Kentucky Black Authors Expo
Lexington's 2020 Black Authors Expo
Reverend James Thurman is a long-time Lexington leader with an entrepreneurial spirit. And he's committed to giving back to his community.
In celebration of Black History Month, Reverend Thurman launched the First Kentucky Black Authors Expo with the National Association for Black Veterans at the historic Lyric Theatre.
The free public event showcased the writings, poetry, and stories of some of the nation’s and Kentucky’s best African-American authors. The Reverend Dr. Thurman is an Associate Pastor at Shiloh Baptist Church and volunteers with AARP in Lexington. Thurman says he launched the Expo because he wanted to bring these authors, art, and literature to new audiences, “Black history is America’s history.”
The Expo featured multidisciplinary artists and the former poet laureate of Kentucky (2013–2015), Frank X Walker, Rev. Herbert Owens, Vanessa Sanford, Ron Spriggs, Rev. Dr. James Thurman, Dr. Junior Greenlee, Rosetta Quisenberry, James “Chali” Jones, plus other published authors.
Reverend Thurman appreciated the community support and hopes to make the Expo an annual celebration in Lexington.
