2023 Black History Celebration

St. Louis County Library will host a Black History Celebration in February 2023 with virtual and in-person programming. The theme for 2023 is “Celebrating Black Resistance to Injustice.” Carlotta Walls LaNier will deliver the keynote address on February 17 at the Ethical Society. She will discuss her memoir “A Mighty Long Way: My Journey to Justice at Little Rock Central High School.” Other events include performances by the Black Rep, a jazz concert, a gospel celebration, author events, poetry workshops, and more.

A list of highlighted events is below; a full schedule of events is available at www.slcl.org/black-history-celebration.

Keynote Event:

Friday, February 17, 7:00 p.m.
Ethical Society of St. Louis, 9001 Clayton Rd., St. Louis, MO 63117
Carlotta Walls LaNier, “A Mighty Long Way: My Journey to Justice at Little Rock Central High School”
Frankie Freeman Inspirational Lecture
When 14-year-old Carlotta Walls walked up the stairs of Little Rock Central High School on September 25, 1957, she and eight other black students only wanted to make it to class. But the journey of the “Little Rock Nine,” as they came to be known, would lead the nation on an even longer and much more turbulent path, one that would challenge prevailing attitudes, break down barriers, and forever change the landscape of America. 

Dr. Will Ross will receive the Frankie Freeman Inspirational Award during the program. Dr. Ross is Associate Dean of Diversity at Washington University, Alumni Endowed Professor of Medicine, Nephrology and Principal Officer for Community Partnerships. He is founder of the Saturday Neighborhood Health Clinic, a free service for those in underserved areas.

Highlighted Events

Monday, January 30, 7:00 p.m. – Florissant Valley Branch
Otis Moss, III, “Dancing in the Darkness: Spiritual Lessons for Surviving in Turbulent Times”
Reverend Otis Moss, III, Senior Pastor at Chicago’s Trinity United Church of Christ and one of the country’s most renowned spiritual and civil rights leaders, offers a guide to uplift our spirits as we work toward justice. Inspired by a sermon he wrote on his own cycle of worry and anger, “Dancing in the Darkness” is a life-affirming guide to the practical, political, and spiritual challenges of our day. Drawing on the teachings of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Howard Thurman, sacred scripture, southern wisdom, global spiritual traditions, and his own personal experiences, Dr. Moss shares wisdom on combining justice and love and the spiritual reserves we all possess but too often overlook.

Wednesday, February 1, 11:00 a.m. 
Virtual Program: The Little Rock Nine 
Presented by the National Park Service
Park Rangers at Central Little Rock High School National Historic Site share the story of the Little Rock Nine, a group of high school students who persevered for their right to an integrated education after the 1954 Supreme Court ruling Brown vs. Board of Education. All ages. Registration required.

Wednesday, February 1, 7:00 p.m. – Natural Bridge Branch
De’Shawn Charles Winslow, “Decent People”
In Conversation with award-winning fiction writer and Saint Louis University professor Ron Austin

Presented with December Magazine
“Decent People” is a sweeping and unforgettable novel of a Black community reeling from a triple homicide, and the secrets the killings reveal. In the still-segregated town of West Mills, North Carolina, in 1976, three enigmatic siblings are found shot to death in their home. The crime is the first reported murder in the area in decades, but the authorities don’t seem to have any interest in solving the case. Fortunately, one person is determined to do more than talk. 

Saturday, February 4, 1:00 p.m. – Oak Bend Branch
Jaer Armstead-Jones, “My Invisible Father”
Local author, songwriter, librarian and educator Jaer Armstead-Jones presents a young adult novel about three teens coping with issues around missing fathers. As they try to make sense of their lives without a stable father figure, they encounter tragedies and triumphs. Armstead-Jones will discuss the importance of music in his writing. As he weaves through the book’s musical soundtrack, Armstead-Jones shares how music can be a powerful tool to help readers see and hear stories in novels.

Saturday, February 4, 2:00 p.m. – Lewis & Clark Branch
The Black Rep Presents “Turn-Up” 
This performance tells a fun, humorous story about perseverance and the power of community. All ages.

Wednesday, February 8, 7:00 p.m. – Florissant Valley Branch
Performance Poetry Workshop
Local poet and word artist, Pacia Anderson, will present a performance poetry workshop exploring creative presentation, Black history and poetic form. All ages. Registration required.

Friday, February 10, 7:00 p.m. – Florissant Valley Branch
Set the Night to Music
It’s back and better than ever! Enjoy the soulful sounds of The Black and White Band featuring Songbird. All ages.

Monday, February 13, 7:00 p.m.
JCC’s Staenberg Family Complex, 2 Millstone Campus Dr., St. Louis MO 63146
Alvin Hall, “Driving the Green Book: A Road Trip Through the Living History of Black Resistance”
Award-winning broadcaster Alvin Hall set out to revisit the world of the “Green Book”-- visiting motels, restaurants, and stores where Black Americans once found a friendly welcome. Along the way, he gathered memories from some of the last living witnesses for whom the Green Book meant survival—remarkable people who not only endured but rose above the hate, building vibrant Black communities against incredible odds.

Wednesday, February 22, 7:00 p.m.
Virtual Program: Performance Poetry
Local poet and word artist, Pacia Anderson, will explore Black historical roots of performance poetry. Teens and adults. Registration required. 

Saturday, February 25, 1:00-3:00 p.m. – Florissant Valley Branch
Gift of Gospel
Enjoy the hand-clapping, inspirational and joyful gospel music of Shadrach Robinson, Mia Gully Calicutt and the Rest Outreach Ministry Youth. Pastor Shaun Williams will serve as the emcee. All ages. 

Monday, February 27, 7:00 p.m. – Florissant Valley Branch
Bobby Bostic, "Time: Endless Moments in Prison"
In Conversation with Pulitzer Prize-Winning St. Louis Post Dispatch Columnist Tony Messenger

At the age of 16, Bobby Bostic was sentenced to 241 years behind bars for an armed robbery. In 2010, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that it is unconstitutional to sentence a juvenile to life without the possibility of parole for non-homicidal crimes. Through the efforts of the ACLU and the now-retired judge who originally sentenced him, Bobby Bostic finally left prison as a free man in 2022.

Program sites are accessible. Upon two weeks’ notice, accommodations will be made for persons with disabilities. Contact St. Louis County Library by phone 314-994-3300, or visit www.slcl.org.