Inspiring Journeys: African American Histories
Saturday, February 22, 2025
1 - 4 p.m.
Central Library
Join us for Inspiring Journeys: African American Histories, a day of celebration for African American Heritage Month. The speakers, workshops, entertainment, and family activities will surely spark joy and insight.
This event is free and open to all, so bring your friends and family along for a day of celebration and learning.
Schedule
Montford Point Marines
Time: 1 p.m. - 2 p.m.
Location: Taper Auditorium
Audience: Adults, Teens
Learn about the experiences of the first African Americans to join the U.S. Marine Corps. This distinguished panel of military pioneers were recognized for their bravery and courage in 2012, when they received the Congressional Gold Medal, the nation's highest civilian honor.
How to Write Comics with the Gibbs Sisters
Time: 1 p.m. - 2 p.m.
Location: Teen'Scape
Audience: Teens
Create your own comic with guidance from the writers of the time travel webcomic, Fashion Forward and the steampunk adventure series, The Invention of E.J. Whitaker. The Gibbs Sisters’ work has been featured on G4 TV and BET and has appeared in film festivals including the Chicago International Children’s Film Festival.
African American Firefighter Museum
Time: 2 p.m. - 3 p.m.
Location: Meeting Room B
Audience: Adults, Teens
Join African American Firefighter Museum Historian, Cofounder & Retired LA County Fire Captain Brent Burton who will present “Courage Under Fire, the History of Los Angeles' Black Firefighters 1892-to the Present.” Discover their trailblazing contributions to the community and to fire service.
Ina the Sunshine Storyteller
Time: 2 p.m. - 3 p.m.
Location: Children's Literature
Audience: Children (accompanied by adults)
Sing, laugh and spread your wings to the interactive storytelling of Emmy-award winning actress and professional storyteller, Ina Buckner-Barnette, The Sunshine Storyteller. You’ll travel across the continent of Africa through participatory stories and songs without leaving your seat!
Traditional Medicine with Dr. Hazley
Time: 2 p.m. - 3 p.m.
Location: Meeting Room A
Audience: Adults, Teens
Dr. Desmonette Hazley will present on the cultural, historical, and traditional health remedies of African Americans, and how they have influenced modern wellness practices. She will also do a cooking demonstration at the conclusion of the program with healthy ingredients, including herbs and spices.
Miriam Matthews Zine Workshop with Yago Cura
Time: 2 p.m. - 3 p.m.
Location: Meeting Room B
Audience: All ages
Celebrate the legacy of the first Black librarian in California and at Los Angeles Public Library by creating a zine in her honor. Workshop conducted by Yago Cura, Young Adult Librarian at the Miriam Matthews Hyde Park branch library.
Nina Simone Arts & Crafts Activity
Time: TBD
Location: Second Floor Landing
Audience: Adults, Teens
Join us for an arts and crafts activity that centers legendary singer and civil rights activist Nina Simone.
A Celebration of Storytelling Through Photography
Time: 2 p.m. - 4 p.m.
Location: Octavia Lab
Audience: All ages
Join the Black Image Center, a collective nonprofit founded by young Black photographers in Los Angeles, as we celebrate the power of storytelling through photography. Participants will have the opportunity to create their own personalized instant portrait using instant cameras and vibrant backdrops, capturing their unique story and empowering storytellers and image makers.
Author Talk: Shonda Buchanan
Time: 3 p.m. - 4 p.m.
Location: Taper Auditorium
Audience: Adults, Teens
Join three award-winning poets and artists, Lynne Thompson, Nailah Porter, and Shonda Buchanan, for a Black History Month event honoring the legacy of Civil Rights activist, singer, and concert pianist, Nina Simone. This event is the official pre-launch of Shonda Buchanan's collection of poems, The Lost Songs of Nina Simone, exploring Simone's life, career, and artistry. Books will be available for sale at The Library Store.
Fiction & Poetry Showcase
Time: 1 p.m. - 4 p.m.
Location: Third Floor Landing
Audience: Adults
Come check out the library's historical fiction and poetry titles from African-American authors..
