This February (and beyond) join Fairfax County Public Library (FCPL) as we explore the diverse history and highlight the many contributions of African Americans through a multitude of programs and resources available for free to our library cardholders and all community members. With author talks, history presentations, book discussions, movie showings and more, check out just a taste of what is on the schedule at your local library in celebration of Black History Month. 

*Please note that dates/times of the following events are subject to change. Check the event listing for the latest information.  

• Jazz Evening at the Lorton Library – Lorton Library – Monday, Feb. 5 (Registration required) 
  Enjoy an evening of Jazz Music and Jazz History at Lorton Library. South County High School's Jazz Band will perform a selection of songs followed by a talk by Brian Slawski from the Burke Historical Society. Brian will discuss local jazz history, including the fascinating story of the Lorton (prison) Jazz Festival. 
   

• Unequal Access – Virtual Event – Monday, Feb. 5 (Registration required) 
  Fairfax County Public Library librarians Chris Barbuschak and Suzanne LaPierre will discuss their book The Desegregation in Northern Virginia Libraries. 
   

• African American Soldiers from the Civil War (USCT) to Reconstruction (the "Buffalo Soldiers") – Burke Centre Library – Saturday, Feb. 10 
  Park Ranger Bryan Cheeseboro of the National Park Service will present about Black Civil War soldiers in the final days of the war and how many of them stayed in the army to serve as professional soldiers in the regular cavalry and infantry units, which became known to history as the "Buffalo Soldiers." 
   

• Award-Winning Jazz Vocalist Alison Crockett Presents "The Language of Jazz" – Centreville Regional Library – Sunday, February 18 
  Alison Crockett is an award-winning and prolific jazz, soul, and electronica vocalist who has performed and recorded in a wide range of genres including neo-soul, jazz, R&B, and gospel. Join Alison as she takes the audience through a sonic journey of the language of jazz music from its spiritual beginnings to the present. 
   

• Music For Social Well-Being – City of Fairfax Regional Library – Wednesday, Feb. 21 (Registration required) 
  Join performer Calvin Earl for an evening of songs and storytelling designed to bring people together and uplift us all to embrace our shared humanity. Listen and enjoy as Calvin plays the music that defines America, from spirituals to rock ‘n’ roll and beyond. 
   

• A Mighty Long Way: My Journey to Justice at Little Rock Central High School – The Alden at McLean Community Center – Sunday, Feb. 25 (Registration required) 
  Join Carlotta Walls LaNier, a key protagonist in the Civil Rights Movement, as she revisits her journey as part of the “Little Rock Nine” and reflects on history of civil rights, race and diversity while inspiring hope for the future. A book sale and signing will follow this event. 
   

• Separate but NOT Equal: The 1939 Alexandria Public Library Sit-in & The 1959 Desegregation of Arlington County’s Schools – Sherwood Regional Library – Thursday, Feb. 29 
  Join the Mount Vernon chapter of AAUW (American Association of University Women) and guest speakers, Brenda Mitchell-Powers and Wilma Jones as they discuss the 1939 Alexandria Public Library Sit-in and the 1959 desegregation of Arlington County’s Schools. 
   

For a complete list of Black History-related events, visit bit.ly/FCPL_BHMevents. 

You can also celebrate and honor by selecting a new read from our specially curated Black History Month booklists for adults and kids, checking out or by streaming a film or documentary from Kanopy’s Black History collection.