MPL announces events for all ages celebrating and exploring African American culture and history

Montclair Public Library Celebrates Black History Month

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The 3rd Annual African American Read-In, established by the Black Caucus of the National Council of Teachers of English, will take place on Saturday, February 2 at 2:00 p.m. in the Library Auditorium. Participants are encouraged to choose their favorite passage from a book, poem, or speech by an African American and sign up for a two-minute time slot to read the piece aloud; to sign up email reference@montclair.bccls.org.

The Montclair Public Library (MPL) has curated programs throughout the month of February showcasing the contributions and accomplishments of African Americans culturally and historically. Events will focus on literature, the visual and performing arts, film, and significant historical events promoting civil rights.

“Black History Month is an important time at the Montclair Public Library,” said Peter Coyl, Library Director. “We want to honor and highlight the significant impact the African American community has had on our culture and society.”

The 3rd Annual African American Read-In, established by the Black Caucus of the National Council of Teachers of English, will take place on Saturday, February 2 at 2:00 p.m. in the Library Auditorium. Participants are encouraged to choose their favorite passage from a book, poem, or speech by an African American and sign up for a two-minute time slot to read the piece aloud; to sign up email reference@montclair.bccls.org.

Some other highlights include two Open Book/Open Mind programs sponsored by the Montclair Library Foundation. On February 6, Chris Wilson will speak about his forthcoming book, “The Master Plan: My Journey from Life in Prison to a Life of Purpose,” with Charles Rosen. On February 10 a panel of writers, including Benilde Little, Veronica Chambers, and Ylonda Gault Caviness, will be in conversation about their contributions to the book “The Meaning of Michelle: 16 Writers on the Iconic First Lady and How Her Journey Inspires Our Own.”

The Adult School Department will include a course on the plays of August Wilson, running from March 18-April 1, along with classes on the Harlem Renaissance in Literature and Jean-Michel Basquiat and the “New Wave” Neo-Expressionism.

Live performances will include master tap-dancer Maurice Chestnut, musician William Parker, and Montclair Orchestra’s own Gregory Walker (violinist). “The Life and Writing of James Baldwin,” an interactive program dramatized by Grant Cooper and discussed in historical context by Dr. Lindsey Swindall, will take place on March 5 and is funded by the New Jersey Council for the Humanities. One of the many book clubs at the Library will discuss Baldwin’s “If Beale Street Could Talk” on February 21.

Programs specifically for children and teens include a screening of the film “Akeelah and the Bee” on February 15 and “North Star Songs - Codes and the Symbols of the Underground Railroad,” on February 20.

For a complete list of events and to register, visit www.montclairlibrary.org/black-history-month-mpl