Member-only story
“Books are a source of joy”
Janelle Harris writes for The Root that as the Library of Congress National Book Festival (virtually) celebrates its 20th year this September 25–27, it will showcase Black authors: “Books are a source of joy, Marie Arana, literary director of the Library of Congress, explains to The Root — and if folks ever needed a jolt of joy, it’s right now. Organizers chose to focus on authors who can offer some reassurance in a time of turmoil.”
Arana created a program called Hearing Black Voices, which encompasses author talks, panel discussions, and interviews representing a diverse range of storytelling perspectives. And of the 124 authors participating in the festival, 25% are Black. Interested book lovers can register here.
For book lovers looking for an asynchronous shot of literary joy, ZORA offers a great reading list of the 100 greatest books written by African American women. (No pressure—you don’t have to read all 100 at once.)
