Nationwide — The Austin African American Book Festival publicizes its nineteenth annual celebration of Black literature and tradition, themed “Our Tales, Our Voices,” that includes acclaimed creator Walter Mosley. The primary pageant will happen on Saturday, June 28, 2025, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the Carver Museum and Carver Library (1165 Angelina Avenue, Austin, Texas).
New this yr, pageant actions will kick off on Friday, June 27, with Write On!, a dynamic pre-festival writers’ workshop. On Saturday, festivalgoers can take part in interactive classes on matters equivalent to how literature shapes political consciousness, the legacy of the Civil Rights Motion, and the significance of preserving Black tales—highlighting the highly effective position of Black literature and historical past in inspiring activism and social change. The Youngsters Zone will provide hands-on storytelling and inventive actions designed to spark a love of studying in younger attendees.
Dr. Rosalind Oliphant, founding father of the Austin African American Guide Pageant, stated, “For almost 20 years, this pageant has honored the ability of Black storytelling in shaping who we’re and the way we transfer via the world. We’re proud to proceed creating area for reflection, connection, and daring conversations that talk to our historical past, our creativity, and the continuing work of justice and alter.” The 2025 pageant brings collectively a dynamic lineup of authors, historians, and cultural leaders who use literature to form narratives, protect historical past, and encourage future generations.
Pageant Highlights Embody:
• Walter Mosley in Dialog with Paul Coates
Finest-selling creator Walter Mosley joins Paul Coates, founding father of Black Basic Press, to debate how literature shapes cultural and political consciousness.
• Peniel Joseph on Freedom Season
Acclaimed historian Dr. Peniel E. Joseph explores the defining influence of the yr 1963 on America’s Civil Rights Motion in his forthcoming e-book, Freedom Season: How 1963 Reworked America’s Civil Rights Revolution.
• Marita Golden on Capturing Black Tales
Award-winning creator and co-founder of the Hurston/Wright Basis, Marita Golden, will focus on her latest e-book, Easy methods to Change into a Black Author: Creating & Honoring Black Tales That Matter, in dialog with pageant founder Rosalind Oliphant. Golden empowers writers to personal their voices and guarantee Black tales stay an simple pressure in literature and tradition.
• Youngsters’s Actions with Alice Faye Duncan
Famend kids’s creator Alice Faye Duncan engages younger readers via storytelling and cultural celebration impressed by her books, Opal Lee and What It Means to Be Free, and Yellow Canine Blues.
• Writer Showcase & Vendor Market
Attendees can uncover rising literary expertise through the Writer Showcase and discover the Vendor Market, that includes impartial authors and Black-owned book-related companies.
Be a part of the Celebration
The Austin African American Guide Pageant continues its mission to have a good time Black literature, amplify various voices, and construct group via the written phrase below the theme “Our Tales, Our Voices.” This free, family-friendly occasion is open to the general public.
Go to www.aaabookfest.org or e-mail [email protected] for updates and workshop registration.
