On episode 45 of the podcast, I’m giving you a pep talk about writing as resistance. About how you can push back against oppressive systems, defy stereotypes and limitations, and leave a lasting legacy, all with the power of the written word.  And I will be using the life and work of literary ancestor, Arturo Schomburg as my source material. Arturo Schomburg is most known as the founder of the Schomburg Center for Research in Black  Culture in New York City, but he was also a writer, a revolutionary thinker, and activist, who used books and the written word to defy white supremacy and glorify Black excellence and achievement.  During the show you’ll learn: How one racist teacher in Puerto Rico gave Schomburg his life purpose. How Schomburg used other people’s racism to help amass his incredible collection of Black memorabilia. Why Schomburg became a writer and a collector of the written word. Why sometimes it’s necessary to tear down other people’s heroes to make a point. If you’d like to read more about the fascinating life and work of Arturo Schomburg, get your hands on a copy of Diasporic Blackness: The Life and Times of Arturo Alfonso Schomburg by Vanessa K. Valdés   If you want more information, inspiration and resources for your literary life, visit the Reed, Write, and Create website. If you would like a literary pep talk + resources carefully curated for BIPOC authors delivered to your inbox,  sign up for the Reed, Write, & Create newsletter. No spam, just inspiration and resources to uplevel your literary life. Subscribe to  @LiteraryLori on YouTube and help Lori launch her new channel. Support this independent, award-winning podcast by making an easy one-time donation via Buy Me a Coffee, or in Lori’s case Buy Me a Book.