On the eve of being named a recipient of the 2024 Just Brooklyn Prize, OlaRonke Akinmowo moved through The Free Black Women’s Library in a light stride, singing softly between the chairs as volunteers and Hunter MSW interns settled in around her. They were gathered in anticipation of the release of Wicked for Good, sharing an easy mix of conversation and preparation before a later neighborhood meeting on arts and cultural funding. Akinmowo said she was not leading that discussion, describing the evening as “another chance for collaborative learning” and a reminder that the library works best through shared effort.
Akinmowo is the founder of The Free Black Women’s Library, a brick and mortar literary hub at 226 Marcus Garvey Boulevard in Bedford Stuyvesant. The space holds more than 5000 books written by Black women and Black non binary authors, adorned from front to back with titles rarely found in traditional collections. She is one of five nonprofit founders selected to receive this year’s Just Brooklyn Prize from the Social Justice Fund at Brooklyn Org, which recognizes Brooklyn leaders advancing social, racial, and economic justice.
Brooklyn Org leadership highlighted the significance of this year’s honorees. “We started the Just Brooklyn Prize as a collective ‘thank you’ to honor community leaders. We hope that our support allows them to breathe easier while they continue to do their great work,” said Clara Wu Tsai, founder of the Social Justice Fund and owner of the Brooklyn Nets, New York Liberty, and Barclays Center. “I’m inspired by their efforts to expand access to the arts, increase mentorship opportunities, and address community safety issues. Their work makes Brooklyn a better home to us all.”
The library began in 2015 with 100 books stacked on Akinmowo’s staircase. It first grew as a traveling library built on the principle of equivalent exchange, appearing at street festivals and public events. Over the last decade, that early collection has multiplied into a permanent community anchor. The central floor now hosts film screenings, crochet circles, beekeeping demonstrations, weekend art classes, book swaps, writing workshops, and critical conversations, with weekly updates shared through the library’s Instagram.
Beyond its programming, The Free Black Women’s Library operates as a community care space. Visitors can access free menstrual supplies, snacks, water, hygiene products, and clothing from the free store. Akinmowo said the no questions asked system is intentional. “You don’t have to worry about anybody asking if you deserve what you are getting,” she said. “Even when you go to social services you have to prove you need it. Here you can grab crackers or chips, fill your water bottle, send an email, and leave. Not having that pressure is helpful to someone who is already struggling.”
Although the library is not government funded like NYPL or BPL, Akinmowo said its purpose is the same. She describes it as “a place of learning, a place of knowledge, a place where people get information and where it is used as a community resource.” As a multidisciplinary artist, she also sees it as a social art project and Black feminist archive sustained by the community it serves.
Akinmowo said receiving the Just Brooklyn Prize feels “surreal,” adding that she is grateful for the recognition of a project built on care, consistency, and collective trust. The honorees will be celebrated at Brooklyn Org’s upcoming ceremony. Photos by Enoch Naklen
