BLACK AUTHORS FESTIVAL

2027 COMMUNITY LEADER HONOREE APPLICATION

Preserving Our Stories. Protecting Our Voices. Advancing Our Legacy.

Are you a Black author, literary leader, educator, journalist, entrepreneur, community leader, or cultural visionary whose work has made a meaningful contribution to literature, literacy, education, media, culture, or the advancement of Black communities?

Have your words inspired, educated, challenged, illuminated, documented, or empowered others?

Have you devoted your work to preserving authentic Black stories, expanding access to knowledge, advancing literacy, cultivating intellectual excellence, or ensuring that future generations inherit a literary and cultural record that reflects the richness, complexity, brilliance, resilience, and diversity of Black life?

Do you believe that writers have a fundamental role in shaping how communities understand themselves and how history is remembered?

Do you believe in intellectual freedom?

Are you committed to protecting the freedom to read, write, create, publish, question, research, and think freely?

Do you believe that Black voices, Black histories, Black scholarship, Black literature, and Black cultural expression must be protected from censorship, erasure, distortion, and exclusion?

If so, the Black Authors Festival invites you to submit an application for consideration as a 2027 Community Leader Honoree.

THE 2027 BLACK AUTHORS FESTIVAL

The Black Authors Festival recognizes extraordinary Black authors and distinguished individuals whose professional, literary, intellectual, educational, entrepreneurial, journalistic, community, or cultural contributions have had a meaningful impact on the advancement and preservation of Black literature and culture.

Our honorees represent individuals whose work has:

• Advanced Black literary excellence;

• Contributed to literacy and education;

• Preserved important histories, narratives, and cultural traditions;

• Expanded the visibility of Black authors and intellectuals;

• Strengthened communities;

• Challenged prevailing narratives;

• Encouraged intellectual inquiry and independent thought;

• Created opportunities for emerging generations;

• Contributed to journalism, media, scholarship, entrepreneurship, or cultural leadership; and

• Demonstrated a sustained commitment to the advancement of Black people, Black literature, and Black cultural expression.

The Festival proudly champions our theme: Black Ink, a national intellectual freedom initiative dedicated to protecting the fundamental freedom to read, write, create, publish, and think without censorship.

AN UNPRECEDENTED LITERARY OPPORTUNITY

Your Manuscript. A Major Literary Industry Conversation.

As part of the 2027 Community Leader Honoree experience, eligible applicants may have the opportunity to participate in a specially curated literary industry experience featuring Mark Gottlieb, Executive Vice President and Literary Agent at Trident Media Group.

Mark Gottlieb is a nationally recognized literary agent who has represented and negotiated publishing, translation, audiobook, film, television, and subsidiary rights agreements for authors across the publishing industry.

Selected participants will have the opportunity to have their manuscript or literary project presented for consideration and professional discussion before Mr. Gottlieb, subject to the terms, format, submission requirements, scheduling, and selection parameters established by the Festival and participating literary professional.

Important Notice

Presentation of a manuscript does NOT constitute a guarantee of:

• Literary representation;

• A publishing contract;

• An advance;

• A book deal;

• Acquisition by a publisher;

• Editorial representation;

• Film, television, audiobook, translation, or subsidiary rights representation;

• Media coverage;

• Festival selection; or

• Any other commercial or professional outcome.

The opportunity is intended to provide qualified participants with exposure to a distinguished publishing industry professional and an opportunity to receive professional perspective regarding their literary work.

ELIGIBILITY

Applicants must satisfy the eligibility requirements established by the Black Authors Festival.

Applicants must be of African descent, and the literary work or body of work submitted for consideration must authentically engage Black stories, perspectives, histories, cultures, communities, experiences, or intellectual traditions.

The Festival reserves the right to request additional information or documentation reasonably necessary to evaluate an applicant's eligibility, literary accomplishments, professional record, community contribution, and alignment with the Festival's mission.

SELECTION PROCESS

Submission of an application constitutes a request for consideration. It does not guarantee selection as a Community Leader Honoree.

Each application will be reviewed in accordance with the Festival's established selection process.

The Black Authors Festival Selection Committee will evaluate submissions based upon factors that may include, but are not limited to:

• Literary accomplishment;

• Quality and significance of the applicant's work;

• Professional achievement;

• Contribution to literacy and education;

• Community impact;

• Cultural contribution;

• Intellectual and literary significance;

• Preservation of Black history, culture, or lived experience;

• Commitment to intellectual freedom;

• Alignment with the mission and values of the Black Authors Festival; and

• Overall contribution to the advancement of Black literature and culture.

Applicants selected for further consideration may be referred to the Advisory Council and may be invited to participate in an interview or additional review process before a final determination is made.

Selection decisions are made at the discretion of the Black Authors Festival pursuant to its established selection procedures and all decisions are final.

APPLICATION FEE AND NON-REFUNDABLE PAYMENT TERMS

ALL APPLICATION FEES ARE NON-REFUNDABLE AND NON-TRANSFERABLE.

The application fee is required in order to submit an application for consideration.

The application fee is consideration for the administrative processing, review, evaluation, selection process, and associated resources devoted to the applicant's submission. The fee is not a payment for acceptance, an honor, a speaking engagement, media exposure, literary representation, publishing services, or any guaranteed Festival opportunity.

Payment of the application fee does not guarantee:

• Selection as a Community Leader Honoree;

• Admission to any Festival program;

• An interview;

• A speaking opportunity;

• A panel appearance;

• Media coverage;

• Literary representation;

• Presentation before Mark Gottlieb or other Festival Dignitaries;

• A publishing contract;

• A book deal;

• Commercial opportunities; or

• Any other particular outcome.

Once an application has been submitted and the applicable fee has been paid, the application fee shall not be refunded solely because the applicant is not selected, withdraws from consideration, changes their mind, becomes unavailable, disagrees with a selection determination, or otherwise does not receive the outcome for which the applicant hoped.

Selection Notification

Only applicants selected for advancement in the honoree selection process will be contacted by the Black Authors Festival. Submission of an application does not create an obligation for the Festival to provide individual status updates or notifications to applicants who are not selected to proceed.

Applicants should therefore understand that the absence of communication from the Black Authors Festival constitutes notification that the applicant has not been selected to advance in the process, unless otherwise expressly communicated by the Festival.

The Festival appreciates the time, consideration, and literary contributions of all individuals who submit an application.

APPLICANT ACKNOWLEDGMENT AND CONTRACTUAL AGREEMENT

By submitting an application and remitting the required application fee, the applicant acknowledges that they have read, understood, and agreed to the terms and conditions governing the 2027 Community Leader Honoree application process, including the non-refundable and non-transferable nature of the application fee.

The applicant further acknowledges that submission of the application and payment of the applicable fee constitute the applicant's express agreement to be bound by the applicable application terms and conditions, subject to applicable law and final review by counsel.

The applicant represents that they have had a reasonable opportunity to review the application requirements before submitting payment and that they are responsible for obtaining clarification from the Black Authors Festival regarding any provision they do not understand before submitting the application and payment.

Questions concerning eligibility, application requirements, participation, Festival programming, manuscript submission, scheduling, or other matters should be directed to:

The Black Authors Festival Team - Email: info@blackauthorsfestival.com

Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit questions before payment and application submission. Failure to seek clarification before submitting an application shall not create an obligation on the part of the Festival to provide a refund where the applicant subsequently disagrees with a stated application term.

NO REFUND FOLLOWING UNSUCCESSFUL APPLICATION

The applicant expressly acknowledges that an unsuccessful application does not constitute grounds for a refund.

An applicant who submits an application after acknowledging the non-refundable nature of the application fee may not subsequently demand or pursue a refund solely because the applicant was not selected.

The applicant further acknowledges that the Festival incurs administrative, personnel, professional, technological, communications, evaluation, scheduling, and other expenses in connection with the application and selection process regardless of the ultimate outcome of an individual application.

Accordingly, the applicant expressly accepts the risk that the application may not result in selection and agrees that such outcome shall not create a refund obligation on the part of the Black Authors Festival.

PROHIBITION AGAINST FALSE OR BAD FAITH REFUND CLAIMS

An applicant shall not knowingly submit false information, materially misrepresent the circumstances surrounding an application or payment, initiate a knowingly improper payment dispute, or otherwise engage in deceptive or bad faith conduct for the purpose of obtaining a refund to which the applicant has expressly agreed they are not entitled.

Any knowingly false, fraudulent, deceptive, or materially misleading representation made in connection with a refund demand, payment dispute, chargeback, or other attempt to recover a properly retained application fee may constitute a material breach of the applicant's agreement with the Black Authors Festival and may result in the Festival pursuing any remedies available to it under applicable law.

Such remedies may include, where legally available and appropriate:

• Contesting an improper chargeback or payment dispute;

• Recovery of amounts improperly withheld or reversed;

• Recovery of demonstrable damages;

• Recovery of reasonable costs and expenses to the extent permitted by law;

• Injunctive or other equitable relief where appropriate;

• Civil claims arising from breach of contract or other legally cognizable misconduct; and

• Referral to appropriate authorities where the Festival reasonably believes that conduct may constitute unlawful activity.

Nothing in this provision shall be construed as creating or asserting criminal liability where none exists under applicable law. Any determination concerning potential criminal conduct rests with the appropriate governmental authorities.

FESTIVAL PARTICIPATION

Applicants selected as a Community Leader Honoree agree to comply with the applicable Festival participation requirements, deadlines, submission procedures, professional standards, event policies, and reasonable instructions communicated by the Black Authors Festival.

Selection as an honoree does not create an entitlement to a particular speaking position, panel assignment, media appearance, schedule, placement, accommodation, promotional treatment, or other Festival benefit unless expressly confirmed by the Festival in writing.

The Festival reserves the right, consistent with applicable law and its published policies, to modify programming, scheduling, speakers, venues, presenters, literary industry participants, or other Festival components when circumstances require.

MANUSCRIPT PRESENTATION TERMS

Where the Festival offers an eligible applicant an opportunity to submit a manuscript or literary project for presentation to Mark Gottlieb or another participating literary professional, the applicant acknowledges that:

1. Submission does not guarantee that the manuscript will be selected for presentation.

2. Presentation does not guarantee representation.

3. Presentation does not guarantee a publishing contract.

4. Presentation does not guarantee acquisition or commercial publication.

5. The literary professional retains independent discretion regarding any subsequent communication or professional relationship with the applicant.

6. The Festival does not control the independent professional decisions of participating literary agents, publishers, editors, or other third parties.

7. The applicant remains responsible for ensuring that submitted materials are their own work or that they possess all necessary rights and permissions to submit such materials.

8. The applicant should retain appropriate copies of all submitted materials.

9. Any separate professional relationship arising between an applicant and a literary agent, publisher, editor, or other third party shall be governed by any separate agreement entered into between those parties.

ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF VOLUNTARY APPLICATION

By completing and submitting this application, the applicant acknowledges that they are voluntarily seeking consideration by the Black Authors Festival and that they have independently determined that the opportunity is appropriate for them.

The applicant further acknowledges that:

I have read the application requirements and participation terms.

I understand that the application fee is non-refundable and non-transferable.

I understand that payment does not guarantee selection or any particular Festival opportunity.

I understand that failure to receive the outcome I desire does not entitle me to a refund.

I understand that I am responsible for contacting the Black Authors Festival before submitting my application if I have questions concerning these terms.

I understand that by submitting my application and payment, I am agreeing to the applicable terms and conditions governing the application process, subject to applicable law.

I understand that knowingly submitting a false, deceptive, or bad-faith refund claim or payment dispute may expose me to legal consequences and the Festival to pursue remedies available under applicable law.

APPLICANT CERTIFICATION

By clicking “Submit Application and Pay Application Fee,” the applicant represents and acknowledges that:

• The information provided in the application is truthful and accurate to the best of the applicant's knowledge;

• The applicant has reviewed the eligibility requirements;

• The applicant understands that selection is not guaranteed;

• The applicant understands that the application fee is non-refundable and non-transferable;

• The applicant understands that payment does not guarantee selection, recognition, participation, literary representation, manuscript presentation, or any other specific benefit;

• The applicant has had the opportunity to contact the Black Authors Festival with questions before submitting payment;

• The applicant agrees to the applicable terms and conditions governing the application;

• The applicant understands that submitting payment after reviewing these terms constitutes acceptance of those terms, subject to applicable law; and

• The applicant understands that knowingly providing materially false or misleading information or pursuing an improper refund or payment reversal may result in the Festival exercising any rights and remedies available under applicable law.

Questions before submitting? Contact The Black Authors Festival Team: info@blackauthorsfestival.com

Applicants must agree to the terms and conditions.