15th Austin African American Book Festival Recap
The 2021 African American Book Festival opened its 15th annual event with a screening of Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson’s documentary, “Summer of Soul.” More than 70 guests came out to enjoy the acclaimed concert film, which documents the revolutionary spirit of the Harlem Cultural Festival, a series of concerts held during the summer of 1969.
Due to the uncertainties of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, festival organizers planned the festival once again as a virtual event, featuring three Zoom sessions under the theme, I am a Revolutionary: Stories of Resistance and Resilience.
A panel led by Patrick Oliver kicked off the festival. The central message: When children can see their culture represented in literature, it helps to shape their view of the future and their prospects within it. In various ways the panelists, Cheryl Willis-Hudson, Tony Medina and Vanessa Brantley-Newton, testified to the truth of that statement as they discussed their own journeys through life and literature.
New York Times columnist Charles Blow explained how geography, even more than population numbers, impacts representation and the distribution of political power in the United States. In his latest book, “The Devil You Know,” Mr. Blow posits that Blacks could achieve formidable political strength if they migrated to major cities within those southern states where they already represent 30-40% of the population. The goals being to build majorities to achieve true representation, give Blacks more control of their destiny and help dismantle some of the structures that limit black potential, growth and opportunity.
Dr. Raphael Travis, closed out the festival by explaining how hip-hop has been a healing force in the community and led a discussion of Fred Hampton’s life and themes expressed in the movie “Judas and the Black Messiah.”
The Austin African American Book Festival, held each June, celebrates the Black literary experience and brings readers and writers together.
We Rise and Represent: Uplifting Tomorrow’s Leaders
Literary activist Patrick Oliver moderated a panel with award-winning children authors Cheryl Willis-Hudson, Tony Medina and Vanessa Brantley-Newton on the importance of building agency in your readers through what they read and see in books.
An Exodus to the South: A Conversation with Charles Blow
A clip from Dr. Mark D. Cunningham’s interview with best-selling author and journalist Charles Blow about his new book, “The Devil You Know: A Black Manifesto,” that suggests a reverse Black-migration as a means of defeating White supremacist structures and reclaiming space and existence.
Due to contractual obligations, we are unable to share the entire Charles Blow conversation, but have provided this excerpt.
Power to the People: A Discussion of Shaka King’s Judas and the Black Messiah
Dr. Raphael Travis, a professor and author of the “The Healing Power of Hip Hop,” led a discussion on Fred Hampton’s insistence on cultural pride, service, freedom, and restoring power to the people.