The Dark Room Collective

• Started in Boston 1988-1993


• Formed by Thomas Sayers Ellis and Sharon Strange


• The name comes from a dimly lit room in the home that Ellis and Strange shared. The room once contained a photographic enlarger and gradually began to accumulate books.


• In 1987 James Baldwin died. This caused the group of writers to come together for a common cause. As Ellis said, "we became a church."


• Sharon Strange said the purpose of the group was to form a community based reading series for African Americans.


• All poems written by the members tell different stories about African Americans and the different struggles they endure in personal life or public.


• Sticks by Thomas Sayer Ellis http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poem/238662