Name: NATIONAL BOOK FESTIVAL 2025- INFORMATIONAL POST
Start: 2025-09-06T13:00:00.000Z
Location: Walter E. Washington Convention Center

**About the Book:**
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou

This book is now on many banned book lists, so we thought it was a great choice for this month's discussion.

Maya Angelou’s debut memoir is a modern American classic beloved worldwide. Her life story is told in the documentary film And Still I Rise, as seen on PBS’s American Masters.

Here is a book as joyous and painful, as mysterious and memorable, as childhood itself. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings captures the longing of lonely children, the brute insult of bigotry, and the wonder of words that can make the world right. Maya Angelou’s debut memoir is a modern American classic beloved worldwide.
Sent by their mother to live with their devout, self-sufficient grandmother in a small Southern town, Maya and her brother, Bailey, endure the ache of abandonment and the prejudice of the local “powhitetrash.” At eight years old and back at her mother’s side in St. Louis, Maya is attacked by a man many times her age—and has to live with the consequences for a lifetime. Years later, in San Francisco, Maya learns that love for herself, the kindness of others, her own strong spirit, and the ideas of great authors (“I met and fell in love with William Shakespeare”) will allow her to be free instead of imprisoned.
Poetic and powerful, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings will touch hearts and change minds for as long as people read.

“I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings liberates the reader into life simply because Maya Angelou confronts her own life with such a moving wonder, such a luminous dignity.”—James Baldwin

***

**Black Girls Think & Grow Rich**
**Book Club Basic Ground Rules**

1. Members who haven’t read the book – Come anyway. Not everyone can finish every book, but non-readers may still have valuable insights.
2. Disagreements about the book – Be gracious! There is no one way to experience or interpret a book. In fact, differing opinions are good.
3. Maintain Focus – Discussion time will be limited to discussion about the book. There is time to socialize before and after the book club meeting.
4. Confidentiality – What is said at the book club meeting stays at the book club meeting. Members may choose to share personal insights and we want to respect their willingness to be open, candid or vulnerable.
5. Quiet Environment – Cell phones and other electronic devices should be placed on silent or vibrate so not to disturb the discussion.
6. Support our venue – The venue is providing a free meeting place for the book club, so please support them by purchasing food and/or drink. No outside food or drink should be brought into the venue.
7. Keep it moving – Please be concise with your insights and comments so we have time to hear from as many members as possible.
8. Time – Please be on time or early if possible. That gives everyone time to get settled and socialize before the meeting, so we can begin and end on time.

Black Girls Think & Grow Rich Book Club

Charlotte Van Horn

Erica Willis Moore

Sapphire

Tamia

Leann Mclaren

Samine Parris-Stowes

natasha Jordan

Dominique D

Averi Drummer

LaGayle P. Crosby

Madeline

Karma

Phoebe Jones

Cashmire

Yvonne

We're Reading I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou

Online event

About the Book

TBD

**********************************************

Black Girls Think & Grow Rich
Book Club Basic Ground Rules

1. Members who haven’t read the book – Come anyway. Not everyone can finish every book, but non-readers may still have valuable insights.

2. Disagreements about the book – Be gracious! There is no one way to experience or interpret a book. In fact, differing opinions are good.

3. Maintain Focus – Discussion time will be limited to discussion about the book. There is time to socialize before and after the book club meeting.

4. Confidentiality – What is said at the book club meeting stays at the book club meeting. Members may choose to share personal insights and we want to respect their willingness to be open, candid or vulnerable.

5. Quiet Environment – Cell phones and other electronic devices should be placed on silent or vibrate so not to disturb the discussion.

6. Support our venue – The venue is providing a free meeting place for the book club, so please support them by purchasing food and/or drink. No outside food or drink should be brought into the venue.

7. Keep it moving – Please be concise with your insights and comments so we have time to hear from as many members as possible.

8. Time – Please be on time or early if possible. That gives everyone time to get settled and socialize before the meeting, so we can begin and end on time.

Quintessa Head

We're Reading Another Great Book

Join us for a rich discussion!
**About the Book:**

Brown Girls Book Club DMV

Marcie Robinson Williams

Nicole Montgomery

We're Discussing Another Great Book!

Join us at the 2025 National Book Festival!

***Our August Book Selection will be from one of the featured author's attending this year's event. We will schedule to meet at the session of this author and then for a book discussion immediately following. Author and Session will be announced as soon as the list is released.***

**About the Event:**
The 2025 National Book Festival will be held in the nation’s capital at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center on Saturday, September 6, from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. (doors open at 8:30 a.m.). This will be the festival's 25th Anniversary. The event is free and open to the public and "provides a full day of conversations with dozens of authors, poets and illustrators from a variety of genres about their latest books and book signings with each writer." Last year's festival drew over 10,000 visitors.

A selection of programs will be livestreamed online and videos of all programs will be available shortly after the Festival. The current author line up for the book festival has not yet been announced. 2024 notable guests include Tamron Hall, James McBride, James Patterson, and Safiya Sinclair (our featured author and book). Be sure to visit the National Book Festival link for announcements and updates:
https://www.loc.gov/programs/national-book-festival/about-this-program/

**Never been to the festival? Please check out the FAQs for more information: [https://www.loc.gov/events/2024-national-book-festival/festival-information/frequently-asked-questions/](https://www.loc.gov/events/2024-national-book-festival/festival-information/frequently-asked-questions/)**

We are using the *GroupMe App* for communication onsite at the event. This will allow us to connect with each other and determine which sessions others may be attending, lunch time, etc. Link for the app will be in the comment section closer to the event.

Check back often for more updates and additional information for meeting up at the event.

Aneka 

Monica P

Alisha

Drina

Krizia Vargas

Evelyn C.

Myrna Beckford

Bradley

Danielle

S.J.

Erica

Christi

Tia Norman

Jamila Ayan 

Michele 

Jae Thompson-Williams

Tonya Gibbs

NATIONAL BOOK FESTIVAL 2025- INFORMATIONAL POST

Walter E. Washington  Convention Center 

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