Schomburg Center Literary Festival
Saturday, June 17 | 11 AM–6 PM
Join our community of book lovers and their favorite authors for our annual outdoor literary festival. The Schomburg Center Literary Festival: Reading the African Diaspora extends the Center's engagement with authors of African descent and champions literacy and books across genres to amplify Black history and culture. This year's festival theme is “Literacy is Generational Wealth.”
More Free Events
Join The New York Public Library for free events for all ages including live author talks and panels, book discussions, and more exploring Juneteenth.
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Juneteenth Reads for All Ages
DiscoverFind new and classic titles that explore the significance of Juneteenth, the history of slavery, and the ongoing fight for justice for Black lives.
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Researching Historic Juneteenth Celebrations
Learn MoreA look back at some memorable past Juneteenth celebrations and events as reported in many of the popular African-American newspapers of the time, all available through The New York Public Library's electronic resources.
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Racial Equity Resources for Educators
Learn MoreNavigate difficult conversations, challenge bias, and create an inclusive space for your students to process current events.
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Researching Black Heritage with NYPL's E-Resources
Learn MoreThe New York Public Library has created this list of online resources to help you explore all aspects of Black heritage—from genealogy to LGBT history to current popular culture.
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More Black Culture Resources
ExploreDiscover reading recommendations, research resources, and more related to Black culture and history, curated by our expert librarians and Library staff.
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Watch Now! Juneteenth: Creating Legacy in Contested Places
WatchChef and historian Therese Nelson; Dr. Andrea Roberts, founder of Texas Freedom Colonies Project; and chef and TV personality Carla Hall, author of Carla’s Comfort Food: Favorite Dishes from Around the World, examine the artful negotiations of formerly enslaved African Americans and celebrate the persistent pursuit of freedom. Plus, Rootstock Republic premieres a new arrangement of "Strange Fruit," the classic song, made famous by Billie Holiday, which called attention to the lynching of Black people in America.
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Summery Cookbooks for Juneteenth & Beyond
Learn MoreDive into recipes for seasonal foods, gatherings with family and friends, and meal ideas for the summer.
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Watch Now! Juneteenth Freedom Writing with Fyütch
WatchLearn about the legacy and history of the Juneteenth holiday through writing and activities with music and social justice artist Fyütch.
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Juneteenth Book List for Kids
DiscoverExplore a list of books recommended for younger kids by the Library’s Teen Reading Ambassadors that illuminate the lives of historic African American figures, both before and after Emancipation.
The Schomburg Center's Black Liberation Reading List
Throughout its history, the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture has preserved, protected, and fostered a greater understanding of the Black experience through its collections, exhibitions, programs, and scholarship. The Schomburg Center’s Black Liberation Reading List, created in response to the uprisings across the globe demanding justice for Black lives, includes books we and the public turn to regularly as activists, students, archivists, and curators, with a particular focus on books by Black authors and those whose papers we steward.
Most of them are available digitally for free via The New York Public Library’s free e-reader app, SimplyE, available for iOS and Android. Many are also available from The Schomburg Shop, along with a dedicated array of books and materials chronicling global Black culture.
Honoring Lorraine Hansberry
Playwright and activist Lorraine Hansberry made history in 1959 as the first African American female playwright to have her work, A Raisin in the Sun, produced on Broadway. The Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture is home to the Lorraine Hansberry collections, including Hansberry's papers, audio and video recordings documenting her career as a playwright, and photographs.
Learn More About the Schomburg Center
Founded in 1925 and named a National Historic Landmark in 2017, the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture is one of the world’s leading cultural institutions devoted to the research, preservation, and exhibition of materials focused on African American, African Diaspora, and African experiences.
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Connect with the Schomburg Center
Sign up for the latest news, events, exhibitions, and programs from the Library’s Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture.
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Explore the Schomburg Shop
Visit the Schomburg Shop and see a selection of books, clothing items, tote bags, mugs, and more created by Black and Brown artists for all ages.
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Support the Schomburg Center
Schomburg Society members receive discounts, invitations to exclusive events, and more!
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Get a Digital Library Card
With a digital library card you get free access to the Library’s wide array of digital resources—including e-books, databases, educational resources, and more.
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Get Started with SimplyE
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Download the NYPL App
Get the power of The New York Public Library, anytime, anywhere. With the NYPL app, you can access everything the Library has to offer from home or while you’re on the go. Plus, use the app’s self-checkout feature for contactless checkout in branches.
