Black History Month: A Season for Family and Friends

We are celebrating Black History Month with special programs and events throughout February.

This year our theme is "A Season for Family and Friends" with programming that focuses on family, and African American genealogy. Unless otherwise noted below, please contact Susanna at sleberman [at] hmcpl [dot] org with any questions about programs in our Black History Month series.

Events

January 29
Author Talk: John F. Baker Jr.
1:00- 3:00 pm            Main branch, auditorium
The author of the beautifully written The Washingtons of Wessyngton Plantation: Stories of my Family’s Journey to Freedom, kicks off black history month. Mayor Tommy Battle and Councilman Richard Showers will attend to declare the Huntsville-Madison County Public Library the city's official headquarters for Black History Month celebration!

February 3
Visit with Harriet Tubman  *youth event*
4:00- 5:00 pm                        Main branch, youth department
Meet the famous abolitionist who helped many escape slavery through the “Underground Railroad.”

February 6
Your Best Family Reunion
2:00- 3:00 pm                        Main branch, second floor events room
Hundley Batts of WEUP radio will present a program on how to plan and have a successful Family Reunion.

February 13
Recording Your Family’s History through Interviews
2:00- 3:00 pm                        Main branch, auditorium
Victoria Joiner Miller explains how to document your family’s history through interviews with your grandparents and other living ancestors.

February 18
Celebrating Our Heritage (in partnership with the Triana Boys and Girls Club)
6:00- 8:00 pm            Triana Town Hall, Community Room
An evening of rememberance of our African American heritage with food, poetry, an arts and crafts exhibit, and stories. Call Blanche Orr for more information at 256-772-3677.

February 19
African American Genealogy seminar with Frazine Taylor
10:00 am- 2:00 pm   Computer Training Center, Main branch, second floor
Nationally renowned genealogical speaker Frazine Taylor will present a seminar about African American geneaology.

February 20
Documentary viewing: African American Lives
2:00- 4:30 pm                        Main branch, second floor events room
Join us to watch the first two episodes of the fascinating PBS documentary about African-American genealogy: Listening to Our Past and The Promise of Freedom.

February 22
Share Your Story
6:00- 7:00 pm                        Monrovia branch
Join others in your community to read a personal account of your, a friend or family member’s memorable experience in African-American history. Please contact Cindy Hewitt for more information at 256-489-3392.

Panel Discussion: The Faces of Civil Rights in Huntsville
7:30- 8:30 pm             Main branch, auditorium
Learn about the civil rights movement in Huntsville, Alabama from a variety of perspectives.

February 27
Documentary viewing: African American Lives
2:00- 4:30 pm                        Main branch, second floor events room
Join us to watch the last two episodes of the fascinating PBS documentary about African American genealogy: Searching for Our Names and Beyond the Middle Passage.

February 28
Concert: One Purpose
6:00- 7:30 pm                        Main branch, atrium
The perfect finale to our Black History Month celebration: enjoy an amazing performance from this talented music group from Oakwood University made up of 11 singers and a band. Their unqiue sound is based in contemporary gospel with influences from jazz, R&B, and little bit of punk rock!

Exhibits

Throughout the month of February:

Rosenwald Schools of Madison County Photographs
Jane Knight Lowe Gallery, Main branch, third floor
A Rosenwald school was the name informally applied to over five thousand schools and teachers’ homes in the United States which were built primarily for the education of African-Americans in the early twentieth century.  Madison County had 15 of these schools.

Heritage Room, Main branch, third floor:
African American Women who helped shape Huntsville
Notable African American Athletes of Madison County
What you can find in the Freedman’s Bureau Papers

Great African American Reads
Circulation area, Main branch, first floor

Black History research resources for young students
Youth Services, Main branch, first floor

Recurring Events

Tracing your African American Genealogy; Why it Matters

• February 3,  10:00- 11:00 am
• February 10, 2:00-3:00 pm
• February 15, 6:30-7:30 pm
• February 24, 10:00- 11:00 am

Main library, Heritage Room
The Heritage Room’s Richard White will give a presentation about how you can use online resources to find your ancestors, and why it matters.

African American History Scavenger Hunts  *youth event*
Every Monday in February from 3:00- 7:00 pm
Main library, youth department
Go on an exciting hunt for historical African American items!