FLOOD FUND FOR THIRD WORLD PRESS FOUNDATION

CNW Staff Report

The ye A r 2022 m A rked Third World Press’ 55T h A nnivers A ry in the publishing business making it the oldest, independent, continuously operating Black publishing company in the nation. Haki R. Madhubuti says, “We are proud to have built the institution that Third World Press has become, and we look forward to many more years of its longevity.” He continues, “In October, Third World press celebrated with gusto and invited our supporters, friends, authors, and family to our headquarters to commemorate our work.”

Haki R. Madhubuti described the winter season as traditionally busy for the book publishing company that has published some of the greatest Black minds of the modern world. Winter is when they fill holiday orders for the Kwanzaa and Christmas gift-giving season. However, last year their efforts were dampened when a water pipe burst beneath their building on a Friday night and quickly flooded the entire basement. Haki says, “Unfortunately, the flooded area housed the major portion of Third World Press’ backlist as well as front-listed books. Our loss has been overwhelming and financially crippling.”

The lost inventory consisted of many of Third World Press’ best sellers and included books by Gwendolyn Brooks, Chancellor Williams, Adelaide Sanford, Fred Hord, Diane Turner, Thabiti Lewis, John Henrik Clarke, Herb Boyd, Edmund W. Gordon, Angela Jackson, Useni Eugene Perkins, Jacqueline Bryant, Keith Gilyard, Jacob H. Carruthers, Amiri Baraka, Sonia Sanchez, Christine List, Haki R. Madhubuti and many others.

“This play is at the pulse of the national conversation about racial inequities in our healthcare systems and practices. We hope audiences are down to explore these issues with us through this potent and dynamic production,” added Ericka Ratcliff, Congo Square Theatre Artistic Director.

Tickets, priced at $25 for preview performances and $35 for all other performances ($20 for seniors and students), are now on sale by calling 312-335-1650 or visiting www.steppenwolf.org/howbloodgo. Discounts are available for groups of 10 or more.

Haki continues, “To say that we are devastated is an understatement.’ Consequently, the company has put out a public statement seeking the need for your help. The considerable dollar amount of the company’s loss is approximately $95,000 based on damaged books, furniture, computers, bookshelves, workers’ regular and overtime pay for clean-up, and the relocation of salvageable books to the first floor. Haki explains, “We were forced to close the last two weeks of December and the first week of January, thereby losing sales for the year-end holidays and fundraising. These activities make up over one-quarter of our annual revenue.”

This plea for your attention is certainly worthy of your consideration to save one of our most important institutions. The work that they publish to provide the opportunity for the Black Voice to be heard clearly and unadulterated meets a much-needed void, especially during a time when white America wants to ban books that speak to the Black experience.

To survive this catastrophe, Third World Press is calling on you for your earnest help. And should you choose to donate, note that your donation should be made out to the Third World Press Foundation which has 501C3 status, making your donations tax-deductible within the full extent of the law.

No contribution is too small.

Please mail to:

Third World Press Foundation

7822 South DobsonChicago IL 60619