Letter From The Editor

My introduction to Literaryswag doesn’t start with one of the 55+ book club meetings, the Instagram book photos for cash competition, or even a hashtag. My intro starts with Yahdon telling me about culture conversations informed by books. I understood this version of the vision, but it wasn’t the first time I supported an idea of his in its infancy.  

The conversations we have within the club now, are just an evolved version of our college’s Black Student Union meetings. As an E-Board member, I knew Yahdon could have a greater impact presenting and eventually, leading conversations instead of just participating in them. It also was my music and culture blog that served as one of the first sites to publish his way with words. Seeing my friend’s vision to me, meant helping see it come to fruition.   

 I joined Literaryswag Book Club to support a friend, but it’s the community that keeps me coming. But this isn’t about me and this site isn’t about nostalgia--I’m here to highlight some of what I’m part of and why this community is so important to my well-being. I want members to see themselves and for everyone else to see why we cherish this thing of ours, bridging our community’s past with our present and pushing forward towards our future, whatever that looks like post-pandemic.

 Literaryswag is, first and foremost, more about the people than the books. Yahdon’s the curator, the visionary, the tastemaker for book club. But how great is it that these great words and writers compel honest conversations amongst complete strangers? I’m constantly thinking about how this club affects people, what brings us to the now virtual table each month. Every member has a different story of how he or she or they came to this club and connected with fellow members in the space. Curation, conversation and community: these three C’s are the anchors that posts and profiles and more all radiate from. 

 Starting this month, we’ll speak to featured book club authors past and present and dig in on their favorite writers and designers. We’ll talk to members about how they found The Club and what their first meeting was like and why they keep coming back. We have members who travel across state lines for meetings (hey, Aminah), but in our current Zoom era, we’ve also had to remind members to wait till they weren’t in traffic to participate (hi, Nuratu). You’ll hear from members about their friendships that started in the club and blossomed outside of it. And we’re kicking off a series of mini-oral histories starting with the very first book club meeting in September 2015, the one that took place at the “trap,” the legendary Strand bookstore in NYC. 

Going on six years since our first meeting but we’re just gettin’ started. I’m excited about this next chapter.

Cheers to the Lit and the stories we’re going to tell, together.
-Brandon

Editorial Director