Black Ink Book Festival Recap
Black Ink is Charleston’s African American Book Festival.
The festival aims to support emerging artists by immersing them in a rich literary environment surrounded by Black authors from all walks of life.
The theme for this year’s festival was Wakanda from the movie “Black Panther”.
Wakanda provided a refreshing look at the diversity and creativity present within the black community and Black Ink succeeded in doing the same. There were over fifty authors present, each with a unique story to share. Their books covered a variety of genres including romance, science-fiction, and history. Speaking with the authors, their passion for their work was contagious.
The Cocktail Bandits spoke on the Empowerment panel.
Other Empowerment Panelists included authors Kimberly Bowman and Gaynelle Whittle-Ship. Each author on the panel took a different path to authorship, but found writing their story to be a source of strength. The Cocktail Bandits view their book as a statement of the progress they’ve made within an industry that has not always been kind or welcoming to women of color.
Black Ink also hosted a series of poetry Readings. Regina Duggins delivered a powerful reading of her poem, “Black Magic”. Participants also included local writers Sybil Nelson, Marcus Amaker, and Synithia Williams who shared their own stories and experiences of self-discovery through writing.
Terry McMillan was the keynote speaker for the event.
McMillan is the #1 best-selling author of “Waiting to Exhale” and “How Stella Got Her Groove Back”. Her story of perseverance and determination is an inspiration.
Black Ink was organized by Charleston Friends of the Library. Friends of the Library is a non-profit organization that raises money to support the Charleston County Library programs and events.
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