Nationwide — The Austin African American Guide Pageant proclaims its nineteenth annual celebration of Black literature and tradition, themed “Our Tales, Our Voices,” that includes acclaimed writer Walter Mosley. The primary competition will happen on Saturday, June 28, 2025, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the Carver Museum and Carver Library (1165 Angelina Road, Austin, Texas).
New this yr, competition 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 periods on matters resembling how literature shapes political consciousness, the legacy of the Civil Rights Motion, and the significance of preserving Black tales—highlighting the highly effective function of Black literature and historical past in inspiring activism and social change. The Youngsters Zone will supply 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 practically 20 years, this competition has honored the facility of Black storytelling in shaping who we’re and the way we transfer by 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 competition 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 CoatesBest-selling writer Walter Mosley joins Paul Coates, founding father of Black Basic Press, to debate how literature shapes cultural and political consciousness.
• Peniel Joseph on Freedom SeasonAcclaimed 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 StoriesAward-winning writer and co-founder of the Hurston/Wright Basis, Marita Golden, will focus on her latest e-book, How one can Grow to be a Black Author: Creating & Honoring Black Tales That Matter, in dialog with competition founder Rosalind Oliphant. Golden empowers writers to personal their voices and guarantee Black tales stay an simple pressure in literature and tradition.
• Kids’s Actions with Alice Faye DuncanRenowned kids’s writer Alice Faye Duncan engages younger readers by storytelling and cultural celebration impressed by her books, Opal Lee and What It Means to Be Free, and Yellow Canine Blues.
• Creator Showcase & Vendor MarketplaceAttendees can uncover rising literary expertise in the course of the Creator Showcase and discover the Vendor Market, that includes impartial authors and Black-owned book-related companies.
Be part of the CelebrationThe Austin African American Guide Pageant continues its mission to rejoice Black literature, amplify numerous voices, and construct neighborhood by the written phrase underneath 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 data@aaabookfest.org for updates and workshop registration.
