Austin’s African American Book Festival will explore love, perseverance, and intellectual growth under the heading “Black Lives Matter,” on June 27th from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Carver Museum and Library. The event is free and open to the public.

Featured speakers include author M.K. Asante, novelist Beverly Jenkins, and UT professor Dr. Kevin Cokley.  Asante, an award-winning author, poet and filmmaker, will discuss his memoir “Buck”, and how what he learned on urban streets helped him become not only an artistic tour de force, but also a tenured college professor.

With more than 30 titles to her credit, Jenkins is one of the most widely read writers of historical romances. Much of her work is set in the 19th century and features African American protagonists. She has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, People, and The Dallas Morning News.

In an article for the Harvard Educational Review, Cokley challenges the notion that black students are anti-intellectual. Cokely, who is also a counseling psychologist, explores how issues of identity impact the achievement of African American students.
Once again the festival will host book discussions and a Texas author showcase.

Now in its ninth year, the African American Book Festival is a multigenerational event intended to promote literary exploration and library usage in the community.

For more information visit http://www.aabookfest.com or African American Book Festival on Facebook.

#aabookfest, #mkasante #beverlyjenkins #kevincokley #ujimamagazine #community #books

Posted by Damita Miller-Shanklin

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