Join the celebration of African American History Month 2017! In February we’re bringing African American history, music and crafts to a CPL location near you.
African American History Month opens with Seed Saving with Naomi Davis on Thursday, February 2 at Harold Washington Library Center. The proud granddaughter of Mississippi sharecroppers, Davis builds on the "Suitcase Monologue" that shares how victory flourished over decades after the Great Migration journey to the North.
Featuring film screenings and book clubs for adults, interactive events for teens, story times and hands-on activities for kids, and music and crafts for the whole family, African American History Month is a celebration and a time for learning for all of Chicago. This year's events highlight the One Book, One Chicago theme of Eat, Think, Grow.
Upcoming Events
Event highlights include:
- Presenters Meet and Greet: Stop by Beverly Branch on Saturday, February 4 to chat with presenters of our events focused on how African Americans eat, think, grow and live healthy.
- A Celebration of Cultural Heritage: Phenomenal master storyteller Oba William King explores the richness of African American culture through folktales, poetry, songs and rhythms on Monday, February 27 at McKinley Park Branch.
- How Deep Are Your Roots: Eat, Think, Grow: Storytellers D. Kucha Brownlee and Baba Tony explore what we eat, how we think and what we do to grow, and how we can grow who we are and what we eat. At Douglass and Richard M. Daley-W Humboldt branches.
- Transforming Lives One Garden at a Time: From the West Side to incarceration to transformation, local farming hero Darius Jones discusses how agriculture can teach self-worth and reduce gun violence on Saturday, February 25 at Sulzer Regional Library.
Explore the complete list of African American History Month events.
Recommended Reads
- Books for Adults: Explore themes of family, and how to eat, think, grow and live healthy.
- Books for Kids: Inspire kids to be themselves and learn about other cultures with these titles.
- Cookbooks: Make some delicious meals with these recipes.
Exhibits
Local artists will display works at three CPL locations during African American History Month.