Join The March, The 12th Annual Literacy Across Harlem March

The Literacy Across Harlem March is a fun and meaningful opportunity for Harlemites of all ages to lead for literacy, deepen your knowledge of our community’s rich literary history and landscape.

Also, it is to celebrate Harlem’s identity as a world-renowned hub of literature by and about Black and Brown people.

This year’s theme, Children’s Books About Harlem: Inspiring Young Readers to Write Our Community’s Next Chapter, emphasizes the vital role literature plays in shaping the minds and imaginations of our youngest Harlemites.

By connecting our children and adults alike with stories that reflect their own experiences and those of our community, we empower them to explore the rich tapestry of Harlem’s history, its vibrant present, and its boundless potential.

Schedule of Events

12:00 p.m. – RALLY! Meet at your choice of these legendary community-based institutions: El Museo del Barrio or Sister’s Uptown Bookstore & Cultural Center. Bring two books to march with: a personal favorite and a gift-quality children’s book to donate to a local homeless shelter. Then . . .

12:30 p.m. – MARCH! Get to know your community from an exciting new perspective on a tour of amazing reading-related landmarks, including the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture and the Center for Puerto Rican Studies.

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3:00 p.m. – CELEBRATE! At the end of the march, participate in an interactive, intergenerational celebration of reading and writing at the Marcus Garvey Park Amphitheater, in the heart of Harlem.

Total Equity Now dedicates each Literacy Across Harlem March to the memory of Harlem literacy superstars Walter Dean Myers and Pura Belpré!

Walter Dean Myers (1937-2014), who grew up in Harlem and went on to write more than 100 books for children and young adults, dedicated his life to making sure Black and Brown young people saw themselves, our families, our communities, and our cultural and ethnic backgrounds reflected in literature.

Pura Belpré (1899-1982), amazing storyteller, puppeteer, author, and the New York Public Library’s first Latina librarian, worked tirelessly and creatively to ensure that the shelves and programming of Harlem’s public library branches celebrated the rich tales and traditions of Black and Brown people.

This year’s march also pays tribute to literary luminaries James Baldwin (1924-1987) and Faith Ringgold (1930-2024).

Saturday, September 28, 2024, 12:00 P.M. – 4:00 P.M., Free! Limited Tickets Available. Advance Registration Required: bit.ly/rockthosereads12, (Registration ends Thursday, 9/26.)

Total Equity Now, Harlem, New York, NY 10026 US,

Photo credit: Total Equity Now.