Black History Month

Celebrate Black History Month with free events from Tulsa City-County Library

Join Tulsa City-County Library and the African American Resource Center for programs throughout February that celebrate Black History Month.

Magic Show With Tommy Terrific will kick off the celebrations with four performances across the county scheduled on Tuesday, Jan. 27, 10-11 a.m. at Suburban Acres Library, 4606 N. Garrison, and 4-5 p.m. at Central Library, Fifth Street and Denver Avenue; and Wednesday, Jan. 28, 10-11 a.m. at Bronson Brookside Library, 4607 S. Madison Place, and 2-3 p.m. at Hardesty Regional Library, 8316 E. 93rd St.

Other free events include:

• Exhibit Opening: Black Historians and Storytellers of Oklahoma on Monday, Feb. 2 from 6:30-8 p.m. at Rudisill Regional Library, 1520 N. Hartford. Join the African American Resource Center for an inspiring exhibit honoring the voices that have preserved and celebrated Oklahoma’s Black history. Light refreshments are provided. For all ages.
• LitWits’ Book Club on Wednesday, Feb. 4 from 6:30-7:30 p.m. at Hardesty Regional Library. Join us to discuss “Beloved” by Toni Morrison, compare notes and talk about characters, themes or ideas. For adults.
• The Art of Commemoration: Oral and Written Storytelling, Part 1 on Thursday, Feb. 5 from 6-7:30 p.m. at Rudisill Regional Library. Discover the power of storytelling as a tool for preserving history and honoring legacy. Explore techniques for crafting compelling oral narratives and written accounts that commemorate significant moments and voices in Black history. For adults and teens.
• Brown Bag Book Discussion on Tuesday, Feb. 10 from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. at Rudisill Regional Library. Join the Friends of the Rudisill Regional Library for an engaging conversation about “Their Eyes Were Watching God” by Zora Neale Hurston. Bring your lunch or enjoy pizza provided by the Friends. For adults.
• African Presence in Early America III on Wednesday, Feb. 11 from 6-7:30 p.m. at Rudisill Regional Library. Building on Ivan Van Sertima’s groundbreaking book “African Presence in Early America,” Kashif Rashad Nuriddin will share insights drawn from first-hand travels, scholarly works and historical research, and uncover stories that illuminate the African influence in early American history, including connections to Oklahoma’s own heritage. For adults.
• The Art of Commemoration: Digital Storytelling, Part 2 on Tuesday, Feb. 17 from 6-7:30 p.m. at Rudisill Regional Library. This session introduces tools and techniques for creating digital narratives that honor and preserve Black heritage. Learn how to transform stories into engaging multimedia experiences. For adults and teens.
• Film Screening: “Zora Neale Hurston: Claiming A Space” on Wednesday, Feb. 18 from 6-8 p.m. at Rudisill Regional Library. This PBS documentary explores Hurston’s groundbreaking work as an anthropologist and writer, and highlights her role in preserving African American culture and folklore. For tweens to adults.
• African American Heritage Bowl on Tuesday, Feb. 24 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at Rudisill Regional Library. This trivia-style competition features questions based on Black/African American history and is open to all middle and high school students as well as business organizations, churches, book club, families and other community groups. The theme is “100 Years of Commemoration” and registration is required. Email eat0@eau0eav0eaw0 to register a team.

Philbrook Museum to highlight the literature of Gordon Parks.

In addition, the African American Resource Center is partnering with the Philbrook Museum to highlight the literature of Gordon Parks, his subjects and the world he photographed. The exhibit will run Feb. 11-June 19 at the Philbrook Museum, 2727 S. Rockford Road. Experience the exhibit at the museum and then visit the African American Resource Center at Rudisill Regional Library for further reading and additional resources on Parks’ incredible work

For more information, visit www.tulsalibrary.org or call 918-549-7323.