20 Years of Story. Power. Possibility.
For twenty years, we have gathered readers and writers in Austin to celebrate the power of Black storytelling. Take a look back at the authors, themes, and moments that have made us who we are today.
Two Decades of Black Literary Excellence
Founded by Dr. Roz Oliphant Jones and Evelyn Martin Anderson
"A Celebration of Black Literary Movements"
ReShonda Tate Billingsley · San Culberson · Winston Williams · Zell Miller, III · Catfish Poets Society
Sam Greenlee (with special screening of The Spook Who Sat By The Door) · Francis Ray · Evelyn Palfrey · Deborah Orr
"Dreams In Me: Narratives of Black Women Writers"
Annette Gordon-Reed · Carla Harris · Anita Richmond Bunkley · Bernice McFadden · Angela Shelf Medearis · Carla Nickerson
"Black Men Writers Inspiring Change"
Leonard Pitts, Jr. · Saul Paul · Rev. Sterling Lands · Fenorris Pearson · Don Tate · Varian Johnson · Toni Tipton Martin · Farrah Rochon
"Deliberate and Unafraid: Black Literary Voices"
Sister Souljah · Jawanza Kunjufu · Dr. Shirley Sprinkles · Dr. Tiffany Gill · Dr. Monica Anderson · Rosalyn Story · Evelyn Palfrey
"Bronze Musings: Conversations about Black Life in Literature"
Bernice McFadden · Elizabeth Nunez
"I Am All of Them, They are All of Me: The Brilliance and Resiliency of Black Letters and Arts"
Terry McMillan · Dr. Michael Collins · Anita Richmond Bunkley · Zell Miller, III
"We Have Tomorrow: Black Literature as Inspiration for Change"
Dr. Arnold Rampersad · Mississippi State Senator David L. Jordan · Dr. Peniel Joseph
"#Black Lives Matter"
M.K. Asante · Beverly Jenkins · Dr. Kevin Cokley
"Celebrating 10 Years of Literary Excellence"
Sharon Flake · ReShonda Tate Billingsley · Deborah Roberts · Willie Sue Anderson
"Black History, Literature, and Power"
Angie Thomas · Dr. Peniel Joseph · April Sinclair · D. Watkins
"Literary Vibranium"
Paul Coates · Victoria Christopher Murray · Evan Narcisse · John Jennings · Don Tate · Lori Aurelia Williams
"Making Good on the Promise of Economic Freedom"
A'Lelia Bundles · Dr. Dennis Kimbro · Dr. Juliet E.K. Walker · Mikaila Ulmer
"We Wear the Mask: Surviving Oppression in the 21st Century"
Isabel Wilkerson · Dr. Damon Tweedy · Dr. kYmberly Keeton
"I Am a Revolutionary: Stories of Resistance and Resilience"
Charles Blow · Cheryl Willis-Hudson · Tony Medina · Vanessa Brantley-Newton · Patrick Oliver
"Where Do We Go From Here"
Dr. Julianne Malveaux · Don Tate · Kelly Fair · Van G. Garrett
"Our Undefeated Legacy"
Kwame Alexander · Gayle Jessup White · Dr. Peniel Joseph · Anne Wynter · Patrick Oliver · Willie Sue Anderson
"Black Feeling, Black Talk: Activism in Poetry and Prose"
Nikki Giovanni · Wade Hudson · Jessica Care Moore · Dr. McKinley Melton · Don Tate
"Our Stories, Our Voices"
Walter Mosley · Marita Golden · Dr. Peniel Joseph · Paul Coates
"Celebrating 20 Years of Black Literary Liberation and Excellence"