Independent Black-owned scholarly press celebrates two decades of amplifying Black voices and perspectives

BALTIMORE, MD, February 26, 2024 – Universal Write Publications (UWP), an independent Black-owned scholarly press, is celebrating two decades of promoting and publishing academic works that underscore Black voices and narratives.

Founded in 2004 by Dr. Ayo Sekai, UWP has flourished from a passion project publishing fiction and children’s books into a respected publisher of rigorous, peer-reviewed academic literature that enriches African agency discussions.

UWP’s catalog features influential titles such as Molefi Kete Asante’s “Revolutionary Pedagogy,” and “The African Pyramids of Knowledge,” Nah Dove’s “The Afrocentric School,” and “We Will Tell Our Own Story” by Adebayo C. Akomolafe. These works underscore the press’s commitment to elevating Black scholarship.

“Publishing with UWP has been an exhilarating experience, full of inspiration, visionary insight, and possibilities,” said author and Black scholar Molefi Kete Asante. “Ayo Sekai takes her place beside Haki Madhubuti, Paul Coates, and other legendary publishers in advancing African American intellectual work in the 21st century.”

Editor Walter Greason extolled UWP’s contributions, “UWP represents the growth of a vital aspect of the publishing industry—African diaspora voices. Without Ayo Sekai’s vision and leadership, the world’s readers would miss essential content for the future of human civilization.”

Reflecting on the press’s journey, Dr. Sekai stated, “Our work over the past two decades has solidified UWP’s role in safeguarding knowledge and advocating for the essence of education and Black excellence.”

This year, UWP announced the development of a new book series, Methodologies for Research: The Little Black Books, books that will teach researchers and graduate students about culturally valid, humanizing, and liberatory methodologies in the tradition of Africana Studies. Available in 2025.

About Universal Write Publications

Universal Write Publications is committed to rigorous scholarship that reveals the historical richness of culturally diverse societies. With a commitment to authenticity, our publications prioritize Black scholars’ viewpoints using an African lens to analyze diasporic experiences while maintaining the integrity of academic research. Universal Write Publications stands as a beacon for scholarly distinctions that honor the diversity and depth of Black thought. To learn more about Universal Write Publications, visit our website.

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