Tag Black history

A woman in green sits reading a book with a a green toned street-scape behind her. Otherwise, the cover is orange with Harlem Rhapsody in deep red.

Victoria Christopher Murray & Harlem Rhapsody

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A woman in green sits reading a book with a a green toned street-scape behind her. Otherwise, the cover is orange with Harlem Rhapsody in deep red.

For adults.
Tue, Feb 18 | 7 – 8 pm
HCLS Elkridge Branch
Register at bit.ly/Author_Murray
Victoria Christopher Murray discusses her historical fiction novel Harlem Rhapsody, which transports readers into glittering 1920’s Harlem. Readers follow Jessie Redmon Fauset, the heartbeat of its literary revolution, as she discovers and nurtures icons like Langston Hughes, Countee Cullen, Nella Larsen, and Zora Neale Hurston.

In the 1920s, Harlem flourished as a place of Black pride. As the novel follows Fauset’s career, the reader is privy to both the brilliant creativity happening at this time while simultaneously understanding the experience of a Black woman who had to combat incredible sexism and racism to succeed.
With almost three million books in print, NAACP Image Award-winning author Victoria Christopher Murray is one of the country’s top Black contemporary writers. As the co-author with Marie Benedict of the breakout hits and New York Times bestsellers The Personal Librarian and The First Ladies, she traced the lives of Belle de Costa Greene, J.P. Morgan’s personal librarian, and the Black civil rights activist Mary McLeod Bethune.

MORE ABOUT THE HARLEM RENAISSANCE
by Emily B.
Every February we celebrate Black History Month, but did you know that January is International Creativity Month? This intersection of Black history and creativity makes this time of year perfect to celebrate Black artists. One of the most important Black artists of the 20th century is Jacob Lawrence, best known for chronicling contemporary and historical African American life in the United States.
Born in Atlantic City, New Jersey in 1917, Lawrence was a self-proclaimed, “child of the great migration.” His parents were two of six million Black Americans who fled the racist, Jim Crow south in search of freedom and opportunities in Northern cities.

Lawrence’s family relocated to Harlem when he was 13. Though young, he was able to experience firsthand the Harlem Renaissance, a period of great cultural revival for African Americans that lasted from the 1910s through the mid-1930s. Lawrence described his art style as “dynamic cubism.” His work stood out from more traditional cubist works through his use of angular forms and bold colors, which represented the strong and resilient spirit of the African American community. His use of vibrant colors continued in his later works, like 1977’s The Swearing In.*

His most notable work, The Migration Series, encompasses sixty panel paintings depicting The Great Migration. Influenced by his parents’ plight and the art scene in Harlem, Lawrence began the ambitious
project at only 23 years old. He worked simultaneously on each panel to ensure the colors and style remained harmonious throughout the entire project. Thanks to funding from the Works Project Administration, a New Deal government agency, Lawrence was able to fully realize his artistic vision.
Soon after completing the Migration Series panels, the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York and The Phillips Gallery in Washington, DC purchased the panels, making Lawrence the first Black artist to have his work purchased by MoMA. Today, the two museums continue their shared custody of The Migration Series.

To view each panel from The Migration Series and learn more about Jacob Lawrence’s life and his works, visit: lawrencemigration.phillipscollection.org or borrow Jacob Lawrence: The Migration Series by Leah Dickerman. Young readers may enjoy Jake Makes a World: Jacob Lawrence, a Young Artist in Harlem by Sharifa Rhodes-Pitts.

*A framed art print of The Swearing In is available to borrow from the Art Education Collection at Central and Glenwood Branches.

National Gallery of Art: Black Art & Artists in the Collection
For adults.
Wed, Feb 12 | 3 – 4 pm
Online
Find more information at bit.ly/NGA-BlackArt
Witness the enduring mark Black artists have made on American art — from 19th century painters Joshua Johnson and Robert Seldon Duncanson to modern and contemporary artists Faith Ringgold, Alma Thomas, and more. Presented by The National Gallery of Art. This class is a part of the Museum@TheLibrary series.

For African American History Month

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African American Read-in

“It is important for all of us to see ourselves in books.” – Dr. Jerrie Cobb Scott, founder of the African American Read-In

Howard County Library System joins our community in honoring Black History Month, a month-long celebration of African American life, History, and culture, established by Dr. Carter G. Woodson in 1926 and founded and promoted by the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH). The ASALH states that Black History Month is a, “way to promote, research, preserve, interpret, and disseminate information about Black life, History, and culture to the global community.” February events at HCLS are for a variety of ages and include read-ins, stories, and crafts. Events planned with a teen audience as the focus include an AfroFuturism ArtLab and teen art exhibit, an author event with We Need Diverse Books founding member Lamar Giles, and an online discussion featuring curator Kevin Strait from the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of African American History and Culture.

The African American Read-In “was established in 1990 by the Black Caucus of the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) to make literacy a significant part of Black History Month.” The commitment for nationwide promotion extends from 1990 to the present. To date, the initiative has reached more than six million participants around the world.

According to the NCTE website, “During the month of February, schools, churches, libraries, bookstores, community and professional organizations, and interested citizens are urged to make literacy a significant part of Black History Month by hosting an African American Read-In. Hosting an event can be as simple as bringing together friends to share a book or as elaborate as arranging public readings and media presentations that feature professional African American writers.”

Tracey Williams, president of the Southern Howard County/Laurel Chapter of Continentals Society, Inc., says, “It is crucial for all children to hear the voices of African American authors, gain insight into their experiences, and explore our rich heritage.”

Howard County Library System celebrates African American authors and culture as a participant in the National African American Read-In.

Read-In Opportunities
All ages; drop-in.
Honor Black History Month by participating in the National African American Read-In. Community partners and library staff read aloud from books by African American authors. Light refreshments.
Sat, Feb 8 at 12 – 2 pm
HCLS East Columbia Branch
Sat, Feb 8 at 1 – 3 pm
HCLS Glenwood Branch

Meet at the children’s bubble wall to hear library staff read stories by African American authors. Listen for just one or stay for more!
Thu, Feb 20 at 1 – 2 pm
HCLS Elkridge Branch

Anansi Tales & Crafts
Ages 3 – 11.
Anansi is a classic African folktale character who is known for his trickster ways. Enjoy his woven web of cunning triumphs!
Fri, Feb 28 at 10:30 – 11: 15 am
HCLS Central Branch

In partnership with: Continental Societies, Inc., Southeastern Regional Howard County/Laurel Chapter; Columbia Chapter of Jack and Jill of America, Inc.; Grassroots Crisis Intervention Center; The Society Incorporated, Howard County, MD Chapter; Howard County Public School System; Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Iota Lambda Omega Chapter Emerging Leaders; African American Community Roundtable of Howard County; and the Youth Leadership Program.

Afrofuturism for Teens

In a circle, a stylized African woman's face is layered with orange color swatches and lines. An orange horizontal banner reads: Afrofuturism: Teen Art Exhibit: Feb 20-28, HCLS Miller Branch

Afrofuturism ArtLab: Learn & Create!
Ages 11 – 18. Register here.
What is Afrofuturism? Explore this multimedia concept, then create your own related artwork. Your work may be chosen for HCLS Miller Branch’s Afrofuturism Student Art Exhibit for Black History Month. All materials supplied, but feel free to bring anything you would like.
Sat, Feb 8 at 3 – 5 pm
HCLS Miller Branch

Afrofuturism with NMAAHC Curator Kevin Strait
All ages. Register here.
Curator Kevin Strait from the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of African American History and Culture discusses his recent exhibit, Afrofuturism: A History of Black Futures. Strait shares the history of Afrofuturism, and how the exhibition explores and reveals Afrofuturism’s historic and poignant engagement with African American history and popular culture.
Thu, Feb 20 at 6 – 7 pm
online & HCLS Miller Branch

A deep red cover with a Black young man's head in deep shadow. The person's eyes and mouth are drawn to appear sewn shut crudely.

Author Event: Lamar Giles
Ages 10 and up.
Register here.
A founding member of We Need Diverse Books, Lamar Giles discusses his novel, The Getaway, (currently in development for TV), and his journey as a writer, while engaging in a Q&A moderated by local teens.
School Library Journal writes, “Nonstop action, increasingly dangerous risks, and themes of racism and classism will keep readers engaged and flying through this one—and rethinking that planned resort vacation.”
Mon, Feb 24 at 6 – 8 pm
HCLS Miller Branch

A deep golden background shows five dancers in a variety of poses, photographed in black and white.

Sheila Rohan: One of the Swans of Harlem

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A deep golden background shows five dancers in a variety of poses, photographed in black and white.

Wed, Oct 9  | 7 – 8 pm  
HCLS Miller Branch

For everyone. Register here.

“A vibrant and captivating look at five trailblazing women.” —Arlington Magazine

Hear the story of The Swans of Harlem directly from former dancer Sheila Rohan, a founding member of the Dance Theatre of Harlem. These ground-breaking dancers performed for the Queen of England, Mick Jagger, Stevie Wonder, at the White House, and beyond. But decades later, almost no record existed of their history. Out of a sisterhood that had grown even deeper with the years, these Swans joined forces again—to share their story with the world.

Rohan toured extensively in the United States, the Caribbean and Europe, performing as soloist in several works in the repertoire, including Geoffrey Holder’s Dougla, Arthur Mitchell’s Rhythmetron. She was soloist and Ballet Mistress with the Nanette Bearden Contemporary Dance Theatre and toured China and Korea with the Myung Sook Chun Dance Company, a modern dance troupe. She performed the role of Rosa Parks in Gordon Parks’ televised ballet Martin and, as a choreographer, assisted legends such as Louis Johnson and Walter Rutledge.

Karen Valby’s book, The Swans of Harlem: Five Black Ballerinas, Fifty Years of Sisterhood, and Their Reclamation of a Groundbreaking History, tells the captivating tale in vivid detail, steeped in the glamour and grit of professional ballet. The Swans of Harlem offers a riveting account of five extraordinarily accomplished women, a celebration of both their historic careers, and the sustaining, grounding power of female friendship, and a window into the robust history of Black ballet, hidden for too long.

The Swans of Harlem: Five Black Ballerinas, Fifty Years of Sisterhood, and Their Reclamation of a Groundbreaking History is available in print and large print formats, and as an e-book and an e-audiobook on Libby/OverDrive.