This author started a nationwide book club-turned-literacy nonprofit that celebrates the life-changing power of literature.
Gloria Edim is an author, activist, and the founder of Well-Read Black Girl, a nationwide book club-turned-literacy non-profit that celebrates the life-changing power of literature. Well-Read Black Girl’s mission is to use literature as a tool for advocacy and collective empowerment. Glory has won numerous awards for her work supporting and sustaining literature, including the 2017 Innovator’s Award from the Los Angeles Times Book Prizes and the Madam C.J. Walker Award from the Hurston/Wright Foundation. Her best-selling anthology, Well-Read Black Girl: Finding Our Stories, Discovering Ourselves, was published in 2018; followed by On Girlhood: 15 Stories from the Well-Read Black Girl Library in 2021. Her debut memoir, Gather Me: A Memoir in Praise of the Books That Saved Me, explores the intimate relationship between literature and self-transformation. She resides in Washington D.C. with her son, Zikomo.
What does being a feminist mean to you?
Being a Black feminist means advocating for the liberation, dignity, and equity of women and girls; recognizing how race, gender, and other identities intersect, and fighting for justice in all forms.
You have done such incredible work inspiring more people to read. Where did your love of reading begin?
My love of reading began with mother. My mom nurtured my curiosity; she was always reading herself and made sure our home was filled with books. Books became my refuge and my joy at an early age. Discovering writers like Toni Morrison, Zora Neale Hurston, and Maya Angelou as I got older deepened my love for literature and affirmed the beauty and power of Black stories. I think that's why I’m so passionate about inspiring others to read — because books were my foundation, and they can be transformative for anyone.
We love the work that you’re doing at Well-Read Black Girl. What inspired you to start Well-Read Black Girl?
Well-Read Black Girl was born out of a desire to celebrate the voices, stories, and experiences of Black women and other marginalized communities in literature. It started as a personal journey — I’ve always loved reading and found myself deeply inspired by books like I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings and The Color Purple. Those incredible works of literature made me feel seen and gave me a sense of belonging. I wanted to create a space where other readers could experience that same joy and connection, especially at a time when these voices weren’t always centered in mainstream conversations. What began as a small book club has grown into a thriving community where we can uplift stories that resonate with our shared experiences. The book club also deepened my understanding of sisterhood and friendship. At its heart, Well-Read Black Girl is about representation and the transformative power of storytelling. In my memoir, Gather Me, I did my best to reveal how books increased my confidence and helped me process some challenging moments in my life.
For people who want to get into the habit of reading more often but don’t know where to start, do you have any advice or recommendations?
I encourage readers to read widely - try reading an essay collection, poetry chapbook, or book of short stories. I also believe people should commit to reading for a small, manageable amount of time each day, like 10-15 minutes. It’s less about finishing quickly and more about creating consistency within your routine. I tend to read during my morning commute. I also listen to a ton of audiobooks. And of course, join a reading community! Book clubs can definitely motivate you to read more - whether it’s in-person or virtually. Book clubs are built-in third spaces for you to discuss what you're reading & curious about! Reading should feel fun and add joy to your day-to-day experiences.
Your latest book, Gather Me, is a love letter to the books that have impacted you most. What do you hope readers will take away from reading this memoir?
My hope is that readers will feel inspired to reflect on the books that have shaped their own lives and identities. I want to affirm that every reader has a voice worth sharing and a story worth telling. Gather Me is also a love letter to my younger self. A reminder that I was able to build a life that I'm proud of. I can’t wait for my son to read it one day. He’s my greatest motivation.
Which Black writers have inspired you most in your life, and what made their work so impactful to you?
Black writers have profoundly shaped my worldview, creativity, and understanding of the human experience. Among them, Maya Angelou and Imani Perry stand out as especially impactful voices. I adore the work of Maya Angelou. Her poetry, particularly “Still I Rise” and “Phenomenal Woman,” make me feel a great sense of pride. So much of her writing is relatable and affirming. Imani Perry is one of my favorite contemporary writers; her scholarship and prose are infused with grace and urgency, making her work feel timeless. She teaches me the importance of examining history not just as a scholar, but as someone who deeply feels its consequences.
As an activist and avid reader, are your thoughts on the book bans that are happening across the country right now?
I find the wave of book bans happening across the country deeply concerning. It's antithetical to the core values of education. Books have always been a powerful medium for fostering empathy and understanding diverse perspectives. When individuals ban books — especially those that address race, gender, and systemic oppression — they are denying readers, particularly young people, the opportunity to see themselves reflected in literature. The classroom is the ideal place to have critical conversations about equity and justice.
As a believer in the transformative power of reading, I think it’s vital to resist these efforts by advocating for access to diverse literature and supporting organizations like the ACLU in the fight against censorship. It’s through dialogue, not denial, that we grow stronger as individuals and as a community. Every banned book is a lost opportunity for connection.
What books would you consider essential reading for intersectional feminists?
Outsider by Audre Lorde
Ain’t I a Woman? Black Women and Feminism by bell hooks
Feminism is for Everybody: Passionate Politics by bell hooks
The Color Purple by Alice Walker
In Search of Our Mothers’ Gardens: Womanist Prose by Alice Walker
Hood Feminism: Notes from the Women That a Movement Forgot by Mikki Kendall
Bad Feminist by Roxane Gay
Borderlands/La Frontera: The New Mestiza by Gloria E. Anzaldúa
Living a Feminist Life by Sara Ahmed
Black on Both Sides: A Racial History of Trans Identity by C. Riley Snorton
How We Get Free: Black Feminism and the Combahee River Collective edited by Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor
