Before she could walk, Ashley Hoskins crawled—book in hand—toward anyone willing to read to her.
That early hunger for stories, nurtured as an only child, laid the groundwork for what would become a lifelong devotion to literature, sisterhood and service.
Today, Hoskins is the curator behind Houston’s chapter of The Free Black Women’s Library, a grassroots book-sharing project and safe space centering the voices and work of Black women authors. But to understand her passion, you have to know where she comes from.
The Chicago-born educator grew up in the Third Ward and frequented places such as S.H.A.P.E Community Center, which helped cultivate her love for Black culture and literature.
“I self-identify as a Black woman because of what SHAPE Community Center planted in me and my roots,” she says, reminiscing about the summers she spent at SHAPE’s Summer Enrichment Program. “They laid the foundation for me to be proud of who I am—to love African history, culture and to stand firm in my identity.”
She’s a proud product of Jack Yates High School, where exposure to works like Their Eyes Were Watching God and A Raisin in the Sun in her English class helped solidify her love of Black literature. She also credits legendary photographer Ray Carrington, through the I Am Third Ward project, for sharpening her artistic eye and community awareness.
“We would walk through the neighborhood, photographing our people, our places—celebrating Black life with a lens.”
As a child of the Third Ward, Hoskins’ upbringing was surrounded by symbols of Black excellence—from swimming lessons at the Blue Triangle YWCA, to Head Start in the CUNY Homes, to attending the same elementary school as Beyoncé.
“I was surrounded by greatness. And I carry that with me,” Hoskins said.
But it wasn’t until a spiritual turning point in her adult life that Hoskins began shaping her legacy.
“I was unfulfilled in my career. I wanted to do something that felt like divine purpose,” she shares. One morning, she came across an article about the Free Black Women’s Library in Brooklyn. “I read that story and thought, ‘This is me. I’m already doing this—how do I make it real?’”
She reached out to the project’s founder, Olaronke Akinmowo and after a long phone call, was given the blessing to start a Houston chapter. In 2019, Hoskins held a book drive with a goal of collecting 200 titles authored by Black women. Just as she was preparing for her first public event—a discussion on Bell Hooks’ All About Love—the COVID-19 pandemic hit.
Instead of shelving the idea, Hoskins adapted, hosting virtual events, including one with attendees from as far away as London. Still, she longed for in-person connection.
“I’m not a virtual person. I wanted real fellowship, a sisterhood,” Hoskins says.
So she took to the streets. Literally. Hoskins popped up at art shows and local gatherings, often setting up her mobile library without asking.
“I had a car full of books and a heart full of purpose,” she laughs. “I would just show up, and people welcomed it.”
Over time, her pop-ups gained traction and with support from artists like Stacey Allen and organizations like Fresh Arts, her vision began to expand.
“The community responded,” Hoskins says. “They saw themselves in this project.”
Her mission has touched many lives, including educators like Georgetta Harris, who first encountered the library after an event at the Anderson Center.
“I walked into the library and was amazed,” Harris recalls. “I was really intrigued by the fact that you bring a book and trade a book. The next time, I knew to bring one to trade.”
As a middle school educator, Harris is now working on organizing a field trip so her students can experience the library for themselves. “This would open their minds to what they don’t see in a traditional library—a space that looks like them, feels like them. That kind of exposure is powerful.”
Harris, who already incorporates Black authors into her classroom, says the visit affirmed her belief in representation.
“One of the books I saw there had been made into a movie, but the real story was deeper. It was written by a young Black woman, based on her real life. I always tell my students: Your life is a story.”
For April Bernard, a recent graduate in educational leadership, the library helped her reconnect with a part of herself that traditional education never nurtured.
“Unfortunately, my K through 12 experience didn’t include access to Black women authors,” she says. “It wasn’t until COVID that I had the space to really sit with these texts and Ashley’s library created that space.”
Bernard first met Hoskins through Project Row Houses and has followed her journey ever since. She describes the Free Black Women’s Library as a space that nurtures mental health and self-love.
“When we read these books in community, they become more than just pages. They become part of your world. That’s what Ashley’s work has done. She created a space for Black women to see themselves, to heal, and to grow.”
The Free Black Women’s Library, located at the Anderson Center for the Arts, has grown into more than a collection of books. It’s a sanctuary, a gathering place, and a resistance to erasure.
In a time of rising book bans and attacks on Black history, Hoskins sees her work as critical advocacy.
“When I started this project, I didn’t know half the authors on these shelves,” she says. “This work has transformed me. I’m not just a curator but an advocate for representation in literature.”
Hoskins’ mission is rooted in love and liberation, building literacy, preserving history and cultivating community through the words of Black women.
“People often ask if I sell the books,” she says, smiling. “No. I give them away. That’s the power. The joy is in sharing the stories.”
