Episode 46: Black Crosswords & Representation | Jan Buckner Walker | BWICA Part 1

Last year, we sat down with cruciverbalist Jan Buckner-Walker ahead of the release of Black Crosswords: In Our Own Words. We could think of no better way to celebrate its first birthday than by sharing our BWICA conversation with Jan about the story behind the book.

Jan talks about her path from journalism and law to crossword construction, creating puzzles for The Washington Post, Essence, and Ebony, and why Black representation in crossword culture matters. Chapters 00:00 Podcast Intro 00:44 Meet Jan Buckner-Walker 01:29 Why Black Crosswords Matter 02:51 Jan’s Origin Story 03:27 From Law to Puzzles 04:12 Kids Across, Parents Down 04:57 Breaking Into Syndication 06:19 Representation in Crosswords 07:10 Essence and Ebony Crosswords 08:03 Making Crosswords Welcoming 09:59 The Book Finally Happens 10:27 Why Black Crosswords Matter Now 11:07 Closing Thoughts Learn more about Jan Buckner-Walker and Black Crosswords: - Website: - LinkedIn: Jan will also celebrate Black Crosswords: In Our Own Words, Volume 2 at Sankofa Video, Books & Cafe in Washington, DC, on October 14, 2026.

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