Finding Our Voice

If we don’t write our feelings, our dilemmas, our predicament, our struggle, our history, who will? Who can we trust, other than ourselves to chronicle our place in world history?

Supreme divine-dow, founder & executive director, The black writers museum

Supreme Dow is the founder, curator, and executive director of the Black Writers Museum (BWM) in Philadelphia, PA. As a repository of a comprehensive collection of rare and signed literary materials, images and artifacts, under Dow’s leadership, the BWM has developed into a national destination for tourists, students, and scholars.

Recognized as an industry expert in African American Literary history, Dow lectures and conducts professional presentations for Universities, non-profit organizations, and public and private institutions across the United States.

Having amassed over 30 years of professional collection, archives and records preservation and management experience, Dow is also a poet, essayist, author, social activist, public education advocate, and youth mentor. Because of his work and commitment to social justice, in 1994, Dow was chosen to serve as an International Observer for the first all- people’s election in South Africa. This service abroad coupled with his personal commitment to dismantling racism in America has helped to shape his writing and perspective on the complexity of social constructs and global communities.

Over his career, Dow has received numerous literary and community service honors and awards.


history of the black writers museum