About TWP - Message From Publisher

For over forty years, Third World Press has introduced to the reading public, books that encourage creativity, inspire intellect, engender pride and spur critical debate over issues of race, culture, politics, and social health. We reach those in our society who will take special care to provide literature those who read for their own knowledge, interest, and/or entertainment.

Third World Press, the standard bearer for progressive Black literature, has published the works of such legendary writers like the late Illinois Poet Laureate and Pulitzer Prize recipient Gwendolyn Brooks, poet, essayist and TWP founder Haki R. Madhubuti, legendary poets Amiri Baraka, Sonia Sanchez, Mari Evans, and Margaret Walker; respected historians, including Jacob Carruthers, John Henrik Clarke and Chancellor Williams; Chicago institutions like Sterling Plumpp and Useni Eugene Perkins; playwright and producer Woody King Jr.; writers, Kalamu ya Salaam, Pearl Cleage, Ruby Dee, Ruth Garnett, Keorapetse Kgositsile and Derrick Bell.

We continue on with the tradition of publishing noted black authors like multi-media activist Julianne Malveaux, critically acclaimed novelist Gloria Naylor and nationally renowned physician Dr. Carl C. Bell. We break emerging and talented writers like Kelly Norman Ellis, Quraysh Ali Lansana, Tony Medina and Opal Moore.

Must-have TWP releases include Gwendolyn Brook's last collection of poetry, In Montgomery and Other Poems ; Eric Lee Bowers' book that became a movie, Asunder ; the inspirational story of Dolores E. Cross, Breaking through the Wall: A Marathoner's Story ; Lily Golden's poignant memoir My Long Journey Home and Abe Thompson's inspirational guide, My Thoughts, Your Journal, Our Book .

Cutting-edge poetry titles now available: Velvet BeBop Kente Cloth by Sterling D. Plumpp; Tougaloo Blues by Kelly Norman Ellis, Lot's Daughters by Opal Moore, Run Toward Fear by Haki R. Madhubuti, Committed to Breathing by Tony Medina, La Brigada: Spain 1936-1939 by Cranston Knight and They Shall Run: Harriet Tubman Poems by Quraysh Ali Lansana.

Look out for these forthcoming titles: Paradox of Loyalty: An African American Response to the War on Terrorism (paperback edition with new essays) edited by Julianne Malveaux and Reginna M. Green; The Sanity of Survival: Reflections on Community Mental Health by Carl C. Bell, M.D; 1996 by Gloria Naylor; Race, Rage, and Roses by Regina Jennings; Harvesting New Generations by Useni Eugene Perkins; Crisis of the Black Intellectual by W.D. Wright and Clarity as Concept: A Poet's Perspective by Mari Evans.

We do more than sell books. We serve our community. Outreach efforts include our Poetry 101 series, where we introduce poetry to the community and promote literacy as a tool of empowerment. Our Celebrating Women Writers series does just that: spotlight the visionary and evocative works of our women writers. Third World Press developed a Black Male Development Symposium in 2003 to uplift and inspire the men of our community, because we realize the importance of a healthy and empowered black family unit.

Over the years, Third World Press served as advisor for the publishing branch of the Institute of Positive Education (IPE), a community resource and research center specializing in education and communications that began in 1969. IPE also runs the New Concept School (est. 1971), a fully accredited preschool, the Bethune Teacher's Training Program and the Betty Shabazz International Charter School (1998).

The New York Times newspaper fashions itself as the newspaper of record for news events. Similarly, Third World Press is the literary institution of record that, for thirty-seven years, has documented the artistic, intellectual and spiritual strivings of Africans across the Diaspora. By providing a showcase for the vital works of best selling authors and the prosperous words of emerging literary talent, Third World Press solidifies its position as the most important publisher of progressive Black discourse and critique.