meet the challenges that we, who hail from the Global South face, as well as the unique opportunities and stories we have to tell!

Please SHARE w/ writers of color you know, particularly new and emerging #BIPOC writers seeking a safer space by and for us!

Kweli Journal @kwelijournal.bsky.social · 1d

The #KweliLitFest keynote roster this year features beloved authors of color

🌟 Aaliyah Bilal (National Book Award Finalist),
🌟 Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah (National Book Foundation “5 Under 35” honoree)
🌟 Megha Majumdar (National Book Award Finalist).

See our full roster at the link in our bio!

Program announcement for KweliLitFest25 featuring photo of participating author Aaliyah Bilal. Text: KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Aaliyah
Bilal
2025 Kweli International Literary Festival
OCTOBER 18 - OCTOBER 28

Program announcement for KweliLitFest25 featuring photo of participating author Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah. Text: KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah
2025 Kweli International Literary Festival
OCTOBER 18 - OCTOBER 28

Program announcement for KweliLitFest25 featuring photo of participating author Megha Majumdar. Text: KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Megha Majumdar
2025 Kweli International Literary Festival
OCTOBER 18 - OCTOBER 28

Kweli Journal @kwelijournal.bsky.social · 1d

KweliLitFest continues through NOV 13 with in-person and virtual workshops and craft talks.

Faculty this year includes:

Edwidge Danticat
Nicole Dennis-Benn
Lauren Francis-Sharma
Xochitl Gonzalez
Honorée Fanonne Jeffers
Martha S. Jones
Dinaw Mengestu

+ More

Kweli Journal @kwelijournal.bsky.social · 1d

ICYMI:

🎉 Kweli International Literary Festival registration is OPEN! 🎉

Join us in-person for opening weekend OCT 18 - 19 at New York Law School for workshops, keynotes and convos, as well as the year’s best chance for emerging writers of color to connect w/ agents and editors!

Registration announcement featuring the portrait “Diaspora Daughter” by Patrick Dougher. Text: 2025 Kweli International Literary Festival October 18 - October 28
REGISTRATION NOW OPEN
Kwelijournal.org #kwelilitfest25
New York Law School
Akwaaba Bed and Breakfast Inns

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Shantha Mohan, Ph.D., DTM @shlead.bsky.social · 1d

Libraries come in all shapes and sizes. What would we do without them?
#libraries
#booksky 📚💙
#books

The image shows a Little Free Library. This is a non-profit organization that promotes book exchanges in communities.
Little Free Libraries are free book-sharing boxes where anyone can borrow a book or share one of their own.
The organization's mission is to build community, inspire readers, and expand book access.
Little Free Libraries operate on an honor system, and you do not need to share a book to take one.
The libraries are maintained by a volunteer "steward".
The organization is a trademarked term and has a global network of these book-exchange boxes.

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Kweli Journal @kwelijournal.bsky.social · 1d

Let’s go!

🎟️ Kweli International Literary Festival registration is OPEN.

Join us opening weekend, Oct 18–19, for keynotes and craft talks, and continuing w/ multimedia events and master classes thru Nov 18.

Connect w/ agents, editors + BIPOC creatives.

LEARN MORE at Link in bio 👆🏿👆🏾👆🏽

Registration announcement featuring the painting “Diaspora Daughter” by Patrick Dougher.
Text: 2025 Kweli
International Literary Festival
October 18 - October 28
REGISTRATION NOW OPEN
KWELIJOURNAL.ORG
#KWELILITFEST25
New York Law School
AKWAABA BED & BREAKFAST INNS

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American Library Association @amlibraryassoc.bsky.social · 2d

Today at 3:00 pm CT.
Find inspiration and ideas for your own advocacy from the students on the front lines of the fight against censorship.
bit.ly/YouthFightingBookBans
#BannedBooksWeek

Banned Books Week @bannedbooksweek.bsky.social · 2d

TOMORROW: Join #BannedBooksWeek youth honorary chair Iris Mogul & student advocates from around the country for a conversation about how young people can fight book bans! 10/8, 3pmCT

bit.ly/YouthFightingBookBans

#BannedBooksWeek #CensorshipIsSo1984

w/ @ncacensorship.bsky.social

A fight for our rights: Youth fighting book bans. A conversation with student leaders moderated by Banned Books Week youth honorary chair Iris Mogul. October 8, 2025, 3:00 p.m. CT. Register: bit.ly/YouthFightingBookBans

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Malinda Lo @malindalo.bsky.social · 3d

Last week, PEN America released its fourth annual report on the state of book banning and censorship in America, and I learned that Last Night at the Telegraph Club was the fourth most banned book in schools during the 2024-25 school year. How do I feel about it? www.malindalo.com/blog/2025/10...

Telegraph Club is the 4th most banned book in America — Malinda Lo

Last week, PEN America released its fourth annual report on the state of book banning and censorship in America, and I learned that Last Night at the Telegraph Club was the fourth most banned book...

www.malindalo.com

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Kweli Journal @kwelijournal.bsky.social · 3d

❤️💐 Congratulations to SONG OF MY SOFTENING by Omotara James, whom we were thrilled to have at Kweli’s International Literary Festival in 2022!

Lambda Literary @lambdaliterary.org · 5d

🎉🎉🎉 Congratulations to the 2025 Lambda Literary Award Winner for Lesbian Poetry: Song of My Softening by Omotara James! 🎉🎉🎉
#Lammys2025 #LammyAwards

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Malinda Lo @malindalo.bsky.social · 3d

It's Banned Books Week! It's time for the MA legislature to pass a Freedom to Read bill that protects librarians & educators from harassment, and protects authors, creators, booksellers & publishers from economic harm. I support An Act Regarding Free Expression (H.3594/S.2328). #MassFreedomToRead

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Lee & Low Books @leeandlow.bsky.social · 3d

It's Banned Books Week. The topic of banned books is something Lee & Low is (unfortunately) very familiar with given our commitment to publishing diverse children's books. We don't hide the fact that we specifically focus on publishing diverse titles, nor will we ever hide that fact.

Banned Books Week. Oct. 5-11, 2025. Censorship is so 1984. Read for Your Rights. Ala.org/bbooks. ALA American Library Association.

La semana de los libros prohibidos. Oct. 5-11, 2025. La censura es tan 1984. Lee por tus derechos. Ala.org/bbooks. ALA American Library Association.

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Kweli Journal @kwelijournal.bsky.social · 4d

We were thrilled when author Shifa Saltagi Safadi joined us at our #kidlit Color of Children’s Literature Conference this past spring!

Penguin School & Library @penguinschoollib.bsky.social · 4d

The Global Read Aloud starts today! If you're sharing KAREEM BETWEEN with your class as part of the #GRA25, get free resources to help bring this book to life for your readers! #EduSky #TLSky

Kareem Between - Penguin Classroom Portal

**WINNER of the NATIONAL BOOK AWARD for Young People’s Literature** This heartfelt coming-of-age novel in verse tells the powerful story of a seventh-grade Syrian American boy and his struggles, big a...

www.penguinclassroom.com

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Unite Against Book Bans @uabookbans.bsky.social · 5d

#LetFreedomReadDay is in ONE WEEK! On 10/11, take at least ONE action to help defend books from censorship and speak up for those who make them available. Find resources/tools + actions you can take in just 5 mins: uniteagainstbookbans.org/let-freedom-read-day #BannedBooksWeek #UniteAgainstBookBans

On a grayscale background of a stack of books are the Banned Books Week Coalition, Unite Against Book Bans, and Let Freedom Read Day logos. Text reads: October 11, 2025. Banned Books Week. Oct. 5 - 11, 2025. UniteAgainstBookBans.org/let-freedom-read-day

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Kweli Journal @kwelijournal.bsky.social · 8d

#KweliLitFest25 opens w/ a weekend-long program, Sat, OCT 18 - Sun, OCT 19, featuring master classes, craft talks, and more.

Opening weekend FEATURED WRITERS include:

Sarah Aziza,
Edwidge Danticat,
Xochitl Gonzalez,
Nicole Dennis-Benn,
Dinaw Mengestu,
+ MORE!
🤩

Kweli Journal @kwelijournal.bsky.social · 8d

🎉 Writers of color, get ready!

#KweliLitFest25 is coming up October 18-28!

By us, for us: Kweli International Literary Festival 2025 is exclusively for emerging #BIPOC writers of adult literature, led by some of the most celebrated writers of color working today!

Program announcement for Kweli International Literary Festival featuring a painting by Patrick Dougher. Text:
2025 Kweli International Literary Festival
October 18 - October 28
Opening Weekend
New York Law School
Saturday, October 18 - Sunday, October 19
Closing Multimedia Event
Akwaaba BK
Tuesday, October 28
“Diaspora Daughter” by Patrick Dougher

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Penguin School & Library @penguinschoollib.bsky.social · 8d

#BannedBooksWeek is next week. Use this moment to get active in your community in the fight against censorship. Get actionable ideas and resources at bannedbooksweek.org.

Banned Books Week Graphic. Oct 5-11, 2025

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Kweli Journal @kwelijournal.bsky.social · 9d

Stay tuned for registration details coming soon!

Kweli Journal @kwelijournal.bsky.social · 9d

Megha Majumdar is the widely acclaimed author of the NYT bestselling novel A BURNING, nominated for the National Book Award, the National Book Critics Circle’s John Leonard Prize, and the Carnegie Medal.

Her highly anticipated second novel A GUARDIAN AND A THIEF is forthcoming.

Program announcement for KweliLitFest25 featuring a photo of participating keynote speaker, Megha Majumdar. Text:
KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Megha Majumdar
2025 Kweli International Literary Festival
OCTOBER 18 - OCTOBER 28

Kweli Journal @kwelijournal.bsky.social · 9d

Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah, a National Book Foundation 5 Under 35 honoree, whose acclaimed debut FRIDAY BLACK was a NYT bestseller, won the PEN/Jean Stein Book Award, among other honors. His novel CHAIN-GANG ALL-STARS was a National Book Award finalist and a NYT Top Ten Book of the Year.

Program announcement for KweliLitFest25 featuring a photo of participating keynote speaker, Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah. Text: KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah
2025 Kweli International Literary Festival
OCTOBER 18 - OCTOBER 28