By Milton Kirby | Atlanta, GA | August 10, 2025

From July 31 to August 2, 2025, Atlanta’s cultural heart pulsed with the vibrant energy of Black storytelling at the annual Black Writers Weekend—a dynamic three-day festival celebrating the convergence of literature, film, publishing, and social media with past as well as emerging creative voices. Hosted at the Auburn Avenue Research Library and the Loudermilk Conference Center, this year’s event emerged as a true goldmine of opportunity and inspiration for all who attended.

A Tapestry of Talent and Connection

The lineup was nothing short of stellar:

• Jess Black, Gia Compton, Tamra Simmons, Anna Marano, Sheena Herod, and Phoenix Williams—the latter a best-selling author and screenwriter—graced the stage on Thursday and Friday with their presence and creative legacy.
• Emerging voices and luminaries—like Apostle Dwight K. Buckner Jr., K.C. Mills, and Alvin Gray—also lent their expertise through panels, workshops, and live conversations

Events That Celebrated Creativity and Community

• Lit Crawl unfolded in lively fashion, guiding participants through live readings, storytelling
• The Short Film Fest, hosted at Auburn Avenue on July 31, premiered impactful shorts like As You Are, Brim, and Granny’s Daughters, followed by a vibrant Mix & Mingle the Creative Influencer Mixer capped the kickoff evening with curated networking

Insight, Innovation, and Empowerment Panels

Friday—the “Creative Day”—powered forward with workshops like:

• The Four Tenets of Fantasy World Building
• Book Launch Workshop
• Make Them Say Your Name: Owning Your Platform
• Building Boldly: Storytelling at the Intersection of Purpose, Power & Possibility
  

On the main stage, the conversations ran deep and inclusive:

• Love, Lust & Liberation: Redefining Her Stories
• Access to Hollywood, moderated by Jess Black, featuring Gia Compton, Tamra Simmons, Sheena Herod, and Anna Marano
• The I Am Creative talk with K.C. Mills
• Creative Talk: Purpose, Pen & Power, led by Apostle Dwight K. Buckner Jr.

Saturday—branded “Community Day”—expanded the festival’s cultural footprint with panels like:

• DEI & Banned Books: Navigating the Intersection of DEI and Censorship
• The Mama’s Den Podcast (Live) with Melanie Fiona and others
• Girl, Tell Your Story spotlighting voices like Dr. Ebony Butler and MaHogany Jackson
• HisStory featuring Lem Collins and others

Additional activations included:

• A Lit Lounge offering workshops in children’s books, memoir writing, and “Next Up” panels with emerging authors
• A Workshops Room illuminating paths like subsidiary rights in publishing, Black perspectives in horror/fantasy, and ghostwriting monetization
• The Creative AF Mixer held Saturday evening at the Bookstore Gallery

A Festival for All: Access Meets Aspiration

Much of the main programming—panels, book fairs, and conversations—was free with registration. Premium access, including masterclasses, pitching opportunities, and lounge areas, came with ticketed passes.

Why It Mattered

As festival founder Tamika Jamison (formerly Newhouse) articulated, Black Writers Weekend responds to the uphill battle Black creatives face in the mainstream publishing world—where representation and awareness remain lacking. This transformative weekend created intentional “footprints” that declared: “We existed” and “We are here” .

Looking Ahead

Moving forward, enthusiasts and attendees alike can anticipate continued growth of this festival under AAMBC Inc.—a platform that increasingly bridges emerging voices with established creative communities in publishing, film, and television.

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