Who: Harambee Dance Company, Jason Reynolds, Roxane Gay, Roger Reeves, Jennifer Mack Watkins, Akwaeke Emezi, A. J. Verdelle, Linda Villarosa, Jacqueline Woodson, more
What: Schomburg Literary Festival
Where: Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, 515 Malcolm X Blvd. at 135th St.
When: Saturday, June 18, 10:30 am – 5:00 pm, free
Why: The fourth annual Schomburg Literary Festival takes place on Saturday, June 18, with poetry readings, live music, workshops, discussions, book signings, and more on Malcolm X Blvd. Among the highlights are appearances by Jason Reynolds, Roxane Gay, Jennifer Mack Watkins, and Jacqueline Woodson. Below is the full schedule; all events are free. In addition, the Marketplace features booths from the Center for Fiction, the Reading Team, Subsume, Harlem Writers Guild, Total Equity Now, Countee Cullen Library, New York Urban League, and others.
Woke Baby! Festival, with Theo Gangi, Cathy Linh Che, Max Michael Jacob, Soré Agbaje, Stephanie Pachecho, Miah Prescod, Oluwatoyin Kupoluyi, Ayonnah Sullivan, and Jasmine Dabney, curated and hosted by Mahogany L. Browne, Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Stage, 10:30
Reading, an Act of Rebellion and Joy, procession and discussion with Harambee Dance Company, Jason Reynolds, and Roxane Gay, Langston Hughes Auditorium, Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, 11:00
Workshop: The Art of Creating Historical Fiction, facilitated by Minnette Coleman, American Negro Theatre, 12:00
Poetry for Our Time, with Kemi Alabi, Zora Neale Hurston Stage, 12:15
Mateo Askaripour, with moderator Rahshib Thomas, Aaron Douglas Reading Room, 12:30
Health and Racism in America, with Linda Villarosa, moderated by Rebecca Carroll, Langston Hughes Auditorium, 12:45
Poetry for Our Time, with Akwaeke Emezi, Zora Neale Hurston Stage, 12:45
Literary Monuments, Friendship, and Toni Morrison, with A. J. Verdelle, moderated by Tiphanie Yanique, Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Stage, 1:00
Black Food Stories, with Bryant Terry, Zora Neale Hurston Stage, 1:30
Cleyvis Natera and Jacinda Townsend, with moderator Leslie-Ann Murray, Aaron Douglas Reading Room, 1:45
Black Manhattan in and out of the Archives, with Kia Corthron and Kevin McGruder, moderated by Eric K. Washington, Langston Hughes Auditorium, 2:00
Workshop: Intro to Personal Storytelling, American Negro Theatre, 2:00
To Be Brave and in Love, with Akwaeke Emezi, moderated by Nicole Dennis-Benn, Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Stage, 2:15
Poetry for Our Time, with Roger Reeves, Zora Neale Hurston Stage, 2:15
Featured Literary Festival Artist: Jennifer Mack Watkins, Zora Neale Hurston Stage, 3:00
Caleb Gayle, with moderator Joy Bivins, Aaron Douglas Reading Room, 3:00
Embracing Desire, A Debut Author’s Journey, with Mecca Jamilah Sullivan, moderated by Jacqueline Woodson, Langston Hughes Auditorium, 3:15
Crafting Community in Short Stories, with Sidik Fofana and Ladee Hubbard, moderated by Ainehi Edoro, Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Stage, 3:30
Poetry for Our Time, with Harold Green III, Zora Neale Hurston Stage, 3:45
The Last Poet’s Abiodun Oyewole, listening session and conversation, Langston Hughes Auditorium, 4:30