Title: Black Crosswords: 100 Mini Puzzles Celebratong the African Diaspora
Author: Juliana Pache
Genre: Puzzles
Publisher: Amistad
Publication Date: August 20, 2024
About the Book
Groundbreaking new book based on the popular site blackcrossword.com featuring over 100 original puzzles inspired by the Diaspora and covering history, popular culture, trailblazers, literature, and politics.
“Crosswords, and puzzles in general, are good in times of stress,” Will Shortz, the puzzle editor of The New York Times, has said, and during the pandemic sales of crossword puzzles and participants in online games such as Wordle, skyrocketed. Frustrated by the dearth of Black people creating puzzles or appearing as clues, entrepreneur Juliana Pache created blackcrossword.com in early 2023. The site at once took off counting such regular players and fans as Academy Award winner Questlove, popular social activist Brittany Packnett Cunningham, and author and cultural critic Hanif Abdurraqib.
Now, to expand her platform, Pache is looking to bring her cultural crossword puzzles to book publishing. Like her site, the concept for the first BLACK CROSSWORD is a game that places emphasis on terms and clues from across the diaspora. By highlighting prominent cultural figures, movements, artistic achievements, and Black vernacular from across the globe, BLACK CROSSWORD on the page will serve as a simple yet impactful way for solvers to engage in the diaspora and celebrate Black culture.
In a crossword landscape that is predominantly white, BLACK CROSSWORD will provide puzzles to an underserved and passionate market. While the puzzles are meant to increase Black representation in crosswords, they also underscore the fact that this historically underserved market — Black solvers who would like puzzles that are culturally relevant to them—has the potential to become both a commercial hit and resonate with multiple generations of readers. BLACK CROSSWORD has the potential to become a series of books, including a general edition, a calendar edition, a pop culture edition across the diaspora, a Black History edition, and a trailblazer edition. While in a trade paperback format, BLACK CROSSWORD could have an elevated look/tone that would be a perfect gift or keepsake – the possibilities are endless.
My thoughts
Many know that I've been a reader most of my life. What many of you may not know is that as a teen not only was I an avid reader, but I used to love puzzle books. Now if you were a teen in the 90's, ypu may know what I'm referring to. Not sure if they still sell them, but at that time, they used to sell books with a variety of puzzles, from cross words, to word searches and many more. Whenever I got some money, I would buy as many of those as I could. I always enjoyedthem, and this book took me back to a simpler time. I actually enjoyed it so much more, because it's strictly about black people. I enjoy learning, and by doing these, im able to gain a little more knowledge about things i was not aware of. I plan to also check out the website, and I hope the author does more of these.
About the Author
Juliana Pache is the creator of Black Crossword, a daily mini puzzle that places emphasis on Black culture from across the diaspora. Before launching Black Crossword in January 2023, she worked as a media professional leading social strategy at brands such as The FADER and Rolling Stone. She lives in Brooklyn, New York
www.blackcrossword.com
https://www.instagram.com/blackcrossword
www.julianapache.com/
https://x.com/thecityofjules
https://www.instagram.com/thecityofjules/
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