2013 Harlem Book Fair - Schedule of Events

[Troy]

 

The Harlem Book Fair, now in its 15 year, hosts a large street where you will find a variety of booksellers, food and other types of vendors.  But the crown jewel of the fair -- indeed any fair like it -- is the schedule of seminars, panels and related activities. 

The list below is not exhaustive and is current as of the time I posted it.  For the most current information please visit the Harlem Book Fair website. 

 

 

PHILLIS WHEATLEY BOOK AWARDS 2013 - FRIDAY, JULY 19, 2013
7:00p – 9:00p

Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture
Langston Hughes Auditorium
515 Lenox Avenue @ West 135th Street
Music by Atiba Wilson and the Befo’ Quotet

 

Sonia Sanchez will receive 1st Annual Sonia Sanchez ​Award in Poetry at 2013 Wheatley Award Program.  This honor, named for Sonia Sanchez, which will be awarded annually to a Poet.

 

Book Awards 2013 Wheatley Award Finalists

 

First Fiction

• The Last Warner Woman by Kei Miller
• Antebellum by R. K. Thomas
• Sweet Lullaby by DaWitt
• The Magnificent Life of Gravvy Brown by DeVaughn Lilly
• The Garvey Protocol by Eric Christopher Webb

Fiction

• Love In A Carry-on Bag by Sadeqa Johnson
• A Gathering of Water by Bernice L. McFadden
• The Warlord of Willow Ridge by Gary Phillips
• Silent Cry by Dywane Birch
• Sinners & Saints by ReShonda Tate Billingsley and Victoria Christopher Murray

Nonfiction / Biography & Memoir

• Floyd Patterson: The Fighting Life of Boxing's Invisible Champion by W. K. Stratton
• The One: The Life and Music of James Brown by R L Smith
• The Black Count: Glory, Revolution, Betrayal, and the Real Count of Monte Cristo by Tom Reiss
• A Mission From God by James Meredith
• Gather at the Table by Sharon Leslie Morgan and Thomas Morgan DeWolf

Nonfiction / History & Politics

• Guest of Honor: Booker T. Washington, Theodore Roosevelt, and the White House Dinner That Shocked a Nation by Deborah Davis
• Out from the Shadow: The Story of Charles L. Gittens Who Broke the Color Barrier in the United States Secret Service by Maurice A. Butler
• This Fragile Life: A Mother's Story of a Bipolar Son by Charlotte Pierce-Baker
• Power Concedes Nothing: One Woman's Quest for Social Justice in America, from the Courtroom to the Kill Zones by Connie Rice
• The Courage To Hope: How I Stood Up to the Politics of Fear by Shirley Sherrod

Poetry

• Here I Throw Down My Heart by Coleen J. McElroy
• Shouda Been Jimi Savannah by Patricia Smith
• Thrall by Natasha Trethewey
• Hurrah’s Nest by Arisa White
• Speak Water by Truth Thomas

 

 

QBR/THE BLACK BOOK REVIEW/HARLEM BOOK FAIR AUTHOR TALKS AT THE SCHOMBURG CENTER - SATURDAY, JULY 20
Presented by Columbia University School of the Arts, T-Mobile, and the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture

WELCOME: Max Rodriguez, Director, Harlem Book Fair; Khalil Gibran Muhammad, Director, Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture; Marcia Sells, Associate VP, Program Development and Initiatives, and Associate Dean, Office of Community Outreach and Education, School of the Arts, Columbia University
Time: 11:50a – 12:00p

MYTHOLOGIES OF RACE, SCIENCE, AND HEALTH
Time: 12:00p – 1:15p
Moderator: Sheldon Krimsky, Genetic Justice: DNA Databanking, Criminal Investigations and Civil Liberties

Panelists: Jonathan Metzl, The Protest Psychosis: How Schizophrenia Became a Black Disease; Alondra Nelson, Body and Soul: The Black Panther Party and the Fight Against Medical Discrimination; Samuel K. Roberts, Infectious Fear: Politics, Disease, and the Health Effects of Segregation; and Harriet Washington, Deadly Monopolies: The Shocking Corporate Takeover of Life Itself and the Consequences for Your Health and Our Medical Future.

From the long history of medical experimentation on African Americans, the complex connection between race and DNA, to racial health disparities that present a national crisis, the panelists gathered for this discussion will trace how racial thinking and bias have been woven into our national dialogue on science and health.

 

THE ROAD TO DISCOVERY: A CONVERSATION WITH E.R. SHIPP and CARL HART
Time: 1:30p – 2:45p

Participants: Carl Hart, High Price: A Neuroscientist's Journey of Self-Discovery That Challenges Everything You Know About Drugs and Society; E.R. Shipp, Outrage: The Story Behind the Tawana Brawley Hoax

A recent brief on medicaldaily.com states that Europe is now the world’s leading drug market, with 280 new and dangerous “legal” highs replacing traditional drug use. A conversation between Pulitzer-Prize winning journalist, E.R. Shipp, and neuroscientist, Carl Hart, aims to shift the scientific and judicial communities’ focus away from tidy, racialized characterizations of drug abuse and illegality to more comprehensive approaches that address both the material conditions of marginalized Americans and mainstreamed “functional” users.

FIFTY YEARS LATER: BLACKS AND THE 21ST CENTURY CITY
Time: 3:00p – 4:15p

Moderator: Tina Campt, Other Germans: Black Germans and the Politics of Race, Gender and Memory in the Third Reich

Panelists: Farah Griffin, Harlem Nocturne: Women Artists and Progressive Politics During World War I; Kendall Thomas, Critical Race Theory: The Key Writings That Formed the Movement; Peniel Joseph, Dark Days, Bright Nights: From Black Power to Barack Obama

Fifty years after the March On Washington how much progress have blacks made in American society?  A half century after racial violence in Birmingham, Alabama elevated Dr. King to new heights of leadership and inspired President John F. Kennedy to deliver a historic televised "race speech" in support of civil rights, racial equality remains a contested notion in American society. That blacks have made progress in political participation but endure alarming rates of income inequity is profoundly disconcerting. But this is not a new history. What historical and contemporary factors drive these persistent issues and what new knowledge can be harnessed to address the specific demands of the new century?

CONVERSATIONS IN BLACK FREEDOM: CELEBRATING THE LEGACIES OF ROSA PARKS AND ESLANDA ROBESON
Time: 4:30p – 5:45p

Participants: Mary Frances Berry, the former Chair of the US Commission on Civil Rights, Power in Words: The Stories behind Barack Obama's Speeches, from the State House to the White House, will join Barbara Ransby, Eslanda: The Large and Unconventional Life of Mrs. Paul Robeson, and Jeanne Theoharis, The Rebellious Life of Mrs. Rosa Parks, to honor these two freedom fighters and discuss their new books.  

February 4, 2013 marks the centennial of the birth of Rosa Parks.  Two decades before Parks' historic arrival, Eslanda Cardozo Goode Robeson was born on December 15, 1895 in Washington DC.  Both women were indomitable activists and long distance runners “hidden in plain sight” in the Black Freedom Struggle: Rosa Parks played a foundational role laying the groundwork, galvanizing and maintaining the Montgomery movement and subsequently advising Civil Rights and Black Power organizations in Detroit; Eslanda Robeson — chemist, author, actress and journalist—as a leader in the Progressive Party and the anti-colonial Council on African Affairs.

HE NEW JERUSALEM: BLACK LIFE, THE CHURCH, AND THE STRUGGLE FOR AMERICAN DEMOCRACY
Time: 6:00p – 7:15p

Moderator: Josef Sorret, Spirit in the Dark: A Religious History of Racial Aesthetics

Panelists: Anthea Butler, Women in the Church of God in Christ, Making A Sanctified World; Rev. James Forbes, Who's Gospel: A Concise Guide to Progressive Protestantism; Eddie S. Glaude, Jr., In a Shade of Blue: Pragmatism and the Politics of Black America; Obery Hendricks, The Politics of Jesus: Rediscovering the True Revolutionary Nature of Jesus’ Teachings

The fact that religious belief, religious institutions, and religious people came to be seen as essential to social freedom remains the central paradox in African American life and political history. This discussion examines the overlapping challenges of creating a basis for black collective political activism, building independent black institutions, and determining the place of men, women, politics and religion in leadership.

 

 

QBR/THE BLACK BOOK REVIEW/HARLEM BOOK FAIR  PROGRAMS
AT THE SCHOMBURG AMERICAN NEGRO THEATER (THE ANT) - SATURDAY, JULY 20
Presented by QBR/The Black Book Review and T-Mobile

GETTING RELUCTANT BOYS OF COLOR TO READ
Moderator: Jerry Craft, Syndicated Cartoonist / Middle Grade Author / Illustrator
Panelists: Ty Jackson, Middle Grade Author; Torrey Maldonado, Veteran Teacher/ Middle Grade and Young Adult Author; Alex Simmons: Writer children's novels / Comic books such as Batman and Archie; Eric Velasquez, Children's book Illustrator, Author, College Professor
Time: 12:30 p - 1:30p

Why aren't our boys reading?  How can we get them to read more? Our panel is made up of veteran educators / artists who work with youth who read everything from comic books and comic strips to picture books to Middle Grade and Young Adult novels. They will comment on their own experiences with reading and addressing this persistent problem.  Explore the realities, challenges, and rewards of reaching reluctant readers.

 

 

FROM PRINT TO SCREEN: A SCREENING & DISCUSSION OF BUTTERFLY RISING, A BOOK TO FILM ADAPTATION
Presenter: Tanya Wright, Author & Actress, Butterfly Rising
Time: 1:30p – 3:30p

When her brother dies, singer Lilah Belle sets out to escape her grief and embarks on a road trip, but not before coaxing the new-to-town, most scandalous woman in Artesia, Rose Johnson, to go with her. These two broken souls steal a vintage truck and head out on the open road to a fated encounter with the mythical, magical 'Lazarus of the Butterflies'. What occurs with the strange Butterfly Man transforms their destinies and binds the women together - forever.

Join Author, Screenwriter, Actress, and Producer Tanya Wright (Deputy Kenya Jones of HBO's TRUE BLOOD) in a discussion on what it takes to be successful as a multi-platform author. Tanya will next appear as an actress on Orange Is the New Black, the new Netflix original series that debuts July 11. The author will autograph books following the screening and discussion.


AN UNPANEL: TECHNOLOGY'S IMPACT ON WRITERS (REGISTER HERE)
Presented by Troy Johnson, Founder & Publisher, AALBC.com, and Ron Kavanaugh, Founder of Mosaic Literary Magazine
TIME: 3:30p – 6:00p

When it comes to race and ethnicity and social media engagement, African Americans vastly outpace their counterparts. African-American Internet users spent the most time on social networking sites compared to all other ethnic groups, according to a Social Media 2012 report from Nielsen and NM Incite. Join an unpanel discussion led by Troy Johnson,

Founder & Publisher, of AALBC.com, and Ron Kavanaugh, Founder of Mosaic Literary Magazine, on how to harness the impact of Social Media.

What is an Unpanel? In contrast to a tradition panel discussion the questions are chosen, posed and answered by the participants. The Unpanel format favors group discussion, debate and interaction over listening to the ideas of just a few individuals. To participate, you will be required to register by providing your name, affiliation and brief (a sentence or two), explaination of your expertise or experience with the topic, “Technology’s Impact On Writers”.  You will also be asked to submit a question, related to the subject. The subject of ths Unpanel is deliberately broad to allow for the potential for a vareity of questions. We will review the questions, and indentify the most popular ones. These questions will serve as the focus of our discussion. Participants will be asked to select the questions which they would like to respond to during the Unpanel. The number of questions you will be able to answer will depend upon the number of participants. Participation will be limited to 20 people. Keep in mind this is an unpanel. You will be an active participant, not a passive observer. We are looking forward to hearing what you have to say.

The Unpanel is free to all but advanced registration is required. This will be an engaged and opinionated conversation. Participation is limited to the first 20 registrants. To reserve, click to Eventbrite or click the link above.

 

 

QBR/THE BLACK BOOK REVIEW/HARLEM BOOK FAIR WORKSHOPS & SEMINARS
AT COUNTEE CULLEN LIBRARY - SATURDAY, JULY 20
Presented by QBR/The Black Book Review and T-Mobile

BABY & WEE: THE FIRST 2000 DAYS
Time: 11:00am - 12:00pm
Facilitator: Daseta Gray, MEd, Certified Infant/Toddler Specialist; blogger; President, Sabree Education Services

This class will teach parents how to work with their infants and toddlers to develop the cognitive, social and emotional skills before they start school. We will also give them tips on activities they can do at home with their baby. This will not be your ordinary parenting class. We answer the "why" these activities are being done, which component also known as domain of the brain is being developed. Do you wonder why some children require occupational or speech therapy when they arrive at school? It is because their fine motor and speech were not developed prior to starting school. These are just a few things we assist with during the various classes.


AFRICAN INSPIRED FEEL GOOD SPACES
Time: 1:15 pm – 2:30 pm
Presenter: Sherry Burton Ways, Feel Good Spaces: A Guide to Decorating Your Home for the Body, Mind and Spirit

Inspired by her African roots, author and designer Sherry Burton Ways created a home using colors resonating on the continent of Africa---reds, neutrals, and yellows. Sherry discovered that her home environment was a peaceful refuge that was bringing out a positive change in her. Participants in this discussion will recall African inspired interior design concepts to create sacred personal space; discuss how colors, fabrics, scents, and tastes that will appeal to their feelings about home; and discover how to personally how your interior color preferences are enhanced by your cultural experience.


E-BOOK PUBLISHING & MARKETING:  REACH YOUR AUDIENCE, BUILD YOUR PROFIT
Time: 1:15 pm – 2:30 pm
Presenter: Max Rodriguez, Founder & Publisher, Harlem Book Fair, QBR Books

The retail mantra of the 60s was 'access, access, access'.  Today's marketing mantra is ‘mobile, mobile, mobile’.  74% of adults age 25 to 34 in the U.S. own a smartphone; an additional 19% also own an e-reader - up 10% from just last year, and a first-time double-digit increase in ownership.  This workshop is for self-published, or soon to be published, authors who want to profit by placing their titles on the leading edge of the e-book, mobile market wave. In this workshop you will learn what is required to properly convert your manuscript into commercial e-book format (Kindle, Nook, Sony, ePub). This workshop will also be devoted to learning best and effective practices for generating maximum exposure and profit from your e-book.  Post-event support will be available.


A CONSCIOUS CONVERSATION FOR THE MIND, BODY, AND SPIRIT
Time: 2:45 pm – 3:45 pm
Presenter: Alphonso McGriff, A Conscious Conversation for the Mind, Body, and Spirit

This is an interactive seminar designed for those who are interested in having a Conscious Conversation, or simply want to acquire tools for becoming a more productive and positive effective communicator. A Conscious Conversation is an informed, reasoned, and progressive approach to Effective Communication. This approach promotes skill enhancement in the areas of Emotional Intelligence, Conflict Resolution, and Critical Thinking. Such skills are essential for navigating and negotiating one’s place in an increasingly global society.

Participants will learn to recognize when personal feelings shut down the opportunity to learn from others; learn how to manage Emotional Interference; think about taking responsibility for self, including emotions; receive specific goals for achieving Effective Communication; receive the 5 Key McGriff Principles for Effective Communication.


SCARCITY VS ABUNDANCE: HOW TO CREATE A WEALTH AND PROSPERITY MINDSET
Time: 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm

PRESENTER: Monica Davis, founder and publisher of Exceptional People Magazine; author, Welcome to The Top and Start Your Business Right

Before you can attract wealth and prosperity, you must transform a scarcity mindset into a mindset of abundance.  You need to equip yourself with the physical, emotional, and spiritual tools necessary to stay on course and one way to boost your chances of achieving unlimited success is to have a mindset that is geared toward prosperity.  Why? Because the actions you take on a daily basis, right down to the amount of effort you put toward your goals are directly related to your state of mind and your perspective of life and yourself.  This workshop will help participants identify key elements necessary to change their scarcity mindset into one of abundance and overcome limits they place on themselves.

 

[Troy]

The Wheatley Awards were presented last night here are the winners

 

Learn more about these books.

 

Book Awards 2013 Wheatley Award Finalists

 

First Fiction

• The Last Warner Woman by Kei Miller
• Antebellum by R. K. Thomas (WINNER)
• Sweet Lullaby by DaWitt
• The Magnificent Life of Gravvy Brown by DeVaughn Lilly
• The Garvey Protocol by Eric Christopher Webb

Fiction

• Love In A Carry-on Bag by Sadeqa Johnson (WINNER)
• A Gathering of Water by Bernice L. McFadden
• The Warlord of Willow Ridge by Gary Phillips
• Silent Cry by Dywane Birch
• Sinners & Saints by ReShonda Tate Billingsley and Victoria Christopher Murray

Nonfiction / Biography & Memoir

• Floyd Patterson: The Fighting Life of Boxing's Invisible Champion by W. K. Stratton
• The One: The Life and Music of James Brown by R L Smith
• The Black Count: Glory, Revolution, Betrayal, and the Real Count of Monte Cristo by Tom Reiss
• A Mission From God by James Meredith
• Gather at the Table by Sharon Leslie Morgan and Thomas Morgan DeWolf (WINNER)

Nonfiction / History & Politics

• Guest of Honor: Booker T. Washington, Theodore Roosevelt, and the White House Dinner That Shocked a Nation by Deborah Davis (WINNER)
• Out from the Shadow: The Story of Charles L. Gittens Who Broke the Color Barrier in the United States Secret Service by Maurice A. Butler
• This Fragile Life: A Mother's Story of a Bipolar Son by Charlotte Pierce-Baker
• Power Concedes Nothing: One Woman's Quest for Social Justice in America, from the Courtroom to the Kill Zones by Connie Rice
• The Courage To Hope: How I Stood Up to the Politics of Fear by Shirley Sherrod

Poetry

• Here I Throw Down My Heart by Coleen J. McElroy
• Shouda Been Jimi Savannah by Patricia Smith (WINNER)
• Thrall by Natasha Trethewey
• Hurrah’s Nest by Arisa White
• Speak Water by Truth Thomas

 

Young Adult Readers

• The Diary of BB Bright: Possible Princess by Alice Randall and Caroline Randall Williams, Illustrated by Shadra Strickland (WINNER)
• Like a Tree Without Roots by Teresa Ann Willis
• Obama Talks Back: Global Lessons - A Dialogue With America's Young Leaders by Gregory Reed 
• Pinned by Sharon G. Flake
• Ship of Souls by Zetta Elliott         

Young Readers

• Tea Cakes for Tosh by Kelly Starling Lyons, Illustrated by E. B. Lewis (WINNER)

• Squeak! Rumble! Whomp! Whomp! Whomp! by Wynton Marsalis, Illustrated by Paul Rogers

• What Color is My World? by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar & Raymond Obstfeld, Illustrated by Ben Boos and A. G. Ford

• Twice as Good: The Story of William Powell and Clearview by Richard Michelson, Illustrated by Eric Velazquez

• Ellen's Broom by Kelly Starling Lyons, Illustrated by Daniel Minter

 

Learn more about these books.

[Troy]

NEW - The #1 Power List best-selling books for the fiction and nonfiction categories in 2013 will be come automatic nominees for the 2014 Phillis Wheatley Book Awards!

[Troy]

Highlights from this year's fair