The inaugural BIPOC Book Fest, an annual festival centered on Black writers, Indigenous writers and writers of color, will debut this weekend in Houston, Tex., the Houston Chronicle reported.
The first day of programming, dubbed "A Lit Vibe," will focus on adult books and take place at Buffalo Soldiers National Museum on Saturday, April 23, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. There will be panel discussions, artist talks, workshops and a "Lit Lounge" with drinks for those over 21. Tickets will cost $10.
The second day of programming, Sunday, April 24, will be all about children's books and will take place at Smither Park in Houston. This part of the book festival will be free, and will include book readings by local authors including Jasminne Mendez and Alda Dobbs, as well as slam poetry performances by Houston students.
Journalists Jaundréa Clay, Brittany Britto Garley and Brooke Lewis organized the festival. Clay had always wished to open a bookstore focusing on BIPOC writers, but didn't think it was possible while working full-time as a journalist. After talking about it last summer with Britto Garley, they had the idea of making it happen as a book festival. They brought in Lewis and started making plans.
Part of their organizing efforts included running a crowdfunding campaign that raised more than $3,000, and when it came to scheduling panels and author talks they wanted to re-create the feeling they had as children when they walked into a school book fair. They've also partnered with independent bookstores Brazos Bookstore, Kindred Stories and Red Planet Books & Comics.
“We want to show people different forms of how we can express ourselves and the joy of reading, how diverse it can be, and how seeing someone who looks like you or speaks to you can motivate you to be in this space,” Britto Garley told the Chronicle.