Blackcrosswords 1 - by Jan Buckner Walker (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

Celebrate Black culture and pop history in this unique and engaging collection of crosswords for puzzlers of all skill levels!

"Fun for the soul and a tease for the mind. If puzzles are your favorite way to unwind then these will bring a smile to your face."
-Josh Johnson, comedian and co-host of The Daily Show

The Original Black Puzzle Experienceâ"[

Sit back and enjoy. Flex your knowledge and learn hundreds of factoids in the first installment of this engaging puzzle series!

Nationally syndicated puzzle creator of the Essence and Ebony crosswords, and creator of BlackCrosswords.com, Jan Buckner Walker offers a new collection of crossword puzzles highlighting Black culture and its contributions to North American pop culture and history. From Lorraine Hansberry and N.K. Jemison, to Beyonce, Barack Obama, Motown and Shonda Rhimes, BlackCrosswords: In Our Own Words covers the wide breadth of the legacy Black Americans have left on history, sports, literature, music, and politics--with a side of quotable wisdom!

Review Quotes

"A leading voice in the crossword space and creator of the Essence and Ebony crosswords, Jan isn't simply providing us with games to enjoy -- she is resisting the narrative that Black stories aren't worth telling."
(Phil Lewis, deputy editor at HuffPost and president of the Washington Association of Black Journalists, "A leading voice in the crossword space and creator of the Essence and Ebony crosswords, Jan isn't simply providing us with games to enjoy -- she is resisting the narrative that Black stories aren't worth telling.")

About the Author

A self-professed "word nerd," Jan Buckner Walker majored in journalism at Howard University, before graduating from the University of Pennsylvania Law School where she served on the prestigious Penn Law Review as an editor. After practicing law for several years, she conceived of the world's first collaborative crossword puzzle, Kids Across Parents Down. In less than a year, Jan became the first African-American female syndicated cruciverbalist, and the puzzle became the #1 nationally syndicated family puzzle.

Jan soon launched BlackCrosswords.com. Following her work with Essence and Ebony magazines, she recognized that African-Americans have long felt disregarded by this American pastime, as mainstream crosswords historically have not focused significantly on the contributions of diverse people. In response to the worldwide demand from fans seeking more puzzles that reflect and celebrate the involvement -- and often, dominance -- of African-Americans in entertainment, sports, politics, literature, science and every walk of life, BlackCrosswords was born. (After all, why SHOULDN'T the answer to 1 Across be Beyoncé's "Lemonade"?!)

Jan now lives in the Chicago area with her husband and business partner Reginald.