WATCH: Black WorldSchoolers: Expanding Access to Black Literature

In central Indiana, Natalie Pipkin and DeAndra Beard-Ingram are spearheading an initiative to celebrate Black history, culture, and joy through literature year-round. Pipkin’s Black WorldSchoolers Mobile Bookstore, a pioneering venture in Indiana, traverses the Midwest to increase access to literature often absent from traditional educational settings. Meanwhile, Beard-Ingram, having relocated her bookstore to Indianapolis, is launching a virtual book club, Reading Beyond Racism, aimed at fostering a safe space for healing and collective liberation. Their efforts are particularly crucial in the current climate, as there are deliberate attempts to erase and reshape Black history.