Readers, writers and creatives gathered for the Well-Read Black Girl Festival, an all-day event centered on the theme “The Living Archive: Art, Memory, and Civic Imagination,” celebrating Black women’s voices and creative expression. The festival was held on March 27th at the National Museum of Women in the Arts, where I attended and spoke with attendees and the event’s founder about the gathering’s impact.
The festival brought together authors, artists and attendees to explore how storytelling and creativity can preserve cultural memory and shape collective identity. Through panel discussions and community engagement, the event emphasized the role of Black women in documenting personal and shared histories.
Inside the auditorium, the atmosphere felt familiar and welcoming. Surrounded by Black women of different backgrounds and generations, the space reflected a sense of comfort, shared humor and connection that felt like a sisterhood.
The poetry panel stood out as a highlight, with poets Alexa Patrick and Elizabeth Acevedo reflecting on how their upbringings shaped their creative journeys. Their conversations echoed themes of identity, resilience and storytelling, reinforcing how personal experiences often serve as the foundation for creative expression.
For me, hearing those reflections felt impactful. As someone passionate about storytelling, I found myself connecting not only to their words but to the intention behind them, using stories to bridge experiences and bring people together in ways that feel almost poetic.
For many attendees, the festival offered a similar sense of connection and belonging. During the event, I had the opportunity to speak with attendees and the festival’s founder about the importance of the space and its impact on the community.
Amma Addo, a returning attendee who first experienced the festival in Brooklyn, said she was eager to attend again after relocating to Washington. “I went to the first two, and when I was able to go this year, I was like, yes,” Addo said.
She mentioned the space is especially meaningful because it allows people to connect with others who share a love of reading and storytelling. “It’s always great to meet other bibliophiles of color and build a network and community.”
Throughout the event, panel discussions encouraged attendees to think about storytelling in new ways, including the idea of individuals as living archives. “I never thought of the individual as an archive,” Addo said. “We all have stories to tell and fit into the narrative of not only our individual histories, but our family history.”
The festival’s founder, Glory Edim, said that centering Black women’s voices has always been the event’s core mission. “It was important for me to center Black women’s voices because that is always my goal.” She emphasized that the festival aims to create a space where attendees feel both inspired and supported in their creative journeys. “We want them to feel excited, enthusiastic and ultimately supported in every area of their creative journey,” she said.
Edim added that the event also fosters an intergenerational community, bringing together people at different stages of life to learn from and uplift one another. “You can look around and see elders, college students, high school students – everyone’s at a different stage where they can support each other.”
As the festival continues to grow, organizers hope it remains a space where Black women can share their stories, build community and feel empowered to pursue their creative goals.
Leaving the festival, it was clear that the space offered more than conversation. It created a sense of belonging. Being surrounded by Black women sharing stories, laughter and their experiences reinforced the importance of spaces where voices are not only heard but valued.
As someone passionate about storytelling, I found that the experience reinforced how powerful it is to connect stories across communities. In that space, storytelling felt not only creative but personal and communal.
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Featured image/photo courtesy of the author.