Marita Golden: "How to Become a Black Writer"

Award-winning author Marita Golden explores her writing career and how the igniting power of storytelling is still inspiring generations of Black authors today.

A lifetime of stories to tell. Growing up, Marita would listen to bedtime stories of Sojourner Truth, Frederick Douglass, and many other champions of Black history. Now a champion herself in the literary world, she shares her story in a motivational autobiography you will never forget. How to Become a Black Writer details Marita Golden’s life, career, and the most cherished memories she made along the way. From nurturing her passions during the civil rights movement to celebrating her 40th writing anniversary in D.C., Marita shows that every dreamer can inspire others with their story.

A love letter to Black authors and readers. How to Become a Black Writer is not only just Marita’s story, but can also be the start of yours. Inside, you’ll find lessons and instructions based on her experiences during the renaissance of Black literature to help you cultivate your voice. Featuring timeless knowledge that helped not only Marita, but bestselling storytellers like Nzotake Shange and Toni Morrison, you, too can make a big change in the book publishing world.

Discover meaningful events and the people behind them that helped Marita Golden to become the leading icon she is today, such as:

• How she was mentored under feminist poet Audre Lorde
• Life as a groundbreaking journalist at Essence Magazine
• Co-founding and leading the Hurston-Wright Foundation to help publish Black stories

So if you’re looking for more motivational memoirs like Dear Black Girl, Legacy, or Badass Black Girl, you’ll love How to Become a Black Writer.

Marita Golden will be joined in conversation by poet Abdul Ali.

About the Author:

Marita Golden is an award-winning author of over twenty works of fiction and nonfiction. Her books include the novels The Wide Circumference of Love, and After and the memoirs Migrations of the Heart, Saving Our Sons and Don’t Play in the Sun: One Woman’s Journey Through the Color Complex. Her most recent work of nonfiction is The New Black Woman: Loves Herself Has Boundaries Heals Every Day a sequel to her book The Strong Black Woman: How a Myth Endangers the Physical and Mental Health of Black Women. Her latest book is How to Become A Black Writer: Creating and Honoring Black Stories that Matter.

About the Moderator:

Abdul Ali—poet, writer, and cultural worker—was most recently program director of the Maryland State Council’s County Arts and A&E Districts programs. And before that, he was the program coordinator at the Community College of Baltimore County (CCBC) of a major grant from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, the nation’s largest funder in arts, culture, and humanities in higher education. Mr. Ali has held distinguished teaching appointments at Johns Hopkins University, Howard University, and Goucher College. He is the recipient of the 2019 Ruby Grant, from the Robert Deutsch Foundation. His debut collection of poems, Trouble Sleeping, won the 2014 New Issues Poetry Book Prize.

About the Program:

• Doors will open to registered attendees at 6 pm.
• All registered in-person attendees will receive a free copy of the book.
• Free parking vouchers are available to program attendees who park at the Franklin Street Garage (15 W. Franklin Street) after 4pm. Ask Pratt event staff for your parking voucher prior to or after the program.
• There is no registration required for virtual attendance, simply visit the Enoch Pratt Free Library's Facebook or Youtube page.

Host or Publisher Enoch Pratt Free Library