African American History In Houston

The month of February is finally here and that means it’s time to read up on a little African American history. This month in Houston, Texas the public library and a variety of places are hosting events to commemorate Black History.

It’s with honor and thankfulness that we recognize the many achievements of the sons and grandsons, daughters and granddaughters of former slaves.

Some of these African Americans who lived in past generations, other centuries and the past few years are unsung heroes whose inventions, ingenuity and integrity has shaped this country into a collective of strong united states.

Here is a short list of museums in Texas that house well known collections of Black History.

• Austin
• George Washington Carver Museum
• Dallas
• African American Museum of Dallas
• Fort Davis
• Fort Davis National Historic Site
• Fort Worth
• National Cowboys of Color Museum and Hall of Fame
• Houston
• Buffalo Soldiers National Museum

We plan to take part in a few of the Black History programs slated to recognize some of the talented African American entertainers, athletes, and authors that call Houston home. Maybe we'll run into you at one of the various branches of the Houston library that are hosting meet and greets, right in your neighborhood with some of today most popular Black authors in Houston.

An Evening with Cydney Rax
Thursday, February 17 | 5:30PM
Mancuso Neighborhood Library

An Evening with ReShonda Tate Billingsley
Monday, February 28 | 5:30PM
Vinson Neighborhood Library

Take a look at some of the Black History events and programs scheduled in some of the other top metro areas in the U.S.

Washington D C
African American history programs at Smithsonian
Chicago
Chicago Parks Programs
Atlanta
Essence magazine
Los Angeles
California African American museum
New York
Black History events in NY.

Before you move on to the next blog remember, if you find yourself in one of our sister cities, Austin or Dallas, or any of the places listed below, you'll find events all over the state that are being planned in February to celebrate the Texas heritage of African Americans.

Austin
George Washington Carver Museum
Dallas
African American Museum of Dallas
Fort Davis
Fort Davis National Historic Site
Fort Worth
National Cowboys of Color Museum and Hall of Fame
Houston
Buffalo Soldiers National Museum

There is plenty of history in the annuals of time that has occurred in the Lone Star state. No matter what neck of the woods you find yourself hanging out, there is some intriguing history waiting to be uncovered in books, buildings and eye witness accounts of famous events. Sphere: Related Content

A Nifty Book About Houston Restaurants

In this book about Houston restaurants, The Ultimate Food Lover's Guide to Houston it provides a snapshot of everything food in Houston. It takes you to lots of great places to dine and buy food that will excite your mouth. It has the 411 on fish markets, ethnic grocery stores, quaint cafes and more.

The guide is more than a book about Houston or a book about restaurants in Houston. It's a Houston foodies inside look at everything to eat that your heart desires in the Bayou city.

You’ll be schooled on where to find farmers markets, pick your own orchards and dozens of other things that will put real food lovers in the know about all of the delicious things, they love to eat.

If you want to be able to locate any one of the more than 330 Houston restaurants to challenge you palate and/or fill your glass? The Ultimate Food Lover’s Guide to Houston's list of local taverns, hotel bars and beloved dives will make a good road companion for you.


This book about Houston restaurants goes beyond the usual written descriptions and chef acknowledgements and boast a fold out map and helps you find places by cuisine type and other features.

The Ultimate Food Lover's Guide to Houston is the perfect book about Houston food, to give readers another good excuse to knock off some of the fantastic eateries in Houston on their bucket list. Sphere: Related Content

Book Festivals In Houston

Everyone who attends book festivals in Houston aren't writers. There is a cadre of industry professionals that provide support to publishers and writers who show up for the workshops and other events to offer sound advice and credible support.

Many of these pros come to Houston several times each year for the various book festivals. The Indie Book festival and Nuestra Palabra and The National Black Book Festival are all popular literary festivals that you can attend in Houston.

National Black Book Festival

Last week, the Black book festival offered a workshop featuring publishing industry professionals, Tyro Moody, from Tywebbin Creations, a marketing and design company that offers web and graphic design, online marketing seminars and virtual book tour events for authors. Also at the fest was Pam Perry, the nation’s premiere Christian literary PR Coach and Chief Visionary of Ministry Marketing Solutions Inc.

They were part of the incredibly informative Literary Conference, "Get signed, Get Published, Get Publicity". It was a workshop designed to allow Black writers to get some much needed "how-to" tips and advice on getting published, from marketing experts in the publishing industry. The focus of the conversations included:

How to receive maximum exposure for a book
How to get the media to contact you for interviews

Indie Book Festival

The Indie Book fest is a meeting of the minds between independent publishers and authors in Houston. It's a chance for small press publishers, literary organizations and writers to get some face time with Houston’s best and brightest authors.

Local writers, authors and booksellers come out to network and see what other bibliophiles in Houston have to offer!

Nuestra Palabra

The annual Houston Latino book and family festival, Nuestra Palabra takes place in the fall. It's one of the largest book fairs in the state. In only six years, They have gone from filling party halls to packing exhibit halls.

Nuestra Palabra have built the popularity for their events through monthly showcases held from February to July. These showcases highlight Latino writers in an entertaining and informative forum. Generally from 100 to 300 people come out to these events that are more than just a showcase and readings. They feature forums which generate other ways to educate and inspire the community, and promotes Latino literature and Latino authors.

Houston Book Festivals

Attending any one of the Houston Book Festivals will prove to be an entertaining, enriching and enjoyable experience, whether you're into reading, writing or just like to get out of the house on weekends. It's an excellent opportunity to discover new authors and encourage kids of all ages in your family to read more.

In addition to these literary festivals in Houston, there are quaterly forums sponsored by Houston's Progressive Forum. Their organization's viewpoint has roots in mainstream constitutional enlightenment, and seek to reflect the values of America’s founding fathers. Their speakers are a cross-section of the top intellectual and cultural stars in America. Sphere: Related Content

Black Book Clubs In Houston Participate In 2010-Black Book Festival

The workshops, seminars and other events at the National Black Book Festival will enthrall Black Book Clubs In Houston and from around the Southwest. It's more than just a chance to meet and greet the who's who in black literature. It's a showcase for Black publishers, Black writers and book promoters from around the nation to reach out to their fans, new audiences and customers.

The book clubs who do attend will find that the people who are publishing, writering and promoting Black books are serious about connecting and catering to groups of book lovers.

Houston based, Nia Promotions, is one of the organizations that spends plenty of time year-round, trying to build bridges between the book clubs and authors.

Who's Appearing At The Black Book Festival

Several of the Black writers from Houston are participating in the Black Book festival. Here's a short list of them.

ReShonda Tate Billingsley
Je'Caryous Johnson
Cheryl Lacey Donovan
Takasha Francis

Word on the street is the NBBF-2010 is an enriching, entertaining and exciting event that will bring together for the first time in one place, many of the Black Book Clubs in Houston. Here's a some of the clubs you may run into during the events.

Black Book Clubs In Houston

Around the Way Girls Book Club
Houston, TX
Bestsellers Book Club
Houston, TX
Between the Lines Book Club
Houston, TX
Black Coffee's Book Club
Online on Facebook
Black Orchids Book Club
Houston, TX

The National Black Book Festival has workshops and seminars designed to speak to the hearts and souls of the memberships of the dozens of Black Book Clubs In Houston and other cities that are coming to the book Festival.

It's one of Houston's literary festivals that every aspiring writer should check out, at least once.

What's To Do At The NBBF-2010

If you have been looking for a local event that's ideal for you and the members of your book club to participate in, this is it. There will be plenty of exciting things to do at this "don't miss event" for book lovers.

Take a look at some of the incredible events happening at the Black book fest.

Book signing and discussion sessions w/featured authors
Workshops and Seminars
Spoken word poetry slam and Book club give-aways


If you haven't heard? One of the most anticipated events of the festival is already sold out.

The last of the tickets for the "For Ladies Only Slumber Party" hosted by Black authors Beverly Jenkins and Brenda Jackson are gone as of today.

They are still showing tickets online to these exciting events.

Welcome to Houston Reception,
Get Acquainted" Breakfast
Prayer Breakfast
Poetry Slam


There's plenty of other events available too, if you or your group wants to hang-out with other book clubs and Black authors in Houston this weekend.

What's Happening At The National Black Book Festival

There's also an all-day event planned where top book industry experts will share "how-to" tips and strategies on making your literary breakthrough.

The book industry experts appearing at the conference are some of the top book agents, book publishers and book promoters.

This is just some of the topics being covered by authors and presenters at the festival.


Children's Reading Room

Etiquette for Teens

Chocolate Dreams

Bringing Out the Book In You

Love and Adventure in the Middle East

Marketing Your Book
On a Limited Budget

It's an excellent opportunity for Black Book Clubs in Houston to get some face time with some of the premier Black writers and connect with their publishers. There should be almost 17 genres represented, your groups favorite authors and genre are bound to be covered.

The #1 sponsor of the festival is Cushcity.com, the world's largest African-American online retailer. They have made it possible for this fabulous event to join the ranks of the annual Houston Book festivals. Sphere: Related Content