Black Ink: A Charleston African American Book Festival

Kwame Alexander, New York Times-bestselling author and 2015 Newberry Medal recipient, will be the featured speaker at the 2017 Black Ink: A Charleston African American Book Festival. Alexander will join at least 50 black authors and hundreds of readers for the second annual festival on Saturday, September 23, 2017, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Main branch of the Charleston County Public Library (68 Calhoun Street, Charleston, SC 29401). The event is free and open to the public. SC Humanities supported this festival with a Fast Track Literary Grant.

Alexander is the author of 24 books, including poetry, prose, and picture books. In addition to winning the Newberry Award for the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children, his book The Crossover also received the Coretta Scott King Author Award Honor and other recognitions. The book is “a mix of free verse and hip-hop poetry that will have broad appeal,” according to a starred review in the Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books. “This will inspire budding players and poets alike.”

Black Ink: A Charleston African American Book Festival’s mission is to support local Black writers, creating a space for them to share their work, discuss their craft, and expose readers all ages to the great variety of African American authors in the area.  It will feature author sessions, workshops/seminars, and entertainment. The full schedule can be viewed online at CharlestonLibraryFriends.org.

The mission of SC Humanities is to enrich the cultural and intellectual lives of all South Carolinians. Established in 1973, this 501(c) 3 organization is governed by a volunteer 21-member Board of Directors comprised of community leaders from throughout the state. It presents and/or supports literary initiatives, lectures, exhibits, festivals, publications, oral history projects, videos and other humanities-based experiences that directly or indirectly reach more than 250,000 citizens annually.

Image by John Christopher