MINNESOTA BLACK AUTHORS EXPO 2024
Bringing Black Books to Life
Coming together. Sharing our stories. Showcasing the gifts of Black authors and poets from the diversity of our experiences. Connecting with readers, current and new. Such is the venue of the Minnesota Black Authors Expo, now in its 8th season with the theme Bringing Black Books to Life.
Founded by De’Vonna Bentley-Pittman and Jasmine Boudah in 2017, and currently headed by executive director Dorothy Nins, Minnesota Black Authors Expo has been a venue to connect our gifted Black authors and poets with readers and educators, as a space for authors to share their stories and for readers to buy their books. Be it fiction or nonfiction, from children to adults, MBAE serves as a reminder that Black authors and poets exist here in Minnesota, and we are a vibrant community.
MBAE membership provides authors support to achieve their literary dreams through its resources, be it marketing, selling their books, visibility, making a brand, or attending literary events, which is crucial for authors of color.
In a change in its format, MBAE is hosting four community events over the coming months. The kickoff event takes place on Saturday, November 9, at the Minneapolis Central Library, located at 300 Nicollet Mall in downtown Minneapolis, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Our program, “From the Page to the Stage,” will be hosted by Lissa Jones-Lofgren and feature Spoken Word and visual artist Joe Davis. In addition, there will be panel discussions and readings by the participating authors.
This is about representation for all ages, and Hennepin County will sponsor the Kids Corner. As a new addition this year, MBAE will have a Teen Creative Writing Workshop as well as the Writers Bootcamp for new and established writers.
Over the next months, the Expo will take place at the following locations in the Twin Cities metro area:
February 8, 2025–Dakota County Library (Galaxie Branch), Apple Valley
April 12, 2025—St. Paul Public Library (Main), St. Paul
June 21, 2025—825 Arts Building, St. Paul
For additional information, call (203) 524-0223 or go to the MBAE website, mnblackauthorsexpo.com.
These events are free and open to the public, so come out and support these amazing Black authors, poets, and playwrights!
W.D. Foster-Graham
W.D. Foster-Graham is a native son of Minneapolis, Minnesota. He received a B.A. in psychology from Luther College, and he was an original member of the multi-Grammy-Award-winning ensemble, Sounds of Blackness. He has also been recognized by the International Society of Poets as one of its “Best New Poets of 2003,” is a guest writer for journalist/author/entertainer Wyatt O’Brian Evans.
