Billie Jean King, Charles Person, and Eve L. Ewing announced as featured speakers at ALA Annual Conference & Exhibition (Virtual)

CHICAGO — The American Library Association today announced that athlete, activist, and author Billie Jean King; civil rights activist Charles Person; and sociologist and author Eve L. Ewing have been added to the Featured Speakers roster at the virtual 2021 ALA Annual Conference & Exhibition, June 23-29. Additional speakers will be announced in the coming weeks.

Registration for the conference is now open, and discounted rates are available through April 30, 2021.

Billie Jean King is a world-class athlete, activist, and author.  She will discuss her new book “All In, An Autobiography,” available August 2021. The autobiography is an inspiring and intimate self-portrait of the champion of equality that encompasses her brilliant tennis career, unwavering activism, and an ongoing commitment to fairness and social justice.

Civil Rights activist and author Charles Person was the youngest of the original Freedom Riders, key figures in the U.S. Civil Rights Movement who left Washington, D.C. on two buses in May of 1961. Person will discuss his book ”Buses are a Comin’,” available April 2021. The book challenges today’s youth from the perspective of a teenager in a previous era.

Dr. Eve L. Ewing is a sociologist of education whose research is focused on racism, social inequality, urban policy, and the impact of these forces on American public schools and the lives of young people. Ewing will discuss her first book for middle-grade readers “Maya and the Robot,” available July 2021. The book, illustrated by Christine Almeda, is about a forgotten homemade robot who comes to life just when aspiring fifth-grade scientist Maya needs a friend—and a science fair project.

The Annual Conference & Exhibition will include educational programming, the News You Can Use series, memorable featured authors and celebrity speakers, special author events, interactive discussion groups, live-chat presentations, and networking opportunities.

The Annual Conference & Exhibition will launch on Wednesday, June 23 with the Library Marketplace, showcasing more than 250 exhibitors, 11 presentation stages that will highlight notable and genre-specific keynotes, sessions on new book titles, knowledgeable library experts, innovative resources, networking opportunities, giveaways, and more. 

Stay in touch and get updates through the 2021 ALA Annual Conference & Exhibition (Virtual) website alaannual.org and follow the hashtag #alaac21 and social media: Instagram, ALA Twitter, and ALA Facebook.