It’s Black History Month and the African American Family Book Expo, presented by Detroit Book City, is back for its 9th year on Feb. 22 at the Ernest T. Ford Recreation Center in Highland Park. The event promotes literacy in metro Detroit while celebrating Black history and encouraging people to read works from African American authors.

The book expo will feature more than 30 local and national African American authors who will be on hand to sell and autograph their books, including this year’s special guest, award-winning author & historian Frank Zaaqan Jordan.  

The book expo will also participate in the National African American Read-In in collaboration with the National Council of Teachers of English. The initiative encourages communities to read together with a focus on African American authors.  

There will be soul food from ThatsDatTruck and music from DJ Holly, along with black history souvenirs available for purchase. The first 100 adults to arrive will receive a swag bag.

“American Black Journal” host Stephen Henderson talks with Detroit Book City owner Janeice Haynes and Kelley-Duren Jones, one of the featured authors at this year’s book expo. Haynes explains the importance of African American book fairs and talks about what children and adults can learn from reading. Plus, Duren-Jones reflects on her own journey of becoming a writer.