The 12th annual Leimert Park Village Book Fair (LPVBF) is back on Saturday, August 25 at the Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza (BHC).
“We are so excited to ‘Celebrate our Southern Roots’ at the 12th Annual Leimert Park Village Book Fair,” said Cynthia E. Exum, founder of LPVBF.
The family-oriented event is held in the heart of Leimert Park, widely considered to be the center of the African American arts/intellectual scene in L.A.
LPVBF was founded in 2007 by Exum to promote literacy and education in Los Angeles. The Book Fair was inspired by a project in February of 1999 when she partnered with Our Authors Study Club, Inc. to present a ‘Festival of African American Authors’ at Los Angeles Southwest College. Each year features a special theme and this year is no different.
“This special celebration focuses on how far we have come as a people, the sacrifices we’ve made and the commitment to continue promoting literacy, education and building strong communities,” said Exum.
LPVBF is “Voted One of LA’s Five Best Annual Book Festivals,” and invites those who love reading, literature, learning and fun to come and brings friends and family.
“Celebrating Our Southern Roots,” will see this year’s fair being held inside the mall to create a more intimate atmosphere of entertainment, instead of the usual outdoor festival. In keeping with the theme, this year’s fair will include a distinguished lecturer with southern roots; a panel discussion about the Great Migration of African Americans from southern states to the West; and a walking tour, mimicking the migration pattern of Blacks, complimented by vintage, life-size pictures of migrators. In addition, the book fair will unveil its list of “20 Must-Read Books By Notable Southern Writers and Authors.”
“The African American migration from the south was a milestone in this nation, one that changed the course of this nation,” said Exum. “This year’s book fair attendees will get to know more (experiential too) about the journey and its present day affects.”
Another fun feature this year will be presented by the African American Genealogical Society and the Family History Center from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, who will host a genealogy station for attendees to search their ancestral roots.
In addition, southern delights will also be present, such as a gospel brunch as well as lemonade and sweet tea stations throughout the book fair. There will also be dessert served compliments of Shae Seward’s Cobblemania.
LPVBF will celebrate its 12th anniversary with interviews, book signings, panel discussions, musical entertainment and a variety of activities for the whole family.
The 12th annual Leimert Park Village Book Fair will take place on Saturday, August 25, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza (BHCP), located at 3650 W. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. in LA.
For more about the Leimert Park Village Book Far, visit www.leimertparkbookfair.com
The book fair is free and open to the public.
