Black Womantalk

Black Womantalk was a London-based British publishing cooperative established in 1983 by a group of unemployed Black women of African and Asian descent. The cooperative emerged from a desire to create practical space for Black women to speak, write, perform and publish on their own terms. Its work addressed the limited visibility and institutional access available to Black women writers in Britain, combining literary activity with collective organisation. The cooperative’s activities centered on open readings, writing workshops and other events intended to support Black women writers. Rather than functioning solely as a conventional publisher, Black Womantalk acted as a community and cultural platform: it helped writers develop work, provided opportunities for public presentation and produced anthologies that brought multiple voices together. The organisation therefore connected literary publishing with grassroots cultural activism and the creation of independent networks. The founding group initially consisted of eight members. Members identified in accounts of the cooperative include Olivette Cole Wilson and Bernardine Evaristo, alongside Da Choong and Gabriela Pearse. By 1989, the cooperative had narrowed to three members: Cole Wilson, Da Choong and Gabriela Pearse. The change indicates that the organisation operated as a small collective rather than as a large commercial publishing house. Black Womantalk’s best-known publications were two anthologies. Black Women Talk Poetry, published in 1987, collected poetry by Black women and reflected the cooperative’s focus on making Black women’s literary expression visible. Don’t Ask Me Why, published in 1991, assembled short stories by Black women and extended the project into prose fiction. Both books were edited collectively by members and associated contributors, demonstrating the cooperative’s editorial and publishing role. The available historical record concentrates on Black Womantalk’s founding, literary events, workshops and publications. It does not establish a current operating structure, present ownership, continuing publication program or current website. Its documented significance lies in its contribution to the development of independent Black women’s literary and cultural spaces in Britain during the 1980s and early 1990s.

Black Womantalk was founded in London in 1983 by eight unemployed Black women of African and Asian descent. The cooperative was created in response to the lack of space, resources and publishing opportunities available to Black women writers. Its founding purpose was to establish collective means for Black women’s voices to be heard, rather than relying exclusively on existing literary institutions. The organisation developed a program of open readings and workshops. These activities gave writers opportunities to share work publicly, exchange ideas and build a supportive literary community. The cooperative’s work belonged to both the publishing and cultural-organising spheres: it supported creative development while also creating platforms through which Black women’s writing could reach readers and audiences. Among the members associated with Black Womantalk were Olivette Cole Wilson, Bernardine Evaristo, Da Choong and Gabriela Pearse. By 1989, the membership had been reduced to three people—Cole Wilson, Da Choong and Pearse—illustrating the small-scale and collective nature of the organisation. The available account does not provide a complete chronology of membership changes or identify a separate executive structure. Black Womantalk produced two documented anthologies. Black Women Talk Poetry appeared in 1987 and was edited by Black Womantalk, Da Choong, Olivette Cole Wilson, Bernardine Evaristo and Gabriela Pearce. The volume represented the cooperative’s poetry work and its effort to circulate writing by Black women. In 1991, Da Choong, Olivette Cole Wilson and Sylvia Parker edited Don’t Ask Me Why: An Anthology of Short Stories by Black Women, published by Black Womantalk Press. This second anthology broadened the cooperative’s documented publishing activity from poetry into short fiction. The historical materials available for the subject end primarily with the 1991 publication. They do not establish whether Black Womantalk continued operating afterward, whether it was formally dissolved or whether its publishing activities were transferred to another organisation. Its documented legacy is as an early British cooperative that combined independent publishing, literary events and workshops to support Black women writers of African and Asian descent.

• 1991

  Don't Ask Me Why published

  [1]Black Womantalken.wikipedia.org

  Black Womantalk Press issued an anthology of short stories by Black women, edited by Da Choong, Olivette Cole Wilson and Sylvia Parker.

• 1989

  Membership reduced to three

  [1]Black Womantalken.wikipedia.org

  The documented membership consisted of Olivette Cole Wilson, Da Choong and Gabriela Pearse.

• 1987

  Black Women Talk Poetry published

  [1]Black Womantalken.wikipedia.org

  The cooperative published its first documented anthology, a collection of poetry by Black women.

• 1983

  Cooperative founded

  [1]Black Womantalken.wikipedia.org

  Black Womantalk was established in London by a group of eight unemployed Black women of African and Asian descent seeking to create independent space and means for their voices to be heard.

An independent, community-oriented literary cooperative focused on publishing, supporting and showcasing Black women writers of African and Asian descent in Britain.

• Poetry anthology · 1987

  Black Women Talk Poetry

  A 1987 poetry anthology published by the Black Womantalk Cooperative. The collection represented the organisation’s effort to provide a dedicated publishing outlet for Black women’s poetry and to bring their work into wider literary circulation. It was edited by Black Womantalk together with Da Choong, Olivette Cole Wilson, Bernardine Evaristo and Gabriela Pearce.

• Short-story anthology · 1991

  Don't Ask Me Why

  A 1991 anthology of short stories by Black women, published by Black Womantalk Press. Edited by Da Choong, Olivette Cole Wilson and Sylvia Parker, the book extended the cooperative’s documented publishing program beyond poetry and presented a collective selection of Black women’s prose fiction.

1. 1Black Womantalken.wikipedia.org