Harlem Book Fair

Harlem Book Fair
Status Active
Genre Multi-genre
Venue Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture
Location(s) Harlem
Country United States
Inaugurated 1998
Attendance 30,000 [1]
Organized by QBR - The Black Book Review
Website
Harlem Book Fair

The Harlem Book Fair is the United State’s largest African-American book fair and the nation’s flagship Black literary event.[2] Held annually in Harlem, NY, The Harlem Book Fair features exhibition booths, panel discussions, book sales, and workshops. Notable authors have included Cornel West, Sonia Sanchez, Amiri Baraka, Walter Mosley, Terry McMillan, Touré, Farai Chideya, Stanley Crouch, Nelson George, Mark Anthony Neal. The Harlem Book Fair has awarded the Phillis Wheatley Award to authors including Maya Angelou, Gordon Parks, and Terry McMillan for their body of work.[3]

Founded by Max Rodriguez, Publisher of QBR/The Black Book Review, the first Harlem Book Fair was held in July 1998 on the plaza of the Adam Clayton Powell Jr. State Office Building on 125th St.[4] Outgrowing this space, the Book Fair moved to Harlem’s 135th Street, and at its peak covered three city blocks, stretching from 5th avenue to Frederick Douglass Boulevard. An indoor and outdoor event, the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, the Countee Cullen Library, and the Thurgood Marshall Academy have served as venues for the Harlem Book Fair. C-SPAN's Book TV has broadcast from the Harlem Book Fair since 1999, airing its popular panels.[5]

With its growing popularity, the Harlem Book Fair has been hosted in other cities including Atlanta, Philadelphia, Los Angeles, Boston, Hempstead, Newark, and Buffalo.[6]

References

  1. http://www.harlembookfair.com/
  2. Newsroom, Courier (5 February 2015). "Harlem Book Fair presents 17th year of award-winning authors". Pittsburgh Courier. Retrieved 7 February 2015.
  3. Johnson, Troy. "PHILLIS WHEATLEY BOOK AWARDS 2013". African American Literature Book Club. Troy Johnson. Retrieved 7 February 2015.
  4. Lee, Eunice (10 April 2012). "A new page: Harlem Book Fair to make Newark debut". New Jersey On-Line. Retrieved 7 February 2015.
  5. BookTv, CSPAN. "CSPAN Video Library". C-SPAN. C-SPAN. Retrieved 7 February 2015.
  6. Lee, Eunice (10 April 2012). "A new page: Harlem Book Fair to make Newark debut". New Jersey - Online. Retrieved 7 February 2015.

External links