Penguin Random House (PRH) has debuted its All Ways Black platform, putting the focus on Black writers by featuring wide-ranging works created by literary icons of the past and present.
All Ways Black spotlights book lists curated by influencer Cree Myles, the founding editor of the platform. Celebrating groundbreaking, genre-defining works of Black literature such as Black Futures by Kimberly Drew and Jenna Wortham, Afro-Vegan by Bryant Terry and Rainbow In The Cloud by Maya Angelou, All Ways Black will include appearances by favorite authors via Instagram Live, as well as regular book and playlist suggestions.
A portion of the profits for the books that are purchased via PRH’s website will go to Black Creatives Fund, fostering the talents of the next generation of artists.
Chief marketing officer of PRH Sanyu Dillon said to Adweek, “We were thrilled to work with Cree and videographer Cody LaPlant on this video as their vision and masterful execution captures the direction we’re headed as a company, with All Ways Black and with book marketing more broadly. It’s authentic, fun, a bit unexpected and does a fantastic job at illustrating how books have a place in everyone’s lives.”
In celebration of this new platform, PRH released the All Ways Black trailer. Beginning with a quote from Toni Morrison, the video includes shots of dancers interwoven with images of classic works of Black literature, both fiction and nonfiction.
“There are infinite ways to be Black,” says the narrator, drawing attention to the wide array of subject matter the collection intends to provide its readers. Modern classics like Alice Walker’s The Color Purple appear next to more recent works by writers like Ta-Nahisi Coates. “To see us on a page, all of us in all our ways, is one of the most magnificent experiences anyone can have,” the narrator concludes.
As Dillon notes, “At Penguin Random House, we always talk about putting the reader at the center of our activities and programming, and we make it our priority to ensure that we are speaking to ALL readers.”
