In celebration of both Black History Month and America’s 250 Anniversary, Fairfax County Public Library is honoring the history, contributions and civic impact of Black Americans with a variety of author presentations, children’s programs, musical performances, book discussions and more. Check out this small sample 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.
- Black Social Television: How Black Twitter Changed Television with Dr. Sherri Williams - Martha Washington Library – Saturday, February 7
Learn about how Black Americans' digital activism on Twitter changed how television is watched, developed and produced because of Black viewers' advocacy. - The Tougaloo Nine with M.J. O'Brien – Tysons-Pimmit Regional Library – Saturday, February 7
Local author M.J. O’Brien discusses his latest book about the dramatic three-day period in March 1961, when nine students from historically Black Tougaloo College staged sit-ins at the all-White Main Library in Jackson, Mississippi. - Civil Rights and Racial Reckoning in Northern Virginia – George Mason Regional Library – Monday, February 9
Hear from Edwin B. Henderson II as he speaks about the history and contributions of African Americans in Northern Virginia, the celebration of culture, and ongoing work to promote understanding and racial reckoning. - Bsrat Mezghebe & Helon Habila – Reston Regional Library – Tuesday, February 10
Author Bsrat Mezghebe discusses her debut novel, I Hope You Find What You Are Looking For, in a conversation with award winning author and professor Helon Habila. - STEAM: Black Innovators – Lorton Library – Saturday, February 14
Learn about important contributions from Black inventors and scientists through crafts and experiments in this program intended for children grades K-6. - Black Dance: Housing the Past and the Present – City of Fairfax Regional Library – Sunday, February 15
Discover how Black dance keeps African cultural traditions alive and serves as an affirmation of identity and independence with Associate Professor of Dance at George Mason University Lawrence M. Jackson. - American Girl Book Club: Addy – Sherwood Regional Library – Sunday, February 15
Join other American Girl fans and read Finding Freedom, a book about Addy Walker, an enslaved girl that courageously escapes to freedom in Philadelphia in 1864. We will chat about the book and make our own Addy-inspired applique pillows. - Paint a Basquiat Self-Portrait – Burke Centre Library – Tuesday, February 17
Express yourself and paint a self-portrait inspired by one of the great American artists, Jean-Michel Basquiat, while learning about his rise to fame, and how he transformed art with his distinctive neo-expressionist style. - African Storytelling Reimagined – Kings Park Library – Thursday, February 19
Explore African countries, geography and traditions through music, dancing, interactions with authentic artifacts and captivating folktales. - Celebrate Black Voices with Author S.A. Cosby – The Alden at McLean Community Center – Saturday, February 21
Enjoy a keynote presentation from the critically acclaimed author of King of Ashes, All the Sinners Bleed, Razorblade Tears and Blacktop Wasteland. S.A. Cosby will discuss his books and how his life in Southeastern Virginia inspires his award-winning crime novels. - “The Evolution of Jazz” by Award-Winning Performer Alison Crockett – Sherwood Regional Library and Centreville Regional Library – Saturday, February 21
Alison Crockett takes the audience through a sonic journey of the language of jazz music from its spiritual beginnings to the present. - Craft & Movie Watch – John Marshall Library – Saturday, February 28
Create paper airplanes while watching a movie about the Tuskegee Airmen, a squadron of black pilots given the chance to prove themselves in the sky, even as they battle discrimination on the ground.
A complete list of the Library’s Black History Month events can be found at bit.ly/FCPL_BHM.
You can also learn about and honor the lives of influential Black Americans by checking out a book from these lists put together by the Library’s Collection Marketing team: