Literary talents across genres gathered in Oak Bluffs this weekend for the first Martha’s Vineyard Black Book Festival. Authors discussed their work as well as the publishing industry in general during a variety of panels and interviews Saturday at the Island Inn.

“When I first envisioned the Martha’s Vineyard Black Book Festival, my goal was to create an opportunity for Black authors and storytellers to come together, share their work, connect with readers and inspire future generations of writers,” said Traci Smith, the founder of the event.

Book topics ranged from reproductive health to history, food and more.

Throughout the day, speakers remarked on the importance of such an event being held on the Island because of its place in African American culture. Charlayne Hunter-Gault, civil rights activist and journalist, wrote about the history of Oak Bluffs in her book My People: Five Decades of Writing About Black Lives.

Natasha Alford, Antonia Hylton, Toyi Elizabeth and Deesha Dyer.

Ray Ewing

Natasha Alford, Antonia Hylton, Toyi Elizabeth and Deesha Dyer.

Ray Ewing

“I have a wonderful piece in there about when I first came here and discovered the Inkwell,” said Ms. Hunter-Gault. “So many people used to think it was because it was the one place that Black people went to the beach, but it was where all of these incredible writers in our history, Dorothy West and so many others, used to go. So I corrected that misinterpretation of why it was called the Inkwell.”

Tulani Thomas, the author of a children’s book about the environment called Soil Magic, said that the location of the event was also poignant for her because of the Island’s history of land stewardship.

“We’re in a space that was originally the Indigenous peoples’ and we know that their culture embraces the environment and showing such respect for the environment is very special.”

Nikole Hannah-Jones, the journalist behind The 1619 Project, began a conversation with Ms. Hunter-Gault by saying she looks forward to seeing the festival growing in subsequent years.

“I’m actually surprised that Martha’s Vineyard has not had a Black book festival before this because we know how long this has been a haven for Black writers and Black intellectuals who come here both to write and to be in community and get some rejuvenation,” Ms. Hannah-Jones told the Gazette. “It just makes sense with all of these writers already coming here to hold something like this. It’s really exciting to see that when Traci put out the call, how many writers were willing to take part in this.”