L.L. McKinney, the author behind A Blade So Black, A Dream So Dark, and the upcoming third novel in the series A Crown So Cursed, has organized the Juneteenth Book Fest for today starting at 10 a.m. EST.
The videos will be recorded and uploaded to YouTube. Fresh off creating the #PublishingPaidMe hashtag earlier this month asking for White authors to reveal the amount of their advances on Twitter to show discrepancies between advances of Black authors, L.L. is leading the way on promoting and supporting Black authors during the age of #BlackStoriesMatter.
Juneteenth, the June 19 holiday celebrating the end of slavery, has reached a popularity peak as several name-brand companies this year committed to giving their employees the day off to reflect on racial injustice. The holiday, which is recognized in 46 states and the District of Columbia, has mostly been celebrated in the African American community since 1865. With the latest civil unrest sparking the conversation on racism in general and in the book industry, a Juneteenth book event helps push awareness about the significance of the holiday and Black authors’ works in today’s environment.
The featured bookpeople and panels are:
We Need a Hero: Black Superheroes in Comics
Panelists: L.L. McKinney and Mikki Kendall
Moderator: Karama Horne, The Blerd Gurl
Queer and Black On and Off the Page
Panelists: Julian Winters, Claire Kann, Roya Marsh, Candice Iloh, and Ashley Woodfolk
Moderator: Leah Johnson
Light It Up!: FIYAH Magazine and Black Short Stories
Panelists: The FIYAH Magazine team
It’s a Different World: Black Secondary Worlds in Fantasy
Panelists: Dhonielle Clayton and Kwame Mbalia
Moderator: L.L McKinney
Black Love: Writing Black Romance
Panelists: Farrah Rochon, Beverly Jenkins, and Rebekah Weatherspoon
Moderator: Alyssa Cole
Our Truth: Being Black in Publishing
Panelists: Zakiya Jamal, Ashley Woodfolk, and Nivia Evans
Moderator: Saraciea J. Fennell, event co-organizer
All of Me: Black Memoirs
Panelists: Mikki Kendall, Keah Brown, and Nichole Perkins
Moderator: L.L. McKinney
Black Stories Are Not Niche
Panelists: Lamar Giles, Leah Johnson, Justin A. Reynolds, and Kim Johnson
Moderator: Tiffany D. Jackson
My Mythology: Reclaiming Stories of Old
Panelists: Tracy Deonn, L.L McKinney, Bethany C. Morrow, and Kalynn Bayron
Moderator: Patrice Caldwell
Capturing the Moments: What It Means to Write Black Stories Right Now
Panelists: Tiffany D. Jackson, Angie Thomas, Bethany C. Morrow, L.L. McKinney
Moderator: Julian Winters
The Kids Are Alright: Writing for Black Kids with Middle Grade
Panelists: Kwame Mbalia, Karen Strong, and Alicia D. Williams
Moderator: Nic Stone
One Cause: Many Voices – Editing and Contributing to Black Anthologies
Panelists: Bethany C. Morrow and Patrice Caldwell
Moderator: L.L. McKinney