Welcome to Black History Month 2024! The official theme for this year’s celebration is African Americans and the Arts. As we reflect on the great influence of Black art, expression, and creativity on American culture, we invite you to explore all the ways we’re celebrating Black History Month at the Contra Costa County Library.
Discover your next great read from one of our new booklists, carefully curated for our youngest library users and beyond:
African Americans and the Arts (children)
Exploring Our Roots: Stories of Black Excellence for Kids
Voices of Tomorrow: Stories of the Black Teen Experience
Empowering Voices: Black History Stories, Struggles, and Triumphs
Library branches throughout the county are also celebrating with local programs. On Wednesday, February 14th at 2:30pm, the Antioch Library welcomes percussionist and educator, Onye Onyemaechi for an interactive family program entitled, African Village Celebration with Onye Onyemaechi. Audiences of all ages are invited to participate through music and songs to create the experience of African village life.
The El Sobrante Library will host culinary historian Robert Brower on Tuesday, February 27th at 6:30pm for a presentation on The Life and Work of Abby Fisher, a former slave from South Carolina who published the second known cookbook by a Black woman in the United States.
Throughout the month, tweens and teens can celebrate Black history while making their own artwork. The Lafayette Library’s Black History Month: Crafting Creations series honors the work of Black American inventors that changed life as we know it through weekly crafts. Teens and adults can also learn about contemporary artist Lorna Simpson while creating their own masterpiece as part of the Moraga Library’s Black History Month Take & Make program.
And don’t forget to join us for more programming and book suggestions during our special celebration of Black Children’s Book Week happening during the week of February 25th – March 2nd.
As we move through this month honoring Black stories and experiences, we hope these programs and resources will inspire and encourage you to continue celebrating Black history throughout the entire year!
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