KC teacher’s literacy tutoring helps Black writers find a pathway to publishing
Tyrone Gethers, a seasoned educator for more than two decades, has made it his life’s mission to uplift voices that too often go unheard. Raised in a household where education was a cornerstone, Gethers’ love for reading and writing took root early.
From sketching comics to crafting poetry and mysteries in college, his passion eventually led him to a career teaching English and language arts.
Gethers, 45, works as a literacy coach for the Hickman Mills School District, watching his students walk the same creative paths he once wandered.
His passion did not stop at the classroom. Witnessing the lack of representation and support for writers of color, he founded Obsidian’s Pen, a grassroots organization focused on promoting literacy, mentoring emerging writers and helping them get published.
His organization now offers everything from writing workshops and literary coaching to K–12 tutoring, aiming to bridge the literacy gap and create opportunities for writers of color to tell their own stories.
Gethers sat down with The Kansas City Star’s culture and identity reporter, J.M. Banks, to talk about his love for literacy, his years in education and the resources young Black writers need to get their stories published.
Banks: Can you begin by telling me about your early life and upbringing?
Gethers: My early life was pretty simple. I was raised by my mom and dad, they were both very firm with education. I had a love for reading at an early age and I knew I wanted to be a writer. I could remember I would get the funny papers, you know, the comic section of the newspaper, and then started drawing my own.
Then I started writing my own little stories and TV shows. When I got to college I started writing mysteries and poetry. I really loved creating my own stories and when I got to college I majored in journalism.
I loved writing so much I began teaching literacy and English. I’ve been in education for 23 years, but I’ve been a literacy coach for about three years now. I see many of my students following in the same footsteps I did and that brings everything full circle.
What made you decide to come up with an organization to help people of color get published?
Mentorship has always been important to me. I sat down with Natasha Ria El-Scari, a local poet. She told me about her work and I thought it was amazing. Then I met Glenn North, and I was blown away. Here were two individuals who looked like me, who came from the same community I did and they were thriving as writers. That meant a lot, because, to be honest, there weren’t many Black writers around me pursuing literature as a career.
I joined a group called The Writers Place and while it was cool, there weren’t many African Americans there. The mentorship felt different, there’s something powerful about having guidance from someone who understands your specific experiences and struggles.
I saw firsthand how difficult it was to publish work and how many talented people didn’t have the right opportunities. So I decided to start a group, Obsidian’s Pen, in 2023 to help writers of color get published, tell their stories and receive mentorship through workshops.
Later, I started offering tutoring services and things just grew from there. Other organizations reached out asking if I could do workshops, speak at events, or help tutor their kids. We have been growing like wildfire ever since.
Can you give me the breakdown of everything you offer and what you hope to accomplish with your organization?
We operate in two main areas: literacy and tutoring. On the literacy side, we offer editing, literary coaching, literacy workshops and literary programming.
On the tutoring side, we work with K–12 students and some undergrads. We cover core subjects as well as some electives and we’re very family-focused. Our ultimate goal is to create access, to bridge the gap in literacy, and help people, especially people of color, publish their work and tell their stories.
Why do you think it’s important that we have organizations like yours here in the metro to assist people who are looking for those resources?
Because there’s a serious literacy gap in Kansas City. In my time teaching, especially the last three years as a literacy coach, I’ve seen too many high schoolers graduating while still being far below grade level. A lot of schools are just passing students through without ensuring that they have the basic literacy skills they need to succeed in college, the military, or the workforce.
When it comes to publishing, students of color often don’t have access to the resources or platforms to share their voices. That widens the gap even more. What we’re trying to do is bridge that gap by supporting students and adults alike in becoming literate, getting their work published and sharing their stories.
What do you think are the main challenges for a writer looking to pursue a literary career today?
I would say the top three are resources, mentorship and support. Do you have access to tools? Is there someone to guide you? Is there an audience that believes in your work?
For new writers, that support is essential and that’s what we try to offer at Obsidian’s Pen. Mentorship, resources and a supportive network. We’ve built a community of about 70 people who support one another sharing links, doing pop-ups and showing up for events. That kind of connection is powerful.
I know what it’s like to do a poetry reading and not see any familiar faces in the audience. I know what it’s like to see people close to you promoting others’ work but ignoring yours. That kind of silence hurts but it’s what motivates me to make sure no writer in our group feels unsupported.
Have you had any breakthroughs that have been a major impact on your efforts?
One big moment was opening our headquarters on the Plaza at 420 Nichols Drive, inside the Industrious building. Another was becoming a finalist for the KC People’s Choice Awards for Best Author, that helped raise our profile.
How do you measure your organization’s impact on both students inside and outside the classroom?
By becoming a part of the families we serve. We don’t just tutor during sessions, we stay in touch. We check on our students at home and at school.
Parents often tell us we don’t treat them like a paycheck and that means a lot. Our tutoring motto is we don’t get rich off your students, your students get rich from learning with us.
We aim to make education and literacy a constant presence in school, at home and in the community.
How do you stay motivated and keep your passion as an educator and mentor?
I have a small group, my accountability circle, that keeps me grounded and motivated. Also, rejection fuels me. When people say no or doubt me, I use that to push harder. I follow the path my ancestors laid, they didn’t quit, so I won’t either.
I have a nine-year-old who watches everything I do. I want him to see his dad as an intellectual, as someone who’s building something meaningful.
Why do you feel that representation in publishing is so important, particularly for black voices?
Because we’re constantly being fed narratives that aren’t ours. Seeing someone who looks like you, who comes from where you come from, it gives your story validity. I’ve had administrators introduce me to students as a published author, and that completely shifts their engagement.
I’ve done poetry in the park, worked with diverse kids through the Music & More Foundation, and introduced programs that didn’t exist in the district before I arrived. Representation shows young people that they have a seat at the table, or that they can build their own if they need to.
We are helping people tell their stories. Supporting literacy in a meaningful way and being part of a movement that’s making an impact in the city.
What are your organization’s goals and aspirations for the future in terms of growth and evolution?
Ultimately, I want us to be in schools, tutoring and teaching students that literacy goes beyond the classroom. Literacy is everywhere, in books, interviews, TV, radio. I want students to see the many paths literacy can take them.
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