As part of my Writing for the Arts class, I was instructed to profile the Lexington Organization, the Black Writers Collaborative, and to interview one of its founders, Jude McPherson. Through this profile, I will connect the organization with the work of Writer William Cronon and his article “Only Connect,” which highlights ideals of a liberal arts education.
The Black Writer’s Collaborative creates a safe space for Black writers and learners to share ideas, receive feedback, and learn. The organization was founded with the goal of making institutional change in the education system in light of the barriers that racism has created around learning for people of color. The group focuses primarily on creating reformations in the Carnegie Center in Lexington, which had a racist and segregated past. This group’s mission and work exhibit numerous connections to the central ideas of liberal education outlined in the article “Only Connect” by William Cronon. The Black Writers Collaborative is rooted in the ideals of connection to community, freedom, and growth —principles that comprise the foundation of liberal education.
Cronon describes what he feels encapsulates a liberal education, stating, “Freedom and growth: here, surely, are values that lie at the very core of what we mean when we speak of a liberal education.” The Black Writers Collaborative’s staff and work are founded on these principles, breaking barriers created by discrimination. The team works to ensure that Black students feel comfortable using their voices and are not held back by racism in educational spaces. The team’s founders enforce anti-discrimination policies, offer free classes, and provide a judgment-free space for Black students. Coordinators, Claudia Love Mair and Jude McPherson, operate the organization, enabling the inclusion of Black individuals at every stage of the process.
The organization also hosts community events such as Burn the Mic, a poetry reading for people of color, and The Book and Literature club, which celebrates black authors from Kentucky and discusses characters in their books who face oppression. These programs, along with the classes they offer, provide the freedom that Black students need to bridge gaps in the educational system. They create a space that not only supports Black students but is made specifically for them.
Focusing on those who are underrepresented and facing barriers in the structural and societal foundations of our country is not only important but necessary. This places the freedom and choice to learn and grow as a student back in the hands of those from whom it was taken. Cronon states, “I have asserted that liberal education in particular is about nurturing human freedom—helping young people discover and hone their talents.” This is precisely the work that the Black Writers’ Collaborative undertakes through programs like these.
During my interview, Jude McPherson disclosed that recent funding cuts have affected their group. He mentioned that hours and profit had been scaled down due to these cuts. Regardless, he assured me that the group was capable of making it through, stating, “We’re a creative group… there’s nothing that’s going to keep us from our mission.” A critical element for organizations like these is that they often operate with little to no funding, yet still keep their mission alive. He mentioned that the group had continued despite the lack of funding and that they would now be able to persevere as well. Cronon stated that an integral part of solving problems is being able to “put reality back together again after having broken it into pieces.” I feel that the Black writer’s collaborative ability to continue pursuing their mission in a world geared against it perfectly encapsulates this.
The organization was established to combat institutional racism, both in its entirety and within the Carnegie Center. They also strive to be a part of structural change. During our Interview, Jude mentioned that saying ‘Black Lives Matter’ isn’t enough; you have to make a change. Jude placed a strong emphasis on the idea that visual and vocal acts of support for BLM were helpful, but they weren’t enough. He believes that one of the most important things you can do is create societal and institutional change in the world, which is precisely what the BWC aims to achieve. Through their organization, they make a significant impact on the education system, creating an institution that promotes the education of Black students and students of color. This provides a real-world application that places value on the lives of Black people in our community.
The Black Writer’s Collaborative places a strong emphasis on nurturing and empowering Black students and writers to use their voices and create a space that assists in their development as learners. This is an essential part of the organization’s mission, as it strives to create a judgment-free environment where Black students can feel comfortable expressing their voices.
The Black Writers Collaborative emphasizes community, particularly through programs such as Burn the Mic and the Book and Literature Club. Cronon comments, “Education for human freedom is also education for human community.” Through these programs, the BWC provides a safe space for people of color to express their creativity and use their voice. When asked about how the programs generate community, Jude discusses how often Black people don’t feel comfortable using their voice because they have been taught that what they have to say and what they care about does not matter. Still, through the Burn the Mic event, he is able to provide them with a community that does care and a space where their voices are both heard and valued.
Above all else, the most essential connection between the ideas of Only Connect and the mission of the BWC is the emphasis on how, through connection, we can make the world a better place. Cronon comments, “In the end, it turns out that liberty is not about thinking or saying or doing whatever we want. It is about exercising our freedom in such a way as to make a difference in the world, and make a difference for more than just ourselves.” This statement is at the heart of the work the Black Writers Collaborative does, as they use their community to create change in the lives of those who are underrepresented, and bring people together for the purpose of learning and creating.
