Lovers of word games in general and crosswords in particular know there’s nothing like the joy to be found in filling in those final squares and completing that puzzle. A proud Howard University alum, Jan Buckner Walker has been crafting Black-focused lifestyle puzzles for more than 25 years, including the one that ran in ESSENCE magazine for a decade.  

With her unique voice and inimitable puzzle creation style, she has entertained millions with games she describes as “mind-tickling, not brain-busting,” zooming in on Black history, trivia, and cultural highlights with a dash of light-hearted humor. Her puzzles have run in outlets nationwide, including The New York Times, The Washington Post, Los Angeles Times and Chicago Tribune. You might have also seen them in restaurants such as McDonald’s and Cracker Barrel, where for over 15 years, patrons experienced the family activity as a part of the dining experience.

Now with BlackCrosswords: In Our Own Words, volumes one and two, Buckner Walker has found a way to offer even more “puzzles about trivia, pop culture and history with an African-American flavor.” We caught up with the self-proclaimed “word nerd” to talk about her journey from practicing law to writing culturally relevant crosswords, the making of the new book series, and that special Obama connection.

ESSENCE: First up, how did you go from practicing law to creating puzzles?
JAN BUCKNER WALKER: I attended the University of Pennsylvania Law School, and while the study of law was interesting and the practice stimulating, I sensed there was something more to life—at least mine. I practiced law at various Fortune 500 companies but always found myself scribbling notes about entrepreneurial ideas between flights and meetings. The initial idea to make a family puzzle that parents and kids could solve together was born while at work, scribbled on a scrap of paper.

ESSENCE: Pivoting from one career path to another is not easy. What was your path like?
BUCKNER WALKER: I began my journey of puzzle making by defining a new genre in the crossword world. Kids Across Parents Down (KAPD) became the nation’s first and only organically two-person crossword. With an eye toward promoting literacy and bringing people together for a quality family time activity, I presented a few samples to my “hometown paper” at the time—The Washington Post. They immediately signed and, within two months, the feature had been signed by a major children’s publisher for a book series, picked up for national newspaper syndication, gained a weekly audience reach which would grow to over 10 million.  

ESSENCE: Why did you feel the need to go from KAPD to BlackCrosswords?
BUCKNER WALKER: While I was enjoying growth in the mainstream crossword industry and family niche, I was not pleased at the lack of content featuring Black culture in the White-dominated landscape of the industry. Looking at what was missing and how I could fill the void, I founded BlackCrosswords. As soon as I secured the BlackCrosswords.com URL, the site immediately featured an eBook, which was a forerunner to BlackCrosswords: In Our Own Words.

Prior to my pioneering the Black crossword genre with the creation of the ESSENCE Crossword, back in the early 2000s, there were no ethnic-focused, regularly running crosswords. Except for the occasional Black History Month puzzles, we really didn’t have a source for this type of entertainment. ESSENCE was the birthplace of BlackCrosswords and the platform that originally fostered an appetite for activities that center and celebrate us.

ESSENCE: How do you craft a puzzle?
BUCKNER WALKER: I’m not administering an IQ test. Instead, I’m creating a uniquely satisfying experience. To do this, rather than the staccato, two-to-three-word New York Times–style clues people are accustomed to, mine are often longer and more narrative, evoking memories of cultural moments we recognize and share. I’m not afraid of humor or rhyme—whatever it takes to make the solver feel something, not just guess the answer correctly. So, my clues may bring to mind the smell of your grandmother’s kitchen, a parent’s response to childhood mischief, a popular song or dance, or the smiles shared at your family reunion.

ESSENCE: You’re proud of your Howard University affiliation. How has it motivated you?
BUCKNER WALKER: My Howard University experience forms a major foundation of my BlackCrosswords magic-making. I credit my time there with sparking my creativity, firmly grounding me in our culture, arming me with knowledge of our history and fostering a sense of precision and quality through my study of journalism, which included serving as managing editor of our school newspaper, The Hilltop. 

To celebrate the launch of BlackCrosswords, Volume One, I attended 2025’s Howard University Homecoming, where I was pleasantly surprised to find that not just alums, but current HU students, were hungry for the BlackCrosswords experience. I was especially pleased to see that the puzzles span the generations, from ages 18 to 100.

ESSENCE: What about the Obamas and that connection?
BUCKNER WALKER: As a transplanted Chicagoan, I’ve been a fan and supporter of the Obamas for many years, so I was thrilled when the 2009 Obama Inaugural Planning Committee tapped me to create a custom puzzle for the Children’s Ball and the Illinois State Ball featuring the Obama family. I understand that Sasha and Malia grew up enjoying Kids Across Parents Down in The Chicago Tribune and recall encountering Michelle from time to time in our Hyde Park neighborhood eateries and at Black Women Lawyers’ Association events back in the early 1990s. I now look forward to the honor of offering theBlackCrosswords series in the gift shop of the Obama Presidential Center.

ESSENCE: BlackCrosswords, Volume Two launched around Juneteenth this year, what made that special?
BUCKNER WALKER: Besides the significance of the date, I was excited that my favorite comedian and Daily Show host, Josh Johnson, wrote the foreword for Volume Two. It means the world to me that he sees an alignment in our life’s work, recognizing that what he does through comedy, I do through word play—namely, provide a space and time to think, smile and relax in these emotionally exhausting times.

Author: Grace White

Read the original article on Essence.