Langston Hughes Children's Literature Festival at the former Alex Haley Farm

The Langston Hughes Library proposes to create a sense of Black unity and confidence producing a great burst of creativity in young people. Langston Hughes was a master of many literary forms of personal and political concerns - poetry, plays, essays, novels, memoirs, short stories, and children's books. Langston Hughes came of age early in the 1920s and was a rising young poet - at the center of the "Harlem Renaissance." The children's literature festival in his honor at the former Alex Haley Farm will provide intellectual dialogue, literary and visual arts, music, dance, and theater recapturing the essence of one of the most important social movements of the 20th century. The Langston Hughes Children's Literature Festival will celebrate the poetry, fiction and nonfiction that Langston Hughes authored or co-authored for a reading audience of children. This national festival will introduce his works for children and young adults to generations of readers as we commemorate the 100th birthday of the poet of the "Harlem Renaissance."

The Langston Hughes Children's Literature Festival will also celebrate and discuss children's literature by authors of African descent and about the Black experience. In keeping with the mission of the Langston Hughes Library the festival will serve as a vehicle to promote the library as a leading national repository for the best-quality children's literature. In addition, the festival will promote national awareness and use of this literature among librarians, parents, scholars, students, teachers and all others in the service of children; building on the movement to Leave No Child Behind®.