To dream is to resist. For poet, writer, and publisher Camari Carter Hawkins, dreaming is more than personal ambition—it’s a form of survival.
From her earliest days of journaling to the founding of Mama’s Kitchen Press, Camari’s dreams have always been an act of rebellion against the limitations placed on Black women. As she writes in her poem “Dreams:” are child-like and fragile
guard them with bubble-wrapped prayers secure them from shattering falls and thieves.
These lines encapsulate the tenderness and vulnerability of dreams but also the fierce protection they require. Camari knows that dreams are fragile—easily shattered by the harsh realities of a world that often marginalizes Black voices. But rather than letting these challenges steal her aspirations, she fights to preserve them.
Camari’s authorship journey began with “Death by Comb” (2016, World Stage Press), her first major work. This collection introduced readers to her fierce, authentic voice, born from her lived experiences in South Central Los Angeles. However, this journey to finding her voice was far from linear.
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As she explains, “I don’t think there’s a stamp date where you’re developed, you’re done.” Instead, her development as a poet was a process of discovery, marked by uncertainty and personal transformation.
The publication of “Death by Comb” is connected to Camari’s time in the Community Literature Initiative program founded by Library Board Commissioner and USC English Professor Hiram Sims. It was during this program that Camari began to take her poetry seriously, experimenting with form and exploring the depths of her identity.
In 2019, Hawkins birthed a bold new dream: to create a literary space dedicated to amplifying Black voices. Two years later, Mama’s Kitchen Press was born. This press, founded on the need for writers, has since grown into a powerful force for underrepresented voices.
The inspiration for Mama’s Kitchen Press came from an eye-opening experience at the Association of Writers & Writing Programs conference.
“I attended the conference and could count on one hand how many Black-owned presses there were,” Camari reflects. “I thought we were out here in numbers, but that wasn’t the case.” This realization fueled her desire to fill the gap and ensure that Black writers had a platform to share their stories with the world.
Hawkins’s personal journey of finding her voice mirrors the struggles of generations of Black women who have fought to preserve their dreams. In founding Mama’s Kitchen Press, Camari not only honors the legacy of her mother and grandmother but also creates a space where future generations of Black women can dream freely, without the fear of being silenced.
Her poem “The Dream and The Chaser” is a stark reminder of the weight that comes with this responsibility:
“I’m running,
Trying to move faster
But my soul has prosthetics
I’m limping
Dragging my wounded past
And what’s left of my belief.”
These lines poignantly describe the emotional and physical exhaustion that comes with chasing dreams, especially when weighed down by historical trauma, systemic barriers, and personal doubt. Yet, even as she limps forward, Camari refuses to stop running. Her belief, though fragile at times, continues to propel her toward a future where her dreams—and those of others—become reality.
Other works by Hawkins include the “Write Back to You Guided Journal,” the “Sorority of Bereaved Mothers Anthology,” which features poems and stories from Black women on pregnancy loss and infertility, and a forthcoming chapbook titled “Some,” set to release in Fall 2024.
Camari Carter Hawkins chooses to dream out loud, and her work is an act of resistance, a declaration that dreams—no matter how fragile—deserve to be nurtured and protected. You can join her in this mission by exploring the works published by Mama’s Kitchen Press and supporting the dreams of Black writers and poets.
Visit mamaskitchenpress.com to discover their stories and be a part of a movement that celebrates these beautiful voices.
