She didn’t see her Black heritage in crossword puzzles. So she started publishing her own

Juliana Pache, inspired by a lack of representation in traditional crossword puzzles, created blackcrossword.com in January 2023 to offer puzzles that highlight Black history and culture. Pache, who had never made a crossword before, decided to fill the gap she noticed in the crossword community by creating daily mini-puzzles featuring clues and answers related to the African diaspora. Her site quickly gained popularity, with around 2,200 daily players. On August 20, 2024, Pache released her first book, “Black Crossword: 100 Mini Puzzles Celebrating the African Diaspora,” which continues her mission to provide crosswords “made with Black people in mind.” Pache’s work is part of a broader movement to expand what is considered “general knowledge” in crossword puzzles, making them more inclusive and representative of diverse cultures.

Source: AP News