CHERAW – The fourth annual Cheraw Black Authors Lab and Book Festival will be on March 25.
It is from 1-5 p.m. at Kevin Lear on Main, 140 Second Street in Cheraw.
This year’s event features at least 13 authors from South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia, and Pennsylvania.
Bennettsville native and Festival Co-Founders Erica Malachi and Michael L. Strong said they are repeating the event because of how successful the last three events were and have hopes of inspiring others.
“We had overwhelming support for the Black Authors Lab and Book Festival last year,” said Strong, author of “Strong Getting Stronger,” which chronicles the more than 20 years he spent in active addiction. “Many people in the community were overjoyed with the books available for purchase and the opportunity to meet the authors who wrote them.”
He added last time they saw people come out whom they hadn’t seen in years, and the featured author DN Miller traveled from Pittsburgh, PA, author of “The Museum,” set the tone and had the audience on the edge of their seats during her reading.
Organizers are asking for a $10 donation from attendees to help offset the costs of the venue and refreshments.
This year’s featured authors are Dr. Beverly Rogers of Georgia, Dr. William Lee of Reidsville, N.C., and local Bennettsville poet author Rickey Brown.
“All of our featured authors are amazing and inspiring speakers who have gone above and beyond in their works of art and have truly redefined the writing game,” Strong said. “They all truly exemplify the late great Toni Morrison, who once said, ‘If there is a book that you want to read, but it hasn’t been written yet, you must be the one to write it.’” Festival alum Linda Orji strongly believes that writing should evolve like any other subject like science and math.
“Those subjects are being molded on a revolutionary level,” she said. “Why aren’t we doing the same thing with writing and reading?”
Orji’s most recent work is “Cracked Concrete Vol. 1: A Poetic P(rose) of Her. Self. Innovation.”
Another festival alum, Dr. Tracy Powell started journaling as a child but published her first book in 2016.
Among her published works are “Practical Leadership: Lessons Learned from Mickey,” “The Journey to Authorship: A Pocket Guide for Writers,” and “The Leadership Journal.”
Powell said her love of reading and learning inspired her to become a writer.
“I participated in the first two Black Authors Lab and Book Festivals because it’s an opportunity to collaborate with and be empowered by a beautiful community of colorful people,” she said. “I think festivals like these are important because they offer a safe place for colorful writers to come, share and demonstrate their work. There’s no other opportunity in South Carolina like this of which I’m aware.”
Strong said he was excited by the number of elementary children and their parents who attended last year’s event.
“That was the target of our efforts, to get parents and children together in one place to enjoy the works of local and national black authors,” Strong said. “We’ve moved to a warmer time of the year, which allows us to host part of the event outdoors.”
Organizers said there will be a couple of surprise guests and on-site food vendors.
A slightly different format has been implemented to increase the energy and to better engage attendees.
“We all know that knowledge is power, and I’m grateful to be part of an event that inspires young children to recognize the importance of reading while encouraging them to tap into their writing abilities,” Strong said. “Chances are some of the kids at this year’s Festival might be among our featured writers down the road.”
For tickets, visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2023-cheraw-black-authors-lab-and-book-festival-tickets-72870787487