I had the pleasure of sitting with Amanda Johnston, poet and founder of TORCH Literary Arts. We talked about her history in Austin, finding community through poetry, and building the space she wanted for herself and other Black women writers. Here’s an excerpt from our conversation.

“In 2006, I had come back from my second year at a fellowship called Cave Canem, which is specifically for Black poets from across the country. Some of the greatest poets of our time were faculty there. Seeing a group make something so meaningful and rich that was intentionally for Black people, I thought, I know that’s possible, and I want that for us, but specifically for Black women.

Even in spaces that were intentionally for BIPOC or Black people, Black women were still doing the majority of the labor. I wanted a space where we could sit down, where we could create, where we could share without being concerned if we would be understood, valued, and welcome.

Seeing that modeled in Cave Canem in 2005, when I became a fellow, I kept that with me. And then in 2006, I took the step to say, ‘Well, if you build it, they’ll come.’ I used to do freelance web design. I made the website and put out the call.

I invited some friends to start it with me, but they had different capacities and schedules, so they couldn’t. I understood that, and I’m so glad I didn’t let it stop me from creating it. I said, ‘Well, I have the capacity to do an online digital magazine.’ And that’s how TORCH started, solely with the online digital magazine. It grew from there.”

*Cave Canem is a fellowship and literary organization supporting Black poets. Amanda became a fellow in 2005.