Black History Month 2007
St. Louis, MO . . . The St. Louis Public Library is proud to celebrate Black History Month 2007 with a full slate of events throughout the system. This year’s national theme is “From Slavery to Freedom: The Story of Africans in the Americas.” Support for the Library’s Black History Month celebration is provided by the CW-11 KPLR-TV.
All Black History Month activities are FREE, but seating is limited. Please call the appropriate Branch to reserve space. For more information, see the special Black History Month brochure available at all St. Louis Public Library locations, or check out the Library’s website at www.slpl.org.
February 1 | Schlafly Branch, 225 N. Euclid Ave., 367-4120 | 10-11 am | All ages
No Man’s Land. Commemorates the 150th anniversary of the Dred Scott Supreme Court decision. Actors from the Black Repertory Theater portray the moment in history when Dred and Harriet Scott ponder their legal struggle to become “free” citizens in Missouri.
February 1 | Walnut Park Branch, 5760 West Florissant Ave., 383-1210 | 4-5 pm | Teens
African Art for Teens. Teens will view replicas and learn about several pieces of African art as we discuss and display the artifacts from the African Art Touch Kit. Teens will make African masks.
February 2 | Carpenter Branch, 3309 S. Grand Ave., 772-6586 | 3 pm
Power, Grace, and Beauty: Celebrating Renowned African Americans (Musicians). A series of short films showcasing the works of B.B. King, Bessie Smith, Louis Armstrong, and W.C. Handy.
February 3 | Julia Davis Branch, 4415 Natural Bridge Ave., 383-3021 | 2-3 pm | All ages
Our Journey: From Africa to America. The Antioch Puppet Ministry performs musical puppet presentations that chronicle the journey of slavery. The performance includes verbal and sign language, dance, mime, skits, and special effects. Features Q&A session.
February 5 | Cabanne Branch, 1106 Union Blvd., 367-0717 | 10-11 am | All ages
Bobby Norfolk & Blake Travis: Conversations With Simple. Norfolk and master storyteller and musician Travis bring to life Jesse B. Simple, a Langston Hughes character.
February 6 | Central Library, 1301 Olive St., 539-0380 | 4-5 pm | Teens
African Art for Teens. Teens will view replicas and learn about several pieces of African art as we discuss and display the artifacts from the African Art Touch Kit. Teens will make African masks.
February 6 | Baden Branch, 8448 Church Rd., 388-2400 | 5-6 pm | Grades 5 & up
Bobby Norfolk: Fighting For Freedom. Presents a look at life in St. Louis when people of color were considered property. Norfolk shares myths, facts, and legends involving the free and enslaved through stories.
February 6 | Schlafly Branch, 225 N. Euclid Ave., 367-4120 | 6:30-8 pm | Adults
Documentary Film: Africans in America, Part 1: The Terrible Transformation 1450-1750. Part of the PBS production of America’s Journey Through Slavery. Features a historical narrative, a resource bank of images, documents, biographies, commentaries, stories, and more.
February 7 | Buder Branch, 4401 Hampton Ave., 352-2900 | 1:30-3 pm
The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman. Winner of five Emmy Awards. As the Civil Rights Movement heats up, a 110-year-old former slave recounts her memories of the black experience from picking potatoes on a southern plantation, fetching water for Civil War soldiers to her views on the 1970s Equal Rights Movement.
February 7 | Divoll Branch, 4234 N. Grand Blvd., 534-0313 | 4-5 pm | Grades 5 & up
Bobby Norfolk: Fighting For Freedom. Presents a look at life in St. Louis when people of color were considered property. Norfolk shares myths, facts, and legends involving the free and enslaved through stories.
February 7 | Barr Branch, 1701 S. Jefferson Ave., 771-7040 | 4-5 pm | Teens
African Art for Teens. Teens will view replicas and learn about several pieces of African art as we discuss and display the artifacts from the African Art Touch Kit. Teens will make African masks.
February 8 | Julia Davis Branch, 4415 Natural Bridge Ave., 383-3021 | 4-5 pm | Teens
African Art for Teens. Teens will view replicas and learn about several pieces of African art as we discuss and display the artifacts from the African Art Touch Kit. Teens will make African masks.
February 9 | Carpenter Branch, 3309 S. Grand Ave., 772-6586 | 3 pm
Power, Grace and Beauty: Celebrating Renowned African Americans (Writers). A series of short films showcasing the works of Ralph Ellison, Langston Hughes, Gwendolyn Brooks, and August Wilson.
February 10 | Buder Branch, 4401 Hampton Ave., 352-2900 | 2-3 pm | All ages
Our Journey: From Africa to America. The Antioch Puppet Ministry performs musical puppet presentations that chronicle the journey of slavery. The performance includes verbal and sign language, dance, mime, skits, and special effects. Features Q&A session.
February 11 | Central Library, 1301 Olive St., 206-6779 | 2-4:30 pm
Keynote Speaker: Dr. Joy DeGruy-Leary. DeGruy-Leary discusses key aspects from her highly praised workshop, “Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome.” A dynamic and inspirational speaker on the topics of culture, race relations, and issues of social justice, she will present facts, statistics, and documents that illustrate how varying levels of both clinically induced and socially learned residual stress-related issues were passed along through generations as a result of slavery. A “Meet & Greet” with DeGruy-Leary follows. Friends of the Library should call 539-0359 if they wish to reserve a seat.
February 12 | Central Library, 1301 Olive St., 206-6779 | 7 pm
Author: Dr. Antonio Holland. Book discussion and signing. Holland discusses his book, Nathan B. Young and the Struggle Over Black Higher Education. The book explores the turn of the 20th-century debate about higher education between Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. DuBois and what happened when Young joined the fray.
February 13 | Machacek Branch, 6424 Scanlan Ave., 781-2948 | 10-11 am | All ages
Bobby Norfolk & Blake Travis: Conversations With Simple. Norfolk and master storyteller and musician Travis bring to life Jesse B. Simple, a Langston Hughes character.
February 13 | Kingshighway Branch, 2260 S. Vandeventer Ave., 771-5450 | 4-5 pm | Teens
African Art for Teens. Teens will view replicas and learn about several pieces of African art as we discuss and display the artifacts from the African Art Touch Kit. Teens will make African masks.
February 13 | Schlafly Branch, 225 N. Euclid Ave., 367-4120 | 6:30-8 pm | Adults
Documentary Film: Africans in America, Part 2: Revolution 1750-1805. Part of the PBS production of America’s Journey Through Slavery. Features a historical narrative, a resource bank of images, documents, biographies, commentaries, stories, and more.
February 14 | Buder Branch, 4401 Hampton Ave., 352-2900 | 1:30-3 pm
Selma, Lord, Selma. In 1965, a young Alabama schoolgirl is inspired by Dr. King to resist the degradation her fellow African Americans are suffering. Along with a white seminary student from the North, she promises to help Dr. King’s efforts. Originally produced for “The Wonderful World of Disney.”
February 14 | Cabanne Branch, 1106 Union Blvd. 367-0717 | 4-5 pm | Teens
African Art for Teens. Teens will view replicas and learn about several pieces of African art as we discuss and display the artifacts from the African Art Touch Kit. Teens will make African masks.
February 14 | Julia Davis Branch, 4415 Natural Bridge Ave., 383-3021 | 6:30-7:30 pm | All ages
Bobby Norfolk & Blake Travis: Conversations With Simple. Norfolk and master storyteller and musician Travis bring to life Jesse B. Simple, a Langston Hughes character.
February 15 | Kingshighway Branch, 2260 S. Vandeventer Ave., 771-5450 | 11 am-Noon | Grades 5 & up
Bobby Norfolk: Fighting For Freedom. Presents a look at life in St. Louis when people of color were considered property. Norfolk shares myths, facts, and legends involving the free and enslaved through stories.
February 15 | Baden Branch, 8448 Church Rd., 388-2400 | 4-5 pm | Teens
African Art for Teens. Teens will view replicas and learn about several pieces of African art as we discuss and display the artifacts from the African Art Touch Kit. Teens will make African masks.
February 15 | Schlafly Branch, 225 N. Euclid Ave., 367-4120 | 4-5 pm | Teens
African Art for Teens. Teens will view replicas and learn about several pieces of African art as we discuss and display the artifacts from the African Art Touch Kit. Teens will make African masks.
February 15 | Julia Davis Branch, 4415 Natural Bridge Ave., 383-3021 | 7-8 pm | All ages
Legend Singers. Performance of songs that tell of slavery through music. The choral group’s mission is to perform and preserve the music of the African-American experience.
February 16 | Carpenter Branch, 3309 S. Grand Ave., 772-6586 | 3 pm
Power, Grace and Beauty: Celebrating Renowned African Americans (Athletes). A series of short films showcasing the accomplishments of Jackie Robinson, Wilma Rudolph, and Muhammad Ali.
February 17 | Schlafly Branch, 225 N. Euclid Ave., 367-4120 | 2-3 pm | All ages
Our Journey: From Africa to America. The Antioch Puppet Ministry performs musical puppet presentations that chronicle the journey of slavery. The performance includes verbal and sign language, dance, mime, skits, and special effects. Features Q&A session.
February 20 | Carpenter Branch, 3309 S. Grand Ave., 772-6586 | 4-5 pm | Teens
African Art for Teens. Teens will view replicas and learn about several pieces of African art as we discuss and display the artifacts from the African Art Touch Kit. Teens will make African masks.
February 20 | Buder Branch, 4401 Hampton Ave., 352-2900 | 4:30-5:30 pm | Teens
African Art for Teens. Teens will view replicas and learn about several pieces of African art as we discuss and display the artifacts from the African Art Touch Kit. Teens will make African masks.
February 20 | Cabanne Branch, 1106 Union Blvd. 367-0717 | 4:30-5:30 pm | Teens & Adults
Author: Dionna K. Trice. Book discussion and signing. Trice discusses her book, Memoirs of Mercy, which tells of the struggles and survival of an inner-city girl.
February 20 | Schlafly Branch, 225 N. Euclid Ave., 367-4120 | 6:30-8 pm | Adults
Documentary Film: Africans in America, Part 3: Brotherly Love 1791-1831. Part of the PBS production of America’s Journey Through Slavery. Features a historical narrative, a resource bank of images, documents, biographies, commentaries, stories, and more.
February 21 | Buder Branch, 4401 Hampton Ave., 352-2900 | 1:30-3 pm
Freedom on My Mind. A documentary about the Civil Rights Movement and the events surrounding the Mississippi Voter Registration Project of the early 1960s. Combines archival footage with contemporary interviews. A Sundance Film Festival winner and Oscar nominee.
February 21 | Carondelet Branch, 6800 Michigan Ave., 752-9224| 4:30-5:30 pm | Teens
African Art for Teens. Teens will view replicas and learn about several pieces of African art as we discuss and display the artifacts from the African Art Touch Kit. Teens will make African masks.
February 21 | Divoll Branch, 4234 N. Grand Blvd., 534-0313 | 5:30-6:30 pm | Adults
Author: Dr. Daisy Jones. Book discussion and signing. Jones discusses her book of poems,
I Always Knew We Were Rich. The book reminds people to reprioritize their energy and encourages children to be aware of nature and to enjoy common everyday activities.
February 22 | Divoll Branch, 4234 N. Grand Blvd., 534-0313 | 4-5 pm | Teens
African Art for Teens. Teens will view replicas and learn about several pieces of African art as we discuss and display the artifacts from the African Art Touch Kit. Teens will make African masks.
February 23 | Carpenter Branch, 3309 S. Grand Ave., 772-6586 | 3 pm
Power, Grace and Beauty: Celebrating Renowned African Americans (Artists). A series of short films showcasing the works of Oscar Micheaux, Jacob Lawrence, Emma Amos, and Elizabeth Catlett.
February 24 | Carpenter Branch, 3309 S. Grand Ave., 772-6586 | 2-3 pm | All ages
Our Journey: From Africa to America. The Antioch Puppet Ministry performs musical puppet presentations that chronicle the journey of slavery. The performance includes verbal and sign language, dance, mime, skits, and special effects. Features Q&A session.
February 26 | Schlafly Branch, 225 N. Euclid Ave., 367-4120 | 7 pm
Rev. Doug Ervin Presents: Shackles and Chains: A History of Slavery. Ervin, a historian, presents the history of slavery. Q&A follows.
February 27 | Machacek Branch, 6424 Scanlan Ave., 781-2948 | 3:30-4:30 pm | Teens
African Art for Teens. Teens will view replicas and learn about several pieces of African art as we discuss and display the artifacts from the African Art Touch Kit. Teens will make African masks.
February 27 | Schlafly Branch, 225 N. Euclid Ave., 367-4120 | 6:30-8 pm | Adults
Documentary Film: Africans in America, Part 4: Judgment Day 1831-1865. Part of the PBS production of America’s Journey Through Slavery. Features a historical narrative, a resource bank of images, documents, biographies, commentaries, stories, and more.
February 28 | Buder Branch, 4401 Hampton Ave., 352-2900 | 1:30-3 pm
Mississippi Burning. Set in 1964 Mississippi, this is a fictionalized version of the case of the murder of three young civil rights workers, the FBI’s attempts to find the missing boys and the clash between the authorities and the locals in a Klan-dominated town. Stars Willem Dafoe and Gene Hackman. Winner of the 1988 Oscar for Best Cinematography.
2/02/2007
