Junebug Ink Celebrates the Schomburg Center Centennial in Harlem

Written By Jacklyn Monk

On Saturday, June 13, Junebug Ink will proudly participate in the historic Centennial Celebration of the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture—a landmark institution that has preserved and celebrated Black history, literature, art, and intellectual life for 100 years.

The free, all-day celebration will take place from 11:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. at the Schomburg Center, located at 515 Malcolm X Boulevard in Harlem, with programming and festivities continuing throughout the neighborhood until 7:00 P.M. along 135th Street between Malcolm X Boulevard and Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Boulevard.

Bringing together the Schomburg’s celebrated literary programming and its beloved Black Comic Book Festival, the centennial gathering promises to be one of Harlem’s most dynamic cultural events of the year. The day will feature author talks, panel discussions, a cosplay showcase, a curated marketplace, community programming, and a joyous Harlem block party celebrating Black creativity, storytelling, and public intellectual life.

At its heart, the event embraces a powerful idea: Black joy and intellectual life belong in public—on the street, free, accessible, and alive.

For Junebug Ink, participating in this once-in-a-generation celebration is both an honor and a deeply meaningful cultural milestone.

Celebrating 100 Years of the Schomburg Center

Founded in 1925, the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture is one of the world’s leading institutions dedicated to the collection, preservation, and interpretation of materials related to the global Black experience.

Built upon the extraordinary personal archive of historian and collector Arturo Alfonso Schomburg, the Schomburg was created during the height of the Harlem Renaissance, when Harlem emerged as an international center of Black art, literature, music, and political thought.

At a time when Black history was systematically excluded from many academic and cultural institutions, Schomburg dedicated his life to preserving evidence of Black achievement across the African diaspora. His vision transformed into an institution that now houses millions of archival materials, including rare manuscripts, photographs, artwork, books, recordings, and historical documents.

For a century, the Schomburg Center has served as a home for scholars, artists, activists, students, and everyday visitors seeking a deeper understanding of Black culture and history.

Its significance extends far beyond Harlem.

The Schomburg is internationally recognized as one of the most important research institutions focused on Black life and culture anywhere in the world. Writers, historians, filmmakers, educators, and creatives from across the globe rely on its archives and public programming to study, preserve, and expand Black cultural history.

Yet despite its global stature, the Schomburg remains deeply rooted in the Harlem community. It continues to function as a vibrant public space where generations gather to learn, debate, celebrate, and imagine new possibilities.

That spirit will be fully on display during the Centennial Celebration.

Why This Celebration Matters

The Schomburg Center Centennial is more than an anniversary—it is a public affirmation of the enduring power of Black storytelling, scholarship, and creative expression.

At a moment when conversations around history, representation, and cultural preservation remain urgent, the Schomburg’s mission feels more relevant than ever. The institution has spent 100 years ensuring that Black voices are not erased, marginalized, or forgotten.

Instead, those voices are centered.

The June 13 celebration reflects that mission beautifully by making Black intellectual and cultural life visible, communal, and accessible to everyone.

There is something profoundly powerful about turning Harlem’s streets into a gathering place for books, art, comics, dialogue, music, scholarship, and joy.

The event’s combination of literary programming and the Black Comic Book Festival also reflects the expanding ways Black stories are being told today—from traditional archives and novels to graphic storytelling, illustration, speculative fiction, and multimedia art.

This celebration acknowledges the full spectrum of Black creativity.

What This Moment Means for Junebug Ink

For Junebug Ink, being included in the Schomburg Center Centennial Celebration represents a meaningful intersection of culture, storytelling, art, and community.

Junebug Ink was founded with a mission to create elevated greeting cards and luxury stationery that authentically celebrate Black life, heritage, and joy. From holiday traditions and family milestones to artistic collaborations and cultural history, every Junebug Ink product is rooted in intentional storytelling.

To participate in an event hosted by one of the world’s most respected Black cultural institutions is an incredible honor.

Equally meaningful is the fact that Junebug Ink greeting cards and luxury stationery collections are now carried in the Schomburg gift shop.

For a Black-owned greeting card company, placement within the Schomburg is about much more than retail visibility. It is an affirmation that culturally specific design, luxury paper goods, and Black storytelling belong within major cultural institutions.

We are deeply grateful for the Schomburg’s support and proud to stand among the many Black artists, writers, creatives, and entrepreneurs whose work is showcased there.

Introducing the Junebug Ink x Gavin Benjamin Luxury Note Card Collection

The Centennial Celebration also arrives at an exciting moment for Junebug Ink as we launch a stunning new partnership with mixed-media artist Gavin Benjamin.

Known for his richly layered collage work exploring glamour, beauty, memory, and Black identity, Benjamin’s artwork brings a bold visual language to this new luxury stationery collaboration.

The Junebug Ink x Gavin Benjamin note card collection transforms original fine art into beautifully designed correspondence pieces that celebrate Black creativity through premium paper goods.

The collection speaks directly to a growing consumer demand for:

In recent years, the stationery and greeting card industries have seen increased interest in meaningful, intentional communication. Consumers are seeking products that feel personal, artistic, and culturally authentic.

According to the Greeting Card Association, approximately 6.5 billion greeting cards are purchased annually in the United States. At the same time, museum gift shops and cultural institutions have become increasingly important retail spaces for independent artists, illustrators, and specialty design brands.

Junebug Ink is proud to contribute to that evolving landscape by creating luxury greeting cards and note cards that center Black art, Black history, and Black cultural experiences.

Harlem as a Global Cultural Capital

The Schomburg Center’s Centennial Celebration also serves as a reminder of Harlem’s enduring role as one of the world’s most influential cultural capitals.

For generations, Harlem has shaped global conversations around art, literature, music, politics, fashion, and identity. From the Harlem Renaissance to contemporary Black creative movements, the neighborhood remains a symbol of innovation, resilience, and cultural brilliance.

Events like the Schomburg Centennial continue that tradition by bringing people together across generations and disciplines.

The inclusion of author talks, comics, visual art, scholarship, cosplay, music, and community celebration reflects Harlem’s unique ability to blend intellectual rigor with creative freedom and public joy.

For Junebug Ink, participating in this event feels especially meaningful because our brand was built on many of the same values:

Visit Junebug Ink at the Schomburg Center Centennial Celebration

We invite visitors, readers, stationery lovers, collectors, and supporters of Black-owned businesses to join us on Saturday, June 13, from 11:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. at the Schomburg Center, 515 Malcolm X Boulevard, Harlem, New York City.

Come explore the Junebug Ink collection, discover our new luxury collaboration with Gavin Benjamin, and celebrate 100 years of one of the world’s most important Black cultural institutions.

Whether you are searching for:

Junebug Ink is honored to be part of this historic moment.

As the Schomburg Center enters its next century, we celebrate its extraordinary legacy and the countless stories it continues to preserve, inspire, and share with the world.

Here’s to 100 years of Black brilliance—and to the artists, writers, archivists, entrepreneurs, and dreamers who will shape the next 100.

Jacklyn Monk
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