Harlem is the home and inspiration for many wonderful writers and artists, from poet Langston Hughes (a Scholastic Awards juror from 1947) to painter Alice Neel (here’s her famed portrait of Awards alum Andy Warhol!) to songbird and actress Florence Mills, who earned the nickname “The Queen of Happiness.”

This Saturday, March 2, take the A train to the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture to celebrate Harlem’s past, present, and future! Beginning at 4PM, guest poets and performers including Nanya Goodrich, Kamilah Moon, Khalil Murrell, and Scholastic Awards Poetry juror Ellen Hagan will share their favorite poem about Harlem or by a Harlem artist.

Teaching artist and author Renee Watson will read from her new, 2012 NAACP Image Award-winning book Harlem’s Little Blackbird: The Story of Florence Mills. Ms. Mills broke racial barriers by starring in Broadway musicals in the 1920s and touring Europe to great accolades. A staunch advocate for civil rights, her signature hit song, “I’m A Little Blackbird” was a plea for racial equality. The afternoon will be a tribute to her as well, and book-signing will follow.