The International African American Museum (IAAM) and Charleston Literary Festival have formalized a collaborative partnership through a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to elevate the literary arts of African American and African Diasporic stories.
The MOU, which became effective on Aug. 21, 2025, expands both organizations’ shared vision of cultural and educational initiatives. The purpose of the partnership is to foster joint programming and create impactful experiences for the Charleston community and beyond.
This formal partnership builds on the success of prior collaborations, such as “A Conversation With Nikki Giovanni,” which saw the Festival and IAAM co-present this marquee event during the 2024 Charleston Literary Festival. The event featured Nikki Giovanni—a generation-defining poet, writer, and activist—in conversation with IAAM President and CEO Dr. Tonya M. Matthews. It offered audiences an important opportunity to embrace a conversation with one of the world’s best-known African American poets of our time, renowned for her evocative works exploring themes of social justice and love. This intimate conversation was also one of the last live interviews with Giovanni before her passing in December 2024.
“We are so pleased to not only be in community with the Charleston Literary Festival, as IAAM has been for nearly three years, but to finally be in formal partnership,” said IAAM’s Chief Learning and Engagement Officer Malika N. Pryor. “As institutions, we share a true commitment to sparking curiosity and elevating dialogue through the written word.”
“In a time when information and imagination are being challenged by our rapidly changing environment, alignment between Charleston Literary Festival and IAAM could not be more important to foster discovery in support of and between our neighbors and communities,” Pryor said. “I look forward to discovering the many ways we will work together in the future."
“This partnership with IAAM is very important to us—it is more than a collaboration—it’s an ongoing invitation to our community to come together through story,” said Sarah Moriarty, Executive Director of Charleston Literary Festival, “It allows us to create opportunities where people can embrace world-class ideas from some of the country’s most important voices; and take time to listen, reflect, and explore together. Through dialogue, and discovery, we continue the powerful work of honoring our past while imagining a brighter, more connected future.”
Q3 Feed - Imagination-Liberation_Feed
As part of the 2025 Festival, IAAM will be co-presenting the upcoming Festival event “Imagination: A Manifesto” on November 13 at the Dock Street Theatre, featuring transdisciplinary scholar Dr. Ruha Benjamin with artist and cultural strategist Benny Starr. The conversation between Benjamin and Starr will dive into the power of the imagination to challenge oppression and to craft new stories that create a world in which everyone can thrive.
In addition, Matthews will be in conversation with United States Congressman James E. Clyburn of South Carolina during the Festival event “A Personal History of the Pioneering Black Congressman Who Shaped a Nation” on November 14 at the Dock Street Theatre to discuss Clyburn’s latest book, The First Eight: A Personal History of the Pioneering Black Congressmen Who Shaped a Nation. Clyburn’s new book tells the powerful stories of pioneering Black politicians from South Carolina who were elected to Congress following the Civil War.
Other notable Festival events include authors whose books are available for purchase on-site within our IAAM Boutique:
- Friday, November 7 at 3 p.m.: Imani Perry with Dolen Perkins-Valdez - Black In Blues: How a Color Tells the Story of My People
- Friday, November 7 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.: Kevin Sack & Eddie S. Glaude Jr. - Mother Emanuel: Two Centuries of Race, Resistance, and Forgiveness in One Charleston Church, honoring Mother Emanuel with special appearance by the Mother Emanuel Choir
- Saturday, November 8 at 6 p.m.: Glory Edim with Safiya Sinclair - Gather Me
- Wednesday, November 12 at 2 p.m.: Edda Fields-Black with David Blight - Combee: Harriet Tubman, the Combahee River Raid, and Black Freedom during the Civil War
Through collective efforts of uplifting the voices and ideas of Black scholars, creatives, and trailblazers in the literary arts, both IAAM and Charleston Literary Festival are committed to the power of story to connect our community.
Support Our Mission
IAAM is dedicated to sharing untold stories of the African American journey and its global impact. To ensure we can continue to connect and support the community through enriching programs and collaborations like this one, please consider making a donation today at www.iaamuseum.org/support.