Charles L. Chatmon is an author and Observer whose work blends emotional clarity, cultural memory, and a distinctive poetic voice. His poetry and essays have appeared in publications including California Crusader News, L.A. Wave Newspaper, L.A. Watts Times, Consciousness Magazine, and Empire Beat Magazine, establishing him as a thoughtful chronicler of community and lived experience.
A longtime advocate for Black literature in Los Angeles, Charles has helped shape the region’s literary landscape. As the former executive director of the Los Angeles Black Book Expo, he created space for authors and readers to connect, celebrate, and grow. His contributions include helping launch the Authors Pavilion at the inaugural Leimert Park Book Fair, the Literary Village for the African Marketplace, and the Literacy Awareness program for Community Day in Los Angeles — initiatives that continue to influence the city’s cultural fabric.
Charles has shared his craft and insight through workshops at the African American Museum and Library in Oakland and the AC Bilbrew Library in Los Angeles. He has spoken at the West Coast Black Writers Festival, the UCLA Bruins Speaker Series, the California Writers Collective Empowerment Luncheon, and the African American Museum and Library in Oakland’s Meet the Authors program. His commitment to literacy and mentorship extends to community events and Career Days throughout Los Angeles and the San Francisco Bay Area. He has also served as a guest moderator for the Authors Spotlight series at Barnes & Noble at The Grove.
A graduate of California State University, Los Angeles, with a degree in English, Charles remains devoted to literature, education, and the power of storytelling. A two-time stroke survivor, he writes with deep gratitude for the opportunity to continue his creative journey.
As of March 2024, Charles serves as director of the AC Bilbrew Writers Workshop, guiding a vibrant community of writers in South Los Angeles. From 2006 to 2018, he led numerous workshops at the library, further solidifying his role as a mentor, organizer, and enduring voice in the literary community.
The Depths of My Soul: poems from the heart of a man (2001)
The Voices of South Central (2003)
Storm Over South Central (2021)
RELAY (2022)
Strange Tales of Science Fiction (2024)
It's All About Fate (2025)
Upcoming: The World is a Ghetto (2026)
A letter from the AC Bilbrew's Black Resource Center thanking Charles for teaching the writer's workshop inside the library (2006).
Copyright © 2025 Charles L. Chatmon, Author - All Rights Reserved.