It is our goal to always highlight the work of the diverse voices that fill our print and digital collections and that make up our special community throughout the year, and in February, we get to pay special attention to the contributions and history of the Black community both in Altadena and around our country. Every year, Black History Month is honored with a national theme, and in 2021, it is Black Family: Representation, Identity, and Diversity.
Here are some of the ways you can join us in celebrating this month:
- Explore the Black History Month collection in hoopla, one of our online ebook, audiobook, movies, and music platforms!
- Celebrate Black male joy and enjoy a video interview and slideshow compiled by our Library Assistant Helen and poet Peter J. Harris about their research collaboration exploring African American life and history through the lens of happiness, available on the Altadena Library YouTube page.
- Join the Altadena Libraries and Altadena Historical Society on Monday, February 8 at 7:00pm for a virtual author talk with Lynell George about her book A Handful of Earth, A Handful of Sky: The World of Octavia E. Butler. Octavia Butler was a famed science-fiction author who lived in Pasadena and Altadena.
- Take your family on a StoryWalk® through the outdoor space at the Main Library while reading Thank You, Omu, by Oge Mora. Every stop along the path highlights a new page, offering a special way to enjoy a story about caring for community and sharing with others. (An author’s note explains that “Omu” (pronounced AH-moo) means “queen” in the Igbo language of her parents, but growing up, she used it to mean “Grandma.” This book was inspired by the strong female role models in Oge Mora’s life.)
- Radical Rest and Between Titles, two of our monthly programs for teens on the Altadena Teens Instagram will focus on Black history and ways to engage with the literary and other works of Black authors and creators.
Dig deeper into the stories of the many Black voices – creatives, activists, artists, leaders, visionaries, and more – that have shaped our history with some of these Black history picks in our digital collections:
How can we learn from history and continue to fight for needed justice today? The following are some picks in cloudLibrary that apply to the ongoing fight for justice for Black lives and that offer paths forward:
As we look back through Black history, it is important to note that while there has been pain and strife, there has also been joy, love, innovation, resilience, gentleness, and strength. This month and always, we honor and celebrate Black joy – join us by exploring and enjoying these picks!