Back in 2015, I helped launch the Blerd Book Club. It was a refreshing corner of the internet where self-declared Black nerds like myself (blerds) could come together, form community and wrap our minds around reading books. During that time, we selected a book each month and held public discussions on what was then called Twitter, now known as X. We also invited authors to join us in conversations around our monthly selections, ranging from indie voices to well-known names. For example, Issa Rae stopped by to chat about her book The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl.
I’d love to create something similar in this space. With the connections and rapport I’ve built over the past decade with the BGN brand, I’ve developed strong relationships with a range of publishers and authors. My goal is to turn this into a space where book lovers can truly connect over what they love most: reading.
I also want to serve as a conduit for marginalized authors who are not always afforded the same opportunities to get their names out there, creating a space where they can be seen and heard. I admire what Bindery is doing for authors, and I’d love to be part of that ecosystem. I also want to amplify authors more intentionally in my work as a content creator.
We welcome everyone to be part of this community. You don’t have to be a BGN member or a blerd per se, but you do need to come with allyship and a genuine support for what this book club represents. More to come soon as we're just getting started here on Bindery and look forward to the beginning of something really groundbreaking here.
-J
