Black History Celebration
We are hosting a Black History Celebration throughout February. The theme this year is "African American Arts: Inspiring, Impacting, and Influencing Every Generation." Events include performances by the Black Rep, a jazz concert, a gospel celebration, author events, dance workshops, and more.
Keynote Speaker
Victoria Christopher Murray, Author of “Harlem Rhapsody”
Thursday, February 6, 7:00 p.m.
Clark Family Branch
Doors open at 6:00 p.m.
Frankie Freeman Inspirational Lecture
Bestselling historical fiction author Victoria Christopher Murray shares the extraordinary story of Jessie Redmon Fauset, the first Black woman to serve as literary editor of the NAACP’s magazine, “The Crisis.” Leading the magazine to discover talents like Countee Cullen and Langston Hughes, Jessie shaped a generation of literary legends while navigating the high cost of her success. Clark Family Branch.
Adults.
Tamia Coleman-Hawkins will receive the Frankie Freeman Inspirational Award during the program.
Tamia is the founder and CEO of Mia’s Treats Delights, a bakery she started in 2015, when she was only eight years old. She has been featured locally for her entrepreneurial efforts and was recognized as one of the Root’s 2020 Young Futurists. Tamia is also the author of a children’s book, “Mia Dreams Bigger.” A portion of all items sold through her company go to combat homelessness.
Highlighted Events
Jewell Parker Rhodes, “Will’s Race for Home”
Tuesday, January 14, 6:30 p.m.
Presented by the Reading Garden Series for Young Audiences
Award-winning middle grade author Jewell Parker Rhodes goes West in this thrilling adventure story. It’s 1889, barely 25 years after the Emancipation Proclamation, and a young Black family is tired of working on land they don’t get to own. So when Will and his father hear about the upcoming Oklahoma Land Rush, they set out on a harrowing journey.
All ages. Clark Family Branch
Lee Hawkins, “I Am Nobody’s Slave: How Uncovering My Family’s History Set Me Free”
Thursday, January 23, 7:00 p.m.
Presented by the Missouri History Museum
Pulitzer Prize finalist and former “Wall Street Journal” writer Lee Hawkins’s riveting memoir examines his family’s legacy of post-enslavement trauma and resilience. “I Am Nobody’s Slave” tells the story of one Black family's pursuit of the American Dream through the impacts of systemic racism and racial violence.
Adults. Clark Family Branch
“WordUp” Poetry and Comedy Showcase
Saturday, February 1, 1:00 p.m.
Join Dacia Polk, owner of St. Louis WordUp Entertainment, as she showcases local poets and comedians.
Adults. Florissant Valley Branch
Charmaine Wilkerson, "Good Dirt"
Wednesday, February 5, 7:00 p.m.
Bestselling author of “Black Cake,” basis for the hit Hulu series produced by Oprah Winfrey, Charmaine Wilkerson’s latest novel brings to life a multi-generational epic. When ten-year-old Ebby Freeman heard the gunshot, time stopped. And when she saw her brother, lying on the floor surrounded by the shattered pieces of a centuries-old jar, life as Ebby knew it shattered as well. The crime was never solved—and because the Freemans were one of the only Black families in a well-to-do enclave of New England—the case has had an enduring pull for the public. Now an adult, Ebby begins to think about the other loss her family suffered that day—the stoneware jar brought North by an enslaved ancestor. The handcrafted piece of pottery held more than just Ebby’s family history—it might also hold the key to unlocking her future.
Adults. Clark Family Branch
Jabari Dreams of Freedom
Saturday, February 8, 10:00 a.m.
Presented by The Black Rep
Follow Jabari through a world of rap and sketch as he dreams of Civil Rights leaders and role models that help him ace his social studies test at school.
Children and families. Clark Family Branch
Jabari Dreams of Freedom
Saturday, February 8, 2:00 p.m.
Presented by The Black Rep
Follow Jabari through a world of rap and sketch as he dreams of Civil Rights leaders and role models that help him ace his social studies test at school.
All ages. Lewis & Clark Branch
“Secret Gallery”
Monday, February 10, 6:00 p.m.
Presented by The Black Rep and Co-Sponsored by the City of Clayton
“Secret Gallery” explores Black art through live interpretations of stories enhanced by movement and song, complementing Saint Louis Art Museum’s exhibition “Narrative Wisdom and African Arts.”
All ages. Mid-County Branch
CANCELED–“What She Said”
Wednesday, February 12, 6:00 p.m.
Presented by The Black Rep
“What She Said” uses poetry, prose and song to encapsulate the African American experience through artistic works by women of color, exploring themes of self-reflection and sisterhood.
All ages. Lewis & Clark Branch
Walter Mosley, "Been Wrong So Long It Feels Right: A King Oliver Novel"
Thursday, February 13, 7:00 p.m.
In the latest from master of suspense Walter Mosley, a family member’s terminal illness leads P.I. Joe King Oliver to the investigation of his life.
Adults. Clark Family Branch
Set the Night to Music
Friday, February 14, 7:00 p.m.
Spend Valentine’s Day in a romantic setting at the library, enjoying a performance by The Remedy.
Adults. Registration required. Florissant Valley Branch
Judith Giesberg, “Last Seen: The Enduring Search by Formerly Enslaved People to Find Their Lost Families”
Tuesday, February 18, 7:00 p.m.
Presented by the Emerson History & Genealogy Center
Drawing from an archive of nearly 5,000 documents, historian Judith Giesberg shares the story of formerly enslaved people who spent years searching for family. “Last Seen” finally gives this lesser-known aspect of slavery the attention it deserves.
Adults. Clark Family Branch
CANCELED–Earnest Hart, Jr.: Martial Arts, Leadership and Awareness
Wednesday, February, 19, 6:00 p.m.
Earnest Hart, Jr., a martial artist professional, actor, self-defense and awareness guru, will discuss his life and career, and his work in self-awareness and leadership for children and adults.
Teens and adults. Clark Family Branch - Creative Lab (2nd Floor)
Jabari Dreams of Freedom
Thursday, February 20, 6:00 p.m.
Presented by The Black Rep
Follow Jabari through a world of rap and sketch as he dreams of Civil Rights leaders and role models that help him ace his social studies test at school.
Children and families. Daniel Boone Branch
Orvin Kimbrough, “Twice Over a Man: A Fierce Memoir of an Orphan Boy Who Doggedly Determined a Finer Life”
Thursday, February 20, 7:00 p.m.
This is the story of a young man who was determined to make a better life for himself and is resolute about showing others the way. Orvin Kimbrough chronicles his early years through foster care, hunger and poverty. Today, Orv Kimbrough is the Chairman and CEO of Midwest BankCentre, St. Louis' second-largest privately-owned local bank.
Adults. Clark Family Branch
Jennifer Jones, “Becoming Spectacular: The Rhythm of Resilience from the First African American Rockette”
Friday, February 21, 7:00 p.m.
When the Rockettes began in 1925, Black people were not allowed to dance on stage with white people. In 1987 the color barrier was finally broken by one brave and tenacious woman. When she arrived, Jennifer Jones was met with pushback—a fierce resistance she details in this intimate and inspiring memoir.
Adults. Clark Family Branch
Gift of Gospel
Saturday, February 22, 1:00 p.m.
Enjoy an inspirational musical experience with performances by The Simmons Sisters, mime dancer Quincy Fielding III, The Duncans and more. Pastor Shaun Williams will serve as the master of ceremonies.
All ages. Clark Family Branch
Ibi Zoboi, “(S)Kin”
Wednesday, February 26, 7:00 p.m.
Bestselling Young Adult author Ibi Zoboi presents a groundbreaking contemporary fantasy novel. Every new moon,15-year-old Marisol sheds her skin like the many women before her, shifting into a fireball witch. But Brooklyn is no place for her ancient magic. While Marisol hoped they would leave their old traditions behind when they emigrated from the islands, she knows this will never happen while she remains ensnared by the one person who keeps her chained to her magical past—her mother.
Teens and adults. Clark Family Branch
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