African American Book Festival

MK Asante, 2015 keynote speaker

The 2015 African American Book Festival, taking place Saturday, June 27, 10am-4pm, will be a multigenerational event that “will explore love, perseverance, and intellectual growth under the heading ‘Black Lives Matter.’”

Award-winning author and filmmaker MK Asante will read the keynote speech and sign his memoir, Buck, which is the story of how a rebellious kid educated himself against all odds, thanks to the most unexpected handful of teachers. The book is said to be an inspiring tribute to the power of art and a life lesson in finding purpose.

Besides Buck, other outstanding works will be signed and discussed at the festival. These include Dr. Kevin Cokley’s The Myth of Black Anti-Intellectualism, the historical romance novels of Beverly Jenkins, and Robbin Shipp and Nick Chiles' Justice While Black: Helping African American Families Navigate and Survive the Criminal Justice System, which will be discussed in a panel led by Texas NAACP President Gary Bledsoe.

Show your support for African American writers and literature, and be a part of a space that encourages collaboration, dialogue, and creativity by attending. All sessions are at the Carver Museum and Cultural center, 1165 Angelina. Please note that parking is limited. Overflow parking will be available at Carver Library and Kealing Middle School.

Ninth Annual African American Book Festival Schedule

10am: CENTRAL TEXAS AUTHOR SHOWCASE
Carver Library
Local and regional authors discuss and sell their work. Among the featured authors is San Antonio's Aaronetta Pierce. KAZI Radio personality Willie Sue Anderson hosts the session.

11:30am: DR. KEVIN COKLEY
Carver Library
The UT professor in the Department of Educational Psychology and Department of African and African American Diaspora Studies discusses and signs his new book, The Myth of Black Anti-Intellectualism.

11:30am: BEVERLY JENKINS
Boyd Vance Theatre
The author of the Destiny series of African-American historical romances and the Blessings novels set in Henry Adams, Kan., discusses and signs her work.

1pm: MK ASANTE
Boyd Vance Theatre
The filmmaker, bestselling author, and now hip-hop artist keynotes the 2015 festival. He will discuss and sign his memoir, Buck.

2:30pm: JUSTICE WHILE BLACK BOOK DISCUSSION
Boyd Vance Theatre
Texas NAACP president Gary Bledsoe leads a panel discussion of Justice While Black: Helping African American Families Navigate and Survive the Criminal Justice System with Prof. Timothy Walker, Joyce James, and Kizzy Fowler (sister of the late Larry Jackson, Jr.).