From Freedom Riders to Freedom Readers:

Books Unbanned: Defending the Freedom to Learn Tour - Netroots Nation
2024-07-13 - 2024-07-15, 2023-07-13 - 2023-07-15 | Baltimore Convention Center, 1 W Pratt Street, Baltimore, 21201, United States
Netroots Nation is a non-profit organization that provides trainings, resources and connection opportunities to help progressive activists create a more progressive and just world. Since 2006, Netroots Nation has hosted the largest annual conference for progressives, drawing up to 4,000 attendees from around the country and beyond. Our annual event brings together diverse voices from around the country and beyond.
Anyone who desires a more progressive and just world is welcome. Our attendees are politicians, online organizers, grassroots activists, and independent media makers. Some are professionals who work at advocacy organizations, progressive companies or labor unions; while others do activism in their spare time.

Books Unbanned: Essence Festival
2024-06-29 - 2024-07-03 | Ernest Morial Convention Center, New Orleans, LA

Books Unbanned: Freedom Riders to Freedom Readers Installation
2024-03-10 - 2024-03-19 | PA
Experience unparalleled discovery, learning, professional development, and networking with creatives from around the world at SXSW.
An essential destination for global professionals, the annual March event features Conference sessions, Film & TV Festival screenings, Music Festival showcases, Comedy Festival sets, world-class Exhibitions, competitions, Awards, and much more.
Register today for the 2024 SXSW Conference & Festivals! We look forward to seeing you again from March 8-16, 2024 in Austin, TX.

From Freedom Riders to Freedom Readers 2024 HBCU Tour (Cheyney, PA)
2024-02-29 12:30 - 14:30 UTC | Cheyney University of Pennsylvania, Cheyney, PA, United States
In honor of Black History Month this February 2024, AAPF will bring its Books Unbanned initiative to select HBCU campuses to partner with students, faculty, and staff to fight educational censorship in all its forms–including the insidious attacks on Black history, racial, gender, and LGBTQ+ justice, inclusive books, and DEI initiatives throughout the country. Join us in advocating for a multiracial democracy that protects the Freedom to Learn!
Location: TBD

From Freedom Riders to Freedom Readers 2024 HBCU Tour (Atlanta, GA)
2024-02-28 14:00 - 18:00 | Spelman College, Atlanta, GA, United States
In honor of Black History Month this February 2024, AAPF will bring its Books Unbanned initiative to select HBCU campuses to partner with students, faculty, and staff to fight educational censorship in all its forms–including the insidious attacks on Black history, racial, gender, and LGBTQ+ justice, inclusive books, and DEI initiatives throughout the country. Join us in advocating for a multiracial democracy that protects the Freedom to Learn!
Location: Student Access Center

From Freedom Riders to Freedom Readers 2024 HBCU Tour (Hampton, VA)
2024-02-26 15:00 - 19:00 | Hampton University, Hampton, VA, United States
In honor of Black History Month this February 2024, AAPF will bring its Books Unbanned initiative to select HBCU campuses to partner with students, faculty, and staff to fight educational censorship in all its forms–including the insidious attacks on Black history, racial, gender, and LGBTQ+ justice, inclusive books, and DEI initiatives throughout the country. Join us in advocating for a multiracial democracy that protects the Freedom to Learn!
Location: Student Center Atrium

From Freedom Riders to Freedom Readers 2024 HBCU Tour (Washington, DC)
2024-02-23 | University of the District of Columbia, Washington, United States

From Freedom Riders to Freedom Readers 2024 HBCU Tour (Washington, DC)
2024-02-22 12:00 - 16:00 | Howard University, Washington, DC, United States
In honor of Black History Month this February 2024, AAPF will bring its Books Unbanned initiative to select HBCU campuses to partner with students, faculty, and staff to fight educational censorship in all its forms–including the insidious attacks on Black history, racial, gender, and LGBTQ+ justice, inclusive books, and DEI initiatives throughout the country. Join us in advocating for a multiracial democracy that protects the Freedom to Learn!
Location: Blackburn University Center

From Freedom Riders to Freedom Readers 2024 HBCU Tour (Baltimore, MD)
2024-02-21 13:00 - 18:00 | Morgan State University, Baltimore, MD, United States
In honor of Black History Month this February 2024, AAPF will bring its Books Unbanned initiative to select HBCU campuses to partner with students, faculty, and staff to fight educational censorship in all its forms–including the insidious attacks on Black history, racial, gender, and LGBTQ+ justice, inclusive books, and DEI initiatives throughout the country. Join us in advocating for a multiracial democracy that protects the Freedom to Learn!
Location: MSU School of Global Journalism and Communications

The New Republic Banned Book Tour - Houston, Texas
2023-10-28 13:00 - 16:00 | PA
The African American Policy Forum (AAPF) is fighting back against book bans with a new campaign across the country: The Freedom Readers. AAPF is partnering with the Transformative Justice Coalition (TJC) on a bus tour to mobilize “10 Million More Black Voters” in time for the 2022 midterms. We are bringing banned books directly to the people in over two dozen cities in key swing states from Minnesota to Florida! Executive Director Kimberlé Crenshaw, local authors, and community leaders will be talking about local book bans, reading from banned books, and giving away copies of some of the titles we have seen targeted across the nation, especially those by Black and LGBTQ authors. Book banning is an important front in the current assault on our children, education system, and democracy, and this bus tour will send a powerful message that the fight for truth and for books is intertwined with the fight for voting rights and voter mobilization.
The New Republic and our partners are launching a bold new initiative to combat censorship and celebrate the First Amendment, to coincide with Banned Books Week, October 1–7, 2023.
We are taking it on the road, sending a bookmobile to distribute books, present author readings and book signings, and educate you on what you can do to fight book banning.
Our “festival on wheels” will connect with communities, authors, bookstores, libraries, and local leaders to celebrate the freedom to read.

The New Republic Banned Book Tour - Austin, Texas
2023-10-26 16:00 - 19:00 | PA

The New Republic Banned Book Tour - Dallas, Texas
2023-10-25 16:00 - 19:00 | PA

The New Republic Banned Book Tour - Springfield,MO
2023-10-21 11:00 - 13:00 | PA

The New Republic Banned Book Tour - Norfolk, VA
2023-10-14 11:00 - 13:00 | PA

The New Republic Banned Book Tour - Jacksonville, FL
2023-10-11 16:00 - 18:30 | PA

The New Republic Banned Book Tour - Tallahassee, FL
2023-10-10 14:00 - 17:00 | PA

The New Republic Banned Book Tour - Miami, FL
2023-10-08 12:00 - 16:00 | PA

The New Republic Banned Book Tour - Daytona, FL
2023-10-07 10:00 - 14:00 | PA

The New Republic Banned Book Tour - Washington, DC
2023-10-04 11:00 - 15:00 | MLK Library, 901 G St NW, Washington, DC, United States

The New Republic Banned Book Tour - Pittsburgh, PA
2023-10-03 13:30 - 17:00 | Helen S. Faison Arts Academy, 7430 Tioga S, Pittsburgh, PA, United States

Books Unbanned: Artivism Afterparty
2023-10-01 20:30 - 22:00 | PA
Following the Brooklyn Book Festival, AAPF seeks to host a “Books Unbanned Artivism Afterparty” in Brooklyn, NY. This party with a purpose will feature live performances from acclaimed poets, singers, and actors, a DJ, networking opportunities, giveaways, food, and refreshments.
Curated by AAPF Co-Founder, Professor Kimberlé Crenshaw, Creative Arts Lead Awoye Timpo, AAPF staff, and Artists-in-Residence, AAPF will produce a performance medley followed by a talk-back to illuminate the urgent need to fight back against educational censorship and book bans across the country.

Books Unbanned: Protecting the Freedom to Learn as part of Books Unbanned Week at the Brooklyn Book Festival
2023-10-01 17:00 - 20:00 | PA
The surprising rise of censorship in this country is a mounting threat to our democracy. Books by people of color and about racial justice have been among the most often banned titles in the last few years. To commemorate the first day of Banned Book Week, AAPF’s “Books UnbannedTM” tour, in partnership with The New Republic’s “Banned in the USA” Bookmobile Tour of 2023, presents a conversation with authors including Black feminist legal scholar and AAPF Executive Director Kimberlé Crenshaw, professor and anti-racist activist Dr. Ibram X. Kendi, alongside journalist and cultural critic Michael Harriot. The authors will discuss increased censorship, the surprising reach of moral panics that have informed censorship and what we all must do to protect the values of learning and literacy. Moderated by Dr. Kaye Wise Whitehead.

Books Unbanned: Protecting the Freedom to Learn
2023-10-01 17:00 | Brooklyn Book Festival
The surprising rise of censorship in this country is a mounting threat to our democracy. Books by people of color and about racial justice have been among the most often banned titles in the last few years. To commemorate the first day of Banned Book Week, AAPF’s “Books UnbannedTM” tour, in partnership with The New Republic’s “Banned in the USA” Bookmobile Tour of 2023, presents a conversation with authors including Black feminist legal scholar and AAPF Executive Director Kimberlé Crenshaw, professor and anti-racist activist Dr. Ibram X. Kendi, alongside journalist and cultural critic Michael Harriot. The authors will discuss increased censorship, the surprising reach of moral panics that have informed censorship, and what we all must do to protect the values of learning and literacy. Moderated by Dr. Kaye Wise Whitehead.

Books Unbanned: Fighting Back to Move Forward: Defending the Freedom to Learn (CRT Summer School)
2023-10-01 16:00 - 18:00 | PA
The African American Policy Forum’s Critical Race Theory Summer School 2023 Presents – Fighting Back to Move Forward: Defending the Freedom to Learn! This year’s 4th edition of our signature summer programming on July 30th -August 3rd will connect the dots between the attacks on critical knowledge, the impending threats to our multiracial democracy, and the practical tools required to sustain the movement. Stay tuned for more updates.

The New Republic Banned Book Tour - Brooklyn, NY
2023-10-01 10:00 - 18:00 | PA

Artivism After Party
2023-10-01 | Brooklyn Book Festival

Books Unbanned: Congressional Black Caus Foundation Annual Legislative Conference
2023-09-20 - 2023-09-22 | PA
The Congressional Black Caucus Foundation is thrilled to present the highly anticipated 52nd Annual Legislative Conference (ALC), taking place from September 20 – 24, 2023, at the prestigious Walter E. Washington Convention Center. Under the inspiring theme “Securing Our Democracy. Protecting Our Freedoms. Uplifting Our Culture.,” this conference will be an extraordinary gathering of visionaries, activists, and leaders who are shaping the future of African Americans and the global Black community.

Books Unbanned: Defending the Freedom to Learn Tour - NUL Conference
2023-07-26 - 2023-07-29 | George R. Brown Convention Center, 1001 Avenida De Las Americas, Houston, TX, 77010, United States
The National Urban League Annual Conference will be a hybrid event in 2022! After two years as an exclusively virtual happening, the organization is returning to an in-person program. The 2022 conference will be the nation’s largest and most influential civil rights and urban advocacy event. Each year, leaders in business, government, and social advocacy gather to explore the issues and initiatives that profoundly affect the communities served by the Urban League network of 90 affiliates nationwide. From policymakers and thought leaders to social media influencers and entrepreneurs, the National Urban League conference is the place to network, exchange ideas, gain insights, and strategize next steps toward justice.

Books Unbanned: Defending the Freedom to Learn Tour - DST Convention
2023-07-19 - 2023-07-22 | Indiana Convention Center, 100 South Capitol Ave, Indianapolis, IN, 46225, United States
Indianapolis looks forward to welcoming Delta Sigma Theta to the Indianapolis. Take advantage of your time in Indy to explore downtown. From a morning run along the Central Canal to dinner at one of our best restaurants to a night exploring one of our vibrant neighborhoods, Indy offers a safe and walkable downtown for exploration.
