Honoring stories of the resistance and uplifting intersectional narratives of Blackness.
AUGUST 22, 2026 IN NORTH MINNEAPOLIS
ABOUT THE MIDWEST BLACK BOOK FAIR
The Midwest Black Book Fair is meant to honor their stories of the resistance and uplift the modern-day intersectional narratives of Blackness, Black history, and Black futurity. Held during Black August, the fair contributes to this month-long commemoration dedicated to honoring Black abolitionists, freedom fighters, and political prisoners. We are the stewards of these stories.
OUR BLACK LITERARY PARTNERS
MEET OUR TEAM
Terresa Hardaway, PhD
EVENT DIRECTOR
Dr. Hardaway is dedicated to the liberation of Black and brown people through design. She’s the Owner of Blackbird Revolt and Black Garnet Books. She’s an Associate Professor of Graphic Design and the Director of Design Justice at the University of Minnesota. She serves on the advisory board of Black Liberation Lab and co-founded Hatch & Flock.
Madyson Sklar
LEAD ORGANIZER
Madyson recently earned her M.A. in Higher Education at the University of Minnesota and is an experienced community organizer. She follows in the footsteps of her family who is passionate about diversity, equity, and inclusion. She considers herself a passionate, year-round learner with a focus on making higher education more accessible for BIPOC students.
Terra Brister
LEAD ORGANIZER
Terra received a Master’s degree in Education from the University of Kansas. She is an experienced event coordinator and organizer. She has worked in education and youth programs throughout her professional career—supporting, working with, and advocating for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color with various intersecting identities.
OUR SPONSORS
EVENT APPEARANCES
RETAILERS
AF.FEM Press
Baby Cakes Book Stack
Baldwin’s Books & Records
Black Garnet Books
Griot Arts
In Black Ink
Mind’s Eye Comics
MN BIPOC KidLit Creators
MN Black Authors Expo
More Than a Single Story
Uhuru Bookstore
NON-RETAILERS
Amistad HarperCollins
Hennepin County Library
Givens Collection
Great MN Schools
NdCAD
Saint Paul Almanac
AUTHORS W/ TABLES
Derek Francis
Kehinde Winful
LeShay Andrewin
Marique Moss
Mercedes Yarbrough
Rosemond Owens
Salisa Grant
Tonja K. Johnson
FOOD RETAILERS
Black Honey Cafe
Dippd By Riah
Diva K Festivities
LogansCatfish Food Truck
Mac Shack MN Food Truck
Quiet Cat Bakery
WORKSHOPS
1PM Reflect Black Author Panel
Moderated by Black Garnet Books owner, Dr. Terresa Hardaway, this panel will host authors from various genres in conversation about Black storytelling, their craft and process, and navigating authorship.
1PM Black Literary History of Minnesota
This conversation will center on the importance of organizing Black stories and narratives to keep our history safe and accessible.
2PM How does the Midwest shape its Black writers?
Members of More Than A Single Story’s mid-career writers cohort, Sweeter the Juice, will discuss how their work as writers and artists has been inspired by the Midwestern landscape, history, and artistic precedents set by Black authors who hail from the middle of the nation such as Gwendolyn Brooks, Toni Morrison, Hanif Abdurraqib and others.
2PM Writing Real Without Forfeiting Care
Writing Real Without Forfeiting Care prioritizes crafting dignity-centered narratives that offer accurate character portrayals by recognizing differences, adversity, or trauma without reducing Blacks represented in literature to caricatures, victims, or otherness. Get instruction on ethical storytelling practices that honor Black community experiences without reinforcing wounds, along with in-class writing exercises.
3PM Black Poetry as a Site of Imagination & Possibility
Grounded in bell hooks’ statement on the function of art — “to do more than tell it like it is – it’s to imagine what is possible” — the panelists will read poems on the topic, followed by a Q&A on the role of poetry in Black life, community, story-telling, and resistance.
3PM The Real on Publishing
Have a seat and grab a pen for this very real session about the publishing industry!