Originally founded during the Harlem Renaissance, the Schomburg Center has transformed from a simple reading room into a comprehensive research archive, now encompassing three buildings with extensive public programs.

Among the festival's highlights is a panel titled 'Black Utopias', moderated by Erika Hardison, featuring authors such as Cebo Campbell and Andrea Hairston.

The Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, part of the New York Public Library, celebrated its 100th anniversary on June 12, 2025.

To mark this milestone, the center is hosting a festival in Manhattan on June 14, 2025, which combines the Black Comic Book Festival and the Schomburg Literary Festival.

In addition to the festival, a year-long celebration is planned, featuring various literary and cultural events to honor the center's legacy.

An audio guide narrated by actor LeVar Burton will accompany the exhibition, enhancing visitor engagement with the historical context of the Schomburg Center.

Tammi Lawson, curator of the arts and artifacts division, is dedicated to acquiring works by Black women artists to further enrich the center's unique collection.

The centennial festival will feature a variety of activities, including readings, panel discussions, workshops, children's story times, and a vendor marketplace, taking over 135th Street between Malcolm X and Adam Clayton Powell boulevards.

Joy Bivins, the center's Director, highlights the importance of preserving African cultural heritage and its influence on creativity across various disciplines.

With a collection of 11 million items, the center was established by Arturo Schomburg, an Afro-Latino historian who sought to document Black culture after being told by a teacher that Black people lacked significant historical figures.

The Junior Scholars Program offers tuition-free educational opportunities for youth, allowing them to explore Black history and culture, although some community members express a disconnect between the center and Harlem.

The historic center will also showcase over 100 curated items, including a visitor register log with signatures of literary icons like Zora Neale Hurston and Langston Hughes.