It was 100 years ago that Arthur Alfonso Schomburg, a Black and Puerto Rican scholar and bibliophile, shared his collection of pamphlets, prints, and manuscripts with the public as part of the special collection of the Division of Negro Literature, History, and Prints at the 135th Street Branch Library. Passionate about archiving Black American culture and the African diaspora, Schomburg spent the rest of his life documenting, archiving, and collecting prints of the diverse experiences as a curator for the library, until his death in 1933.
His collection outlasted him and has helped generations of writers and researchers. In 1972, he became the namesake of the research library, and his collection remains the centerpiece of an ever-growing body of knowledge accessible to all New Yorkers.
On June 14, 2025, the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture will honor his legacy with the Schomburg Centennial Festival, an all-day celebration of Black literature, art, music, and imagination. Kicking off at 11 a.m. with a performance by the Brooklyn United Marching Band, the festival will unfold both inside the Schomburg and outdoors along 135th Street with a mix of author talks, live performances, workshops, and family-friendly programming.
“For a century, the Schomburg Center has occupied an important role in the intellectual and creative life of Harlem,” said Novella Ford, associate director of public programs and Exhibitions at the center, in a press release. “The festival is a moment to celebrate our legacy while continuing to nurture Black creativity and center work that values Black history and culture. Being in community means tending to our liberation and our joy in the ‘public square,’ free for all to experience.”
The day will open with a keynote conversation featuring Raquel Willis, author of “The Risk It Takes to Bloom: On Life and Liberation,” followed by sessions that highlight voices in the Black literary world. “Black Girl Magic” author Mahogany Browne, comedian Wyatt Cenac, and cultural critic Damon Young will be among the panelists featured in “That’s How They Get You: An Unruly Anthology of Black American Humor,” while literary disruptors like Nigeran-American Glory Edim — author of “Well Read Black Girl” — and OlaRonke Akinmowowill, director and creator of the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Free Black Women’s Library, join forces outdoors to discuss building a marketplace for Black literature.
The Black Comic Book Festival will also be part of the celebration. Fans of comics and speculative fiction can explore “Comic Book Row,” a hub for independent Black comic book artists and publishers like Raecomics and GENERATE COMIX.
The festival also welcomes back the Very Black Cosplay Showcase, inviting attendees of all ages to celebrate their favorite characters and creators in full costume on the Octavia E. Butler Stage.
Families and young readers can look forward to the return of the Woke Baby Festival and a new addition: the Jump Up Jamboree, which will feature storytelling, crafts, music, and more. Throughout the day, the neighboring Countee Cullen Mobile Library will distribute free copies of “Schomburg: The Man Who Built a Library” and offer sign-ups for a limited-edition library card featuring the Schomburg Center’s Cosmogram.
The celebration will close with an old-school outdoor block party headlined by DJ D-Nice, rap legend Slick Rick, and Soapbox Presents, whose “Stoop Sessions” bring live music to Harlem’s historic brownstones.
As one of many events planned throughout the year, the festival marks a cornerstone of the Schomburg Center’s ongoing centennial celebration — an extended tribute to 100 years of preserving and championing global Black culture.
Running until 7 p.m., the Centennial Festival is free and open to the public, with registration available online. Visit www.schomburg100fest.org for more info.