BLACK LUMINARIES HAVE BEEN CITED Everyone will not appreciate Black Book Awards, but many of the most renown Black individuals in history have attended, been “hugged up” celebrated and received the awards. The prelude to the now institution was the 1st “Harlem Literary and Arts Festival, October 1 & 2, 1977. The Guest Speakers were: Prof John Henrik Clark, Dr. Y. ben Jochanan, Imam Ali Rasheed, Simon Bly Jr., Prof Preston Wilcox, Poets Eugene Reynolds, Rich Bartee, James McRae, Publisher Robert T. Davis, Sister Yetunde & etc. In 1978, Legendary Queen Mother Moore and Dr. Amos N. Wilson were two of the main speakers. No awards were presented at the first two. But after relocating to Virginia - building the Black Book Industry into a “Movement,” in the 1980’s, in 1991 the celebration of Black Literature received its first institutional presentation of Citations and celebration in a comprehensive way. Awards for “Best New Writer,” “Best Book of the Year – fiction and non-fiction,” “Publisher of the Year,” “Distributor of the Year,” and etc. have been awarded. Since that year the following are among the Black writers who have received awards: Sister Sharazad Ali, Dr. Tony Martin, Frances Cress Welsing, Dr. Imari Obadele, Sister Johnita Obadele, Dr. Edward Smalls Jr., Sister Amuntyt Judy Carter Khalifah, Nation of Islam, C.R.O.E., Omar Tyree, Marva Cooper, Paul Lawrence Dunbar, Adib Rashad, Dr. Kamau Kambon, John F. Hatchett, Yusef Abdul Salaam, Amir Fatir, Latif Tarik, Keidi Awadu, Dr. Henry N. Anderson, Mr. Carol Barnes, Gloria Taylor Edwards, Brother Lumumba Odinga, Ibn Khalifah, Moi Collier and too many others to name. All activities during Black Literary Weekend are at the Khalifah’s Estates in Southampton County, Virginia. That is all except for the last day when Khalifah leads the writers, families and friends on a “Return to the Nat Turner Trail.” In fact, Khalifah’s Estates is located at the Birthplace of Nat Turner. At the least, that is the legend in the County. One thing for certain, Nat Turner, Slaved, Preached and Planned the most dynamic Revolt in Black History on the land of Khalifah’s Estates. The Black Book Awards not only celebrate Black literature, but it also helps to authentic, celebrate and preserve the history of Nat Turner. Revenues generated during the weekend contribute to the building of The Nat Turner Slave Museum, The Khalifah world class Library, Discount Black Bookstore and the Nat Turner Gift Shop.