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About The Writer

Romaine Washington nervously stood in front of New Hope Missionary Baptist Church to recite one of her poems for the first time. She received a warm reception, which built her confidence. From this, she learned the importance of creating safe spaces for writers where they can be nurtured.
Years later Washington returned to the church to offer workshops. Some of the writings from the congregation are in These Black Bodies Are... A Blacklandia Anthology, a life affirming collection of creativity from African-American writers and artists.
The opportunity to curate and edit this anthology, and plan a series of readings, was a dream project for Washington. The publication party was in the park on the weekend of Juneteenth, and the culminating in-person reading was at the Riverside Art Museum, surrounded by the magnificent work of Charles Bibbs, "shared Knowledge" is the cover for the collection.
In addition to writing, Washington was an educator for over twenty years, and remembers when she was a student looking for Black authors in textbooks, finding only one or two poems or stories. This lack of representation was a driving force for her to be inclusive in choosing a variety of authors for her students to read.
When Washington began working on her second chapbook, Purgatory Has an Address, she searched for books that included the narrative of Black people who made local history in San Bernardino. She looked for locations in the redlined neighborhood where she grew up and was stunned that the libraries had no books that highlighted the Black founders, activists, and organizers that made San Bernardino an All-American City in 1977.
Fortunately, Washington discovered a Black oral history project Bridges that Carried Us Over, now housed at the California State University San Bernardino. The project was started in the early 2000s by a prominent local couple, Ratibu Jacocks and Wilmer Amina Carter and Washington was able to help conduct interviews to add to the archives. This crucial project made her aware of the importance of capturing our personal stories, in context of place and community. She began using the oral history archives in the classroom. Her students gained new insights on their own surroundings and made invaluable intergenerational connections with events and people.
As a fellow of the Inland Area Writing Project, UC Riverside (IAWP) Washington knew the importance of integrating history, diversity, and current events in her lessons. When her first book Sirens in Her Belly was published, colleagues taught thematic poetry units Washington developed. She visited their classes to recite and have interactive discussions of her work.
Romaine Washington has presented her poetry in various venues and programs, including NPR, KPFK, CBS Inside SoCal, and the Stand Against Hate campaign. Her writing has been published in several anthologies and literary journals. For fun she likes to go for walks in the park to observe ducks and dogs. During the pandemic these walks inspired the poem Deciduous which was nominated for a Pushcart Prize. As a graduate fellow of The Watering Hole of South Carolina , known as the Harlem Renaissance of the South, she continues to find inspiration from attending their virtual readings and talks by poets of note.
Romaine Washington enjoys facilitating workshops, cultivating book club talks, performing sensitivity reads and presenting poetry. For more information, leave a message on the Contact page.
Years later Washington returned to the church to offer workshops. Some of the writings from the congregation are in These Black Bodies Are... A Blacklandia Anthology, a life affirming collection of creativity from African-American writers and artists.
The opportunity to curate and edit this anthology, and plan a series of readings, was a dream project for Washington. The publication party was in the park on the weekend of Juneteenth, and the culminating in-person reading was at the Riverside Art Museum, surrounded by the magnificent work of Charles Bibbs, "shared Knowledge" is the cover for the collection.
In addition to writing, Washington was an educator for over twenty years, and remembers when she was a student looking for Black authors in textbooks, finding only one or two poems or stories. This lack of representation was a driving force for her to be inclusive in choosing a variety of authors for her students to read.
When Washington began working on her second chapbook, Purgatory Has an Address, she searched for books that included the narrative of Black people who made local history in San Bernardino. She looked for locations in the redlined neighborhood where she grew up and was stunned that the libraries had no books that highlighted the Black founders, activists, and organizers that made San Bernardino an All-American City in 1977.
Fortunately, Washington discovered a Black oral history project Bridges that Carried Us Over, now housed at the California State University San Bernardino. The project was started in the early 2000s by a prominent local couple, Ratibu Jacocks and Wilmer Amina Carter and Washington was able to help conduct interviews to add to the archives. This crucial project made her aware of the importance of capturing our personal stories, in context of place and community. She began using the oral history archives in the classroom. Her students gained new insights on their own surroundings and made invaluable intergenerational connections with events and people.
As a fellow of the Inland Area Writing Project, UC Riverside (IAWP) Washington knew the importance of integrating history, diversity, and current events in her lessons. When her first book Sirens in Her Belly was published, colleagues taught thematic poetry units Washington developed. She visited their classes to recite and have interactive discussions of her work.
Romaine Washington has presented her poetry in various venues and programs, including NPR, KPFK, CBS Inside SoCal, and the Stand Against Hate campaign. Her writing has been published in several anthologies and literary journals. For fun she likes to go for walks in the park to observe ducks and dogs. During the pandemic these walks inspired the poem Deciduous which was nominated for a Pushcart Prize. As a graduate fellow of The Watering Hole of South Carolina , known as the Harlem Renaissance of the South, she continues to find inspiration from attending their virtual readings and talks by poets of note.
Romaine Washington enjoys facilitating workshops, cultivating book club talks, performing sensitivity reads and presenting poetry. For more information, leave a message on the Contact page.
Below are some of her firsts favorites in reading, poetry, and prose. She asks what are some of your first favorites and invites you to a conversation through the contact button on the menu.