Black in Asia — Spill Stories

Photo credit: Linda Cheung Cover design: Ellie Suh — Photo credit: Linda Cheung
Cover design: Ellie Suh

Black in Asia is an anthology of 22 Black writers sharing their lived experiences living across 10 countries/regions.

Background

The project was born out of a desire to spotlight underrepresented perspectives across Asia. The book contains short stories covering South Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan, China, Thailand, Singapore, Vietnam, Myanmar, and Mongolia. Through inspiring and educational personal narratives, this book offers a glimpse into the experience of being Black in Asia, promoting discourse on racial justice beyond the Western world. The stories were originally featured on the Spill Stories Instagram. Based on collective agreement with the writers, we decided to turn the stories into a physical book.

As of the end of 2020, we have sold 600+ books and received coverage across outlets including The Korea Times, #Legend, Sassy, and Ariana.

The book can at ACO bookstore in Wanchai.

Thank you to the Black in Asia writers for sharing their stories

Bernise Springer
Erica K. Butler
Monique Claiborne
Harmony "Ann-Marie" Ilunga
Melissa Watkins
Kami Rose
Felicia Iyamu
Trey Hurst
Tone Twisted
Lois Orekoya
Charnell McQueen
Jessica O. Acholonu
Oni Aningo
Renée Simone
Bryce Harvey
Kemikal Kris
Whitney Cele
Dyondra Wilson
Erica Tyler
Triston Francis
Elika Tasker
James Acey

Thank you to Grace Kim who helped support our book launch in Seoul. Ninety-three percent of all book profits are given back to the writers; remaining profits are given to the project organizers.

A snapshot of book launch activities across Seoul, Taipei, and Hong Kong below:

Black in Asia writers during our Seoul launch party in Nov 2020 (from left to right: Melissa Watkins, Boipelo Seswane, Erica K. Butler, Kami Rose, and Dyondra Wilson)

Taipei Black in Asia launch, Sep 2020

Bernise Springer and Whitney Cele autographing books in Taipei during our Black in Asia launch event in Sep 2020

All smiles! Lois Orekoya (Black in Asia writer) posing with two girls from St. Stephen's Girls' College in Hong Kong

Harmony "Anne-Marie" Ilung and Lois Orekoya speaking during a panel called "How to Talk About Race" for Hong Kong International Literary Festival 2020

Many thanks to ACO bookstore in Wanchai, who is stocking Black in Asia in Hong Kong

Two students at Australia International School during 1 of 6 creative writing classes co-led by Lois Orekoya (Black in Asia writer) and myself

A piece a student who attended 1 of 6 creative writing classes co-led by Lois Orekoya (Black in Asia writer)

Spill Stories Social in Hong Kong in Nov 2020, where we launched Black in Asia and 2 other Spill Stories books

Thank you to Printed Matter, Inc., the world’s leading non-profit organization dedicated to the dissemination, understanding and appreciation of artists’ books. They helped promote our book on their channels. Their Operations Manager, Margaret Stern, also hosted a virtual Zoom launch party for some of the writers and myself (below).

We are also very grateful for Chris Onoja (aka Kemikal Kris), Black in Asia writer, who publicized the book on his digital platform, Mama Told Me and featured Tiffany in his video series, Talk of the City, below: