Harlem Book Fair Launches "Year of Literacy"

Brick City is getting a slice of the Big Apple this month when it welcomes the Harlem Book Fair, a two-day multicultural event that will kickoff the "Year of Literacy" in Newark.

Dubbed a "celebration of community" by founder Max Rodriguez, the April 27-28 fair at Rutgers University-Newark's Paul Robeson Center will feature more than 100 book vendors, thousands of titles, live music and poetry readings. Books on a variety of subjects, like children's titles, business literature and best-sellers, will be for sale for all ages.

"Newark is so rich. I think it (the fair) is so well-received because it acknowledges what Newark knows itself to be," said Rodriguez following a press conference Monday at the main branch of the Newark Public Library.

The Harlem Book Fair, which has been hosted in Boston, Washington, D.C., Philadelphia and other cities, is hoped to cultivate a love of reading among children and adults citywide. A staggering 50 percent of Newark adults are illiterate, said Wilma Grey, director of Newark Public Library, citing National Institute for Literacy statistics.

Mayor Cory Booker, who, along with Superintendent Cami Anderson, shared Monday anecdotes of learning to read with the crowd, likened illiteracy within the city to modern-day slavery.

"I can't go into another home and see TVs that run almost like background noise, constantly 24 hours a day and look around and not see a book," said Booker. "There is a sin about that, that we have not created a culture in our community of literacy."

Other events that promote literacy, like writing contests for children, will be held in the city leading up to the annual book fair, said Rodriguez.

"While the book fair is fun, what it does is create access to information," he said. "Literacy is about knowing what questions to ask."

The Harlem Book Fair in Newark will pay tribute to the city's own poet and political activist Amiri Baraka with live poetry readings. Performers from Versus Open Mic will also take the stage, said Sheila Bradley, a producer with Harlem Book Fair.

"We're looking forward to seeing the melting pot of Newark on stage," she said.

Participating authors whose books will be available to purchase include Moody Holiday, Anasa Maat, Valerie Wilson Wesley and South Ward resident Dr. Andrea Blake-Garrett, who penned the series after her own 5-year-old kids.

"It's just what Newark needs," said Blake-Garrett of the fair.