In Black Ink

In Black Ink In Black Ink - Seeks to Create a Rich Literary Culture in the African heritage community in Minnesota

WHO ARE WE:
In Black Ink (IBI) seeks to create spaces where the intergenerational stories about Minnesotans of African heritage can be shared, documented, and archived. MISSION:
In Black Ink provides publishing arts initiatives and opportunities to communities that have been disenfranchised historically, and continue to be presently. IBI’s cultural literacy programming mitigates the damage of econ

omic, educational, and cultural inequities that are the result of past and current prejudice and discrimination. Specifically, In Black Ink fosters a network and platform for Minnesotans of African descent who are story tellers, writers, authors, editors, desktop publishers, graphic artists/book illustrators, market and distribution experts. In Black Ink creates spaces where the stories and voices of people of African heritage are celebrated, documented and archived through publications, professional development training/opportunities, and public presentations.

Book clubs matter
05/31/2026

Book clubs matter

What a busy May! We are now officially halfway through 2026. We apologize for not updating those of you who have become ...
05/28/2026

What a busy May! We are now officially halfway through 2026. We apologize for not updating those of you who have become accustomed to our happenings reported in our newsletter. It will return soon. Until then, gratitude goes out to all who continue to come out to check out what we do, extend support, and join ranks as partners. We enjoyed hosting the Pay Attention group for their last board meeting here in the IBI studio. Also, thank you for the opportunity to present our newest venture to you.

Thank you to the 200 Mounds View and Irondale students, staff, and parents who visited In Black Ink last week! Shoutout ...
05/28/2026

Thank you to the 200 Mounds View and Irondale students, staff, and parents who visited In Black Ink last week!

Shoutout to all those brilliant 10-12 grade students for their questions, interest, and engagement! Over the course of 4 hours, we were able to rotate smaller groups of students through our office space.

We continue to be grateful to Dr. Shakita Thomas-Kpetay for organizing this opportunity for the last 3 years and appreciate Alexander Gray, from Irondale, and Jenna Claflin from Mounds View for continuing this annual visit. It is inspiring to see students reach out for feedback on ways to connect further with the community and ways to build and improve their own writing and/or literary skills.

May Noname Book Club Twin Cities MeetingThis month we'll be reading Brotherhood by Mohamed Mbougar Sarr, which explores ...
05/19/2026

May Noname Book Club Twin Cities Meeting

This month we'll be reading Brotherhood by Mohamed Mbougar Sarr, which explores themes of totalitarianism, cowardice, and courage, focusing on two parallel narratives: grieving mothers writing letters and a group of intellectuals attempting to publish an underground newspaper to fight the regime's brutality.

Saturday, May 30th, 1pm-3pm

In Black Ink, 848a Selby Ave, St Paul, MN 55104

In Black Ink visited its sister publishing house in Baltimore, Maryland. As far as we know, BCP Digital Printing is the ...
05/15/2026

In Black Ink visited its sister publishing house in Baltimore, Maryland. As far as we know, BCP Digital Printing is the only Black owned and operated BOOK printing press in the US!
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Out of Baltimore Maryland ... Black-owned and family-owned publishing and printing businesses for over 40 + years!

Paul Coates founded in 1978, Black Classic Press which is devoted to publishing obscure and significant works by and about people of African descent. They specialize in republishing works that are out of print and quite often out of memory. They began publishing because we wanted to extend the memory of what we believe are important books that have helped in meaningful ways to shape the Black diasporic experience and our understanding of the world. Black Classic Press, Inc.

https://www.blackclassicbooks.com

The Coates family in 1995 started BCP Digital Printing started as a complementary business to Black Classic Press, which is a niche book publishing company we founded in 1978. In our early days, we printed books for our parent company and a few independent publishers. More than two decades later, we’ve become experts at providing a wide range of book printing services with over 4 million books printed!

https://www.agooddaytoprint.com
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063695317319

In Black Ink visiting Everyone’s Place: Bookstore and African Cultural Center in Baltimore. Tons of fabulous books, clot...
05/13/2026

In Black Ink visiting Everyone’s Place: Bookstore and African Cultural Center in Baltimore. Tons of fabulous books, clothes, jewelry, art and other cultural items. A family owned business partnering Africa World Press from Trenton, NJ. Make sure you check it out next time you visit the DC/Maryland area.

Their link: https://www.facebook.com/share/1NgbuHubM4/?mibextid=wwXIfr

4/23/2026 - Reclaiming History: The Importance of Black Literature in Modern Society. (Podcast)Tony Browder and Paul Coa...
04/24/2026

4/23/2026 - Reclaiming History: The Importance of Black Literature in Modern Society. (Podcast)

Tony Browder and Paul Coates sat down at Black Books Matter Fest and broke down the real economics of Black publishing — who profits, who controls the narrative, and what it actually costs us to outsource our voice.

If you went to a traditional publisher, you’d keep 5–7% of every book you sold. If you self-publish and sell direct? 100%. So why are we still asking for permission to tell our own stories? This is the conversation your English teacher never had with you.

New episode of Mahogany Books Front Row at this link below:

http://tun.in/tLsbLz

The dialogue in this podcast episode offers a profound exploration of the significance of literature in African American history and identity. Tony Browder and Paul Coates engage in a spirited discussion at the 2025 Black Books Matter Fest that underscores the essential role that books play in the reclamation of history and the empowerment of marginalized voices. Browder articulates the historical challenges faced by the African diaspora in accessing their narratives, positing that literature serves as a vital vessel for understanding one’s heritage. He emphasizes that knowledge is not merely preserved in oral traditions but also enshrined in books, making them indispensable for future generations. This episode serves as a clarion call to the community, urging listeners to invest in and support Black authors and publishers, thereby ensuring the continuity of these narratives. Furthermore, the conversation delves into Browder's recent shift in focus from Egyptian study tours to engaging with European museums, highlighting the persistent struggle against erasure and appropriation of African history and culture. Through their dialogue, Browder and Coates encourage a collective effort to preserve and promote Black literature, reinforcing the imperative of self-education and community engagement in the face of systemic challenges. Takeaways: Hosts & Guests: Paul Coates and Anthony Browder

Duration:00:46:15

Address

848A Selby Avenue
Saint Paul, MN
55104

Opening Hours

Tuesday 9:30am - 2pm
Wednesday 9:30am - 5pm
Thursday 9:30am - 2pm
Friday 10am - 2pm

Telephone

+16512316604

Website

https://linktr.ee/InBlackInk

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