What we do

An annual event that provides an intergenerational forum to discuss critical and relevant issues concerning the community. An issue-oriented publication is produced to accompany discussions and events.

Sankofa Publication and Discussion Topics:

Sankofa 2025: Defeating Racism in the 21st Century: Ancestral Solutions for our Future with Keynote Speaker Dr. Daniel Black 

Publication: The Myth of Race/Reality of Racism by Mahmoud El-Kati 30 year anniversary Reprinted 

Sankofa 2024: All News Ain’t Good News! Critical Media Literacy in the Black Community with Keynote Speaker Dr. Charisse Burden-Stelly 

Publication: Black Media in Minnesota edited by Al McFarlane 

Sankofa 2023: Perilous Times: Defending and Defining the Spirit of Black Media with Keynote Speaker Michele Norris 

Sankofa 2022: Perilous Times: Defending and Defining the Spirit of Black Media with Keynote Speaker Al McFarlane 

Sankofa 2021: Our Voices, Our Truth, Our Narratives in Black and White Media with Keynote Speaker Dr. Travis L. Dixon 

Sankofa 2019: Educating Our Children in the 21st Century with Keynote Speaker Haki R. Madhubuti 

Publication: Towards An African Education edited by Mahmoud El-Kati 

Sankofa 2014: 20 Years Later: The Myth of Race/The Reality of Racism with Keynote Speaker Dr John S. Wright 

Publication: The Myth of Race/Reality of Racism by Mahmoud El-Kati Reprinted

Coffee, Tea and Other Moments Together

Elder’s Story and Archival Circles where elders gather to share stories of specific moments in time and/or accounts of their life stories.  Stories, circle time and event are videotaped and archived for the purpose of building the IBI archival library.

Elder Writing Projects

Publication of Elders stories (include memoirs, anthologies of Minnesota Elders, and events in the state of MN)

Kofi Bobby Hickman by Kofi Hickman In progress
Kwame by Kwame McDonald and Mitch McDonald In progress
Root Wisdom by Jacqueline “Lady J” Maddix Completed
Duluth Lynching Revisited by Henry Banks In Progress
The Way – Opportunities Unlimited by Camille Maddox In progress
The Thelma Buckner Story by Thelma Buckner & Ericka Dennis In progress
Zola’s Shines by Mahmoud El-Kati (Children’s book) In Progress

A repository of artists of African descent that contribute/participate in the local and statewide publishing arts community in Minnesota.

In Black Ink holds the Mahmoud El-Kati Archive. Elder Mahmoud is a historian, activist, professor, author, and community leader. His archive contains academic work, posters, dvds, lectures, notes, and an extensive book collection.

Rondo Children’s Book Series

In Black Ink and Rondo Avenue Inc. have partnered to transform the rich experiences of the historic Rondo community into stories that will introduce eight Rondo core values to our youth. Writers and artists with direct connections to the community were selected to research, write and share little-known stories with the wider community in the form of children’s books. These books are immersed in the lore and lessons of a neighborhood that thrived in a time of segregation and discrimination to raise healthy, successful, and visionary young people.

The values that sustained Rondo and served as a firm foundation for many are the basis that this rich book series is based upon. These values include the importance of education, the dignity of work, religion, and faith, homeownership, securing economic independence, social interaction, hope for a better tomorrow, and respect for self and family.

The Way Opportunities Limited Inc. by Camille Maddox (In development)

Developed from the rich experiences/knowledge from cultural institutions, programs, and work. Products to be marketed, distributed, and reintegrated into the community.

All projects are researched to help increase publishing artists primarily in the African heritage community in Minnesota. Funds raised will go towards artists primarily from the historically disenfranchised community members of African descent and to artists in that geographic region or area of the project’s initiation. For example, if we are producing a project on the lynching in Duluth, MN in 1920, then the primary writer and/or researcher should come from Duluth and should be of African descent. Other supporting editors, desktop designers, and graphic designers will be sought there first before moving to other areas.