What began as a personal search for connection has grown into one of the fastest-rising literary communities for Black women, with Houston-based entrepreneur Brandi Rogers at the helm.
Rogers, founder of Black Girls Who Read, launched the online organization in July 2025 with a simple goal: To find like-minded women who shared her passion for books, entrepreneurship, and personal growth.
“Because I am a book nerd to the fullest and I needed to find my people,” Rogers said.
Less than a year later, she has found them—by the hundreds of thousands.
The group has surged from about 3,000 members at launch to nearly 300,000, growing at a rate of roughly 1,000 members per day. The rapid expansion reflects what Rogers describes as a deeper need among Black women—not just for reading spaces, but for meaningful connection.
While many book clubs focus primarily on reading, Rogers said Black Girls Who Read is intentionally built around community.
“We are more community-based,” she said. “So, how we build our community is intentional. And then what we give back to our communities is intentional.”
That approach has helped the organization stand out in an increasingly crowded digital space. Through national book clubs, live events, master classes, retreats, and editorial storytelling, the group has evolved into a hub where Black women gather not only to discuss books but to support one another and invest in literacy.
Its mission centers on cultivating a global community where Black women connect through reading, grow through shared experiences, and build lasting impact through literacy, culture, and collective power.
Credit: BGWR FB
Rogers said the organization’s growth was not accidental.
“A lot of people do things for money. A lot of people do things to be influencers… that wasn’t for me,” she said. “I’d rather you post for free that helps you out and let God take care of the rest.”
Still, even with that intentionality, the speed of its success has been striking.
“I did know it would grow,” Rogers said. “I didn’t know it would grow this fast.”
The organization’s reach now extends beyond digital engagement. Black Girls Who Read hosts large-scale events and summits that bring members together in person, blending literary conversation with community service and cultural connection.
“We believe books are a catalyst, but community is the outcome.”
Brandi Rogers
“Every year…we bring together readers of color, Black women who are part of our group, and just commensurate amongst each other and enjoy the love of reading… and most importantly, community service,” Rogers said.
Industry leaders say the model Rogers is building fills a long-standing gap.
“This a fresh approach that the literary space has needed for a long time,” said Naleighna Kai, a USA Today bestselling author and developmental editor who recently attended Rogers’ inaugural Black Girls Who Read Summit. “Brandi is using a combination of social media platforms and in person connections to cultivate a community, access, and ownership of a narrative that’s been underrepresented for too long—Black Girls Who Read. It’s refreshing to see something this intentional, this expansive, and this rooted in us.”
Looking ahead, Rogers plans to expand the organization’s nonprofit arm, deepen partnerships, and continue scaling its programming, particularly around youth literacy and community impact.
“I’m going to lean into this full time,” she said. “This is the time when we actually get to do the work.”
For Rogers, that work extends far beyond books.
It is about building a space where Black women are seen, supported, and empowered—and where reading is not treated as a luxury, but as a lifestyle that connects, uplifts, and transforms.
“We believe books are a catalyst, but community is the outcome,” she said.
And in just a few short months, that outcome has already become a movement.
