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6th ANNUAL 

SCHOMBURG CENTER LITERARY FESTIVAL

SATURDAY, JUNE 15 2024

ABOUT

Video by APM World/Emmanuel Agbeble

Lit Fest Logo Generational Wealth by Ernest A. Ford

SCHOMBURG CENTER LITERARY FESTIVAL

June 15, 2024  | 11 AM to 6 PM (ET)

Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, 515 Malcolm X Blvd.

and 135th Street, from Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. Blvd. to Malcolm X Blvd.

 

Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture is one of the world’s leading cultural institutions devoted to the research, preservation, and exhibition of materials focused on African American, African Diaspora, and African experiences. The Schomburg Center Literary Festival: Reading the African Diaspora extends our engagement with authors of African descent and champions literacy and books across genres to amplify Black history and culture. Festival programming features some of the most talented writers and influential figures in culture today. The festival is built on the foundation created by Arturo Schomburg–encouraging freedom of thought, the relentless pursuit of Black history, and the engagement of our imagination towards our collective freedom.

 

Join us as we honor the importance of passing down books, positive ideas about reading, and continuing to be bold in our choices at a time when the currents are pushing against the freedom to read and the invaluable service of public libraries.

Learn about this year's featured art "Generational Wealth" by Ernest A. Ford

The 2023 Schomburg Center Literary Festival is powered by Puma. Major support is provided by Deutsche Bank Americas Foundation.

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Talks

PAST FESTIVALS

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Explore the full list of featured authors and speakers for the 2023 festival.  Readings, panel discussions, and workshops at the event range from prose to poetry, comic books to young adult novels, fiction and nonfiction.  Stay tuned for more announcements and additions!  

Pre-Festival Program

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BLACK WRITERS AT WORK

Featuring Farah Jasmine Griffin, Candice Iloh and,

Ibi Zoboi, and more. 

WATCH

HENRY THREADGIL

in Conversation with Yusef Komunyakaa, moderated by Brent Hayes Edwards

WATCH

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REVISIT THE MARKETPLACE

The Marketplace located on 135th Street between Malcolm X Blvd. and Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. Blvd. is a great place to support local authors and the Schomburg Pop-Up ShopNew this year is the Black Future Newsstand and the Read & Refresh Lounge powered by HarperCollins. 

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Read & Refresh Lounge powered by HarperCollins is an outdoor rest area between stages where attendees can grab free water, a bit of shade, and a seat to look over their book haul while being treated to free books by authors featured at HarperCollins publishers.*.    

*While supplies last. 

Sonya Sanchez and Kevin Young in conversation seated in in-font of a large image of Sonya

SHOP PREVIOUS FESTIVALS

Images from the 2023 Schomburg Center Literary Festival. 

Photos by Bill Farrington and Bob Gore.

Images from the 2022 Schomburg Center Literary Festival. 

Photos by APM World/Emmanuel Agbeble,

Isseu Diouf Campbell, Bill Farrington and Bob Gore.

Schomburg Center's Black Liberation

Reading List

Explore essential titles selected by the Schomburg Center as it marks 95 years of collecting and preserving Black history, arts, and culture. Available on SimplyE and from the Schomburg Shop.

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Patron seated in a semi-circle in a discussion at the Lit Fest Workshop

TAKE A LOOK BACK 
 

Shcomburg Center Lit Fest Outdoor Audience seated under a text outside

You can revisit the last four festivals anytime.  See the list of participating authors or watch the programs on Livestream and YouTube.

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Batala drummers performing at the Lit Fest
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