WCPL will join individuals and organizations across the country during the month of February to celebrate the endurance, strength, and achievements of African Americans during Black History Month, and we would love for you to join us! Following are the activities and events that will be hosted:
Saturday, February 1, 6 p.m. – WCPL presents “Remembering Alice Dunnigan” at the Capitol. As the first Black woman journalist to be credentialed to the White House and Capitol press corps in 1947, Alice Allison Dunnigan’s name was frequently in both headlines and bylines during her lifetime. But due to the racism and sexism that she faced, her accomplishments have not gotten their deserved place in history. During this presentation by author and journalist Bailey Vandiver, learn how residents of Dunnigan’s hometown, Russellville, Kentucky, and others have worked to resurrect and share her story through sculpture, writing, quilting and community events. Free tickets are available HERE.
Thursday, February 6, 6 p.m. – “An Evening with Phyllis Biffle Elmore” at the Bob Kirby Branch Library. Phyllis Biffle Elmore is a retired veteran of the US Air Force and Army, whose civilian career has included working as a counselor for incarcerated youth, survivors of domestic violence, and people suffering from alcohol and substance abuse. She has traveled extensively, telling the history of her grandmother’s quilts and their historical significance, also detailed in her memoir, Quilt of Souls. Her narrative paints portraits of extraordinary black women born before and after the Civil War – enslaved people, laundresses, storytellers, healers, and quilters – whose stories have gone untold until now. Free tickets are available HERE.
Beginning Saturday, February 8 – Free book giveaway at all locations. Pick up a free copy of Spoken Word: A Cultural History by Joshua Bennett while supplies last. Dr. Bennett is a talented writer who serves as both a professor of Literature and the Distinguished Chair of the Humanities at MIT. He wrote The Sobbing School in 2016, which was a National Poetry Series selection as well as a finalist for an NAACP Image Award. Additional publications include Being Property Once Myself, Owed, and The Study of Human Life.
In addition, we will be showing these free movies at the Capitol that showcase black artists in the film industry who have made significant contributions to the American landscape:
- Monday, February 6; 2 p.m. & 6:30 p.m. – A 1961 film starring Sidney Poitier.
- Thursday, February 13; 6:30 p.m. – A romantic basketball story released in 2000.
- Saturday, February 15; 6:30 p.m: The 2018 Black Panther movie, co-sponsored by the BG Freedom Walkers.
- Thursday, February 20; 6:30 p.m. – A Jordan Peele psychological horror film from 2019.
- Saturday, February 22 – A Spike Lee double feature with film #1 at 5 p.m.; film #2 at 7:15 p.m.
- Tuesday, February 25; 6:30 p.m. – A 1975 “American Grafitti” variation featuring black teens.