TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — The 4th Annual Tampa Bay Black Authors Expo is back this weekend! This year’s theme is “Keeping Black Lit Alive.” 23 authors will showcase their work— celebrating Black voices and stories.

Joining us on this episode of Rooted in Progress is one of the featured guests for the event, poet Troy Legette.

Legette was recently honored with the Literary Titan Book Award. He hopes to inspire emerging Black writers, especially those facing challenges breaking into the industry.

The expo itself was born out of a need for more representation in literary spaces. This year’s theme emphasizes the importance of preserving Black stories in the face of increasing book bans and attempts to rewrite history. A special tribute will also be held for the late Gwen Henderson, whose bookstore became a cornerstone for Black literature in the Tampa Bay area.

Tune in at 9:30 this morning to learn how you can attend the event!