Inside Third World Press Tours: Celebrating Gwendolyn Brooks

Step inside one of the most important independent Black publishing houses in the world—through the lens of Malcolm X.

This special June 2 tour of Third World Press Foundation connects the legacy of Gwendolyn Brooks to Black publishing, political consciousness, and the power of the written word.

Founded during the Black Arts Movement by Haki R. Madhubuti, Third World Press has long served as a space where literature meets liberation—echoing many of the ideas Malcolm X advanced about self-determination, truth-telling, and cultural identity.

This is more than a tour. It is a guided cultural experience grounded in history, storytelling, and public scholarship.

Info: Begin with he historical moment that shaped both Third World Press and Brooks’ later work. Explore how Brooks moved from national literary recognition to active investment in Black cultural institutions.

Info: Examine how Brooks and her contemporaries used poetry as a tool for political consciousness, cultural preservation, and community building.

Info: Examine how poetry and publishing became tools for political education, identity formation, and resistance.

Info: Engage with archival materials that reflect the intellectual and cultural environment Brooks helped shape. Learn how her presence influenced a generation of writers and publishers.

Info: Step into the working space of a living literary legacy. This stop offers a rare, behind-the-scenes perspective on the philosophy and discipline behind the press.

Info: The tour concludes with a reflection on how Gwendolyn Brooks' legacy lives on. Guests are invited to: browse and purchase books, receive a tour-exclusive discount, reflect on Brook' continued influence on literature and culture.

Know what’s Happening Next — before everyone else does.

Get App

Host or Publisher Third World Press Foundation