The Revolution Will Be Well-Read with Van Black Library
by Maya Preshyon
Guest Writer
A Black femme with long braids reading a book.
Every Black person in Vancouver—unceded land of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and Səl̓ílwətaʔ (Tsleil-Waututh) First Nations—knows the struggle of finding and connecting with other Black folks in the city.
The small Black population in Vancouver is by no means a coincidence. Through what so-called “Vancouver” referred to as “urban renewal,” the city's first and last Black community, Hogan’s Alley, was demolished and expropriated years ago. Thus, quashing the only identifiable Black neighbourhood and community in Vancouver even to this day. Since then, most Black people in Vancouver seldom find themselves in a large-scale connected community. The effect of this can be loneliness, isolation, self-gaslighting of microaggressions experienced on the day to day, lack of belonging and more.
There have long been salient and valuable efforts made to commemorate and revitalize what once was for Vancouver’s Black community in recent years. Black Lives Matter Vancouver, Hogan’s Alley Society, The Black Vancouver Therapy and Advocacy Fund, BC Black History Awareness Society and BC Community Alliance are just a few of the Black-led organizations mobilizing and connecting the Black community in the Lower Mainland.
Still, many structural challenges present themselves to Black organizers, especially when it comes to creating practical, tangible Black community spaces in Vancouver.
Van Black Library’s proposal is just what you’d imagine - a Library run by Black organizers, dedicated for Black and BIPOC community members. This is a space to not only sign out books for free but this is also intended to be used as a study space, a chill space, a safe space. It is to cater to the needs of the Black community first and foremost. The hope is that one day, Van Black Library can be a springboard for other initiatives like group therapy, community care efforts in the realm of fundraising, childcare, art exhibitions, poetry readings, book clubs, zine-making workshops and so much more.
Ultimately, in addition to connecting people to information, libraries connect people to people.
The Van Black Library initiative will always make an effort to flow and adapt to the dynamic needs of the community. As of now, crowdfunding and donations will be vital in the effort to get up and running. Book donations are a huge priority, second only to funding to rent a space for the library to operate out of. Those two things are the largest priorities and the first steps in building Van Black Library!
Van Black Library has several generous and hardworking faces that assist behind the scenes, though the founder is…me! My name is Maya Preshyon (she/they), I’m a third-year Social Work and Indigenous Studies student at the University of British Columbia, I’m a volunteer in the arts scene, I love making Spotify playlists, I like to party with my friends, I’m Black, and sometimes (often) Vancouver makes me feel lonely.
I’ve always dreaded the feeling of cultural isolation growing up in BC, though it wasn't until I became Vice President of CiTR & Discorder magazine in 2021 that I realized I’m capable of holding power that has the potential to make changes. However, I gradually learned that established infrastructure is deceptively immovable (this realization was jarring). So, Van Black Library is me creating my own infrastructure that I can mould into unique forms that fulfill my communities needs while encouraging connectivity.
Even in the short time that VBL has existed as a concept, I’ve felt more closeness and solidarity in Vancouver than ever before. I can’t wait for Van Black Library to take form and reach its fullest potential. I am immensely grateful for all the support thus far!