Purchase a copy of Albert Woodfox's memoir, Solitary, along with the always-in-demand Wretched of the Earth by Frantz Fanon, and Grove Press will donate a copy of Malcolm X Speaks.* 

UPDATE on 7/16/20: Because of the spectacular response to this month's campaign that led to over 500 sets being donated to prisoners, NYC Books Through Bars has made the decision to freeze further sales of Solitary, The Wretched of the Earth, and Malcolm X Speaks. However, we will be back soon with the selections for August and make sure to subscribe to our newsletter for updates about that and future campaigns! Your contributions are so necessary and invaluable to incarcerated readers. We can't thank you enough for your support. 

Following June's drive for N.K. Jemisin's Broken Earth Trilogy, Freebird is offering again three books at $30: Solitary, The Wretched of the Earth, and Malcolm X Speaks. Solitary is the story of Albert Woodfox's four-decade long journey within the Louisiana penal system, most of it held in solitary. The memoir was a finalist for both the National Book Award and the Pulitzer Prize in 2019. Frantz Fanon's The Wretched of the Earth is a classic on the revolutionary struggle against oppression, that is also one of the most commonly requested titles at Books Through Bars. Malcolm X Speaks pulls together the inspiring speeches from the civil rights leader's final year.
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Woodfox will participate in a Freebird virtual event to discuss his Pulitzer-nominated memoir on Wednesday, July 15 at 6 pm EST. Register here.

Why it is important to donate to NYC Books Through Bars

While the NYC Books Through Bars program operating out of Freebird's basement is currently limiting in-person volunteering and drop offs due to COVID-19, book requests continue to pour in from prisons around the country: nearly 300 per week. In response to the challenges of accepting those donations during the pandemic, we have started a monthly program in which specific, in-demand titles can be purchased through Freebird at a discount.

*Special thanks to Grove Press (the publisher of all three) for donating a copy of Malcolm X Speaks with every order, allowing us to extend a 40% discount off the combined retail value of $50.  Those savings will allow Freebird to contribute to the postage costs for NYC Books Through Bars to ship these books. To learn more about the important work NYC Books Through Bars does, go here. To learn more about Grove's rich history and their long commitment to social justice and the freedom of speech, go here.

Books for the incarcerated
While Freebird Books is currently shuttered (but hopefully opening soon per state and city guidelines) the NYC Books Through Bars program operating out of our basement still is in need of donations. Book requests continue to pour in from prisoners around the country, package deliveries that have seen serious disruption in the era of COVID-19. In response to the challenges of accepting those donations during the pandemic, we are starting a monthly program in which specific, in-demand titles can be purchased through Freebird at a discount.


June's pick: N.K. Jemisin
For the inaugural pick, we have chosen the N.K. Jemisin Broken Earth Trilogy, a sci-fi collection and genre often requested from Books Through Bars. Freebird is offering the three-book set at a 25% discount ($10 off retail) and will deliver the copies to NYC Books Through Bars for processing. To learn more about their important work, go here.