Black History Month Calendar of Events
Through Wed., Feb. 6
Thursday, January 31
6:30-7:30 pm — My Soul Looks Back, Sumner Library, 611 Van White Mem. Blvd., Minneapolis
Celebrate Black History Month with songs, poetry and stories that give voice to the journeys and contributions of African Americans in American history. All ages welcome.
This event is free; registration is requested. To register, call 612-543-6875 or go to www.hclib.org.
7-8:30 pm — “Black White Blue: The Assassination of Patrolman Sackett,” Roseville Library, 2180 N. Hamline Ave., Roseville
Author William Swanson presents one of the best-known “cold cases” in Minnesota history: A White police officer is assassinated in a troubled St. Paul neighborhood. Thirty-six year later, two African American grandfathers are convicted in controversial trials that force a city to relive a contentious past.
This event is free. For more information, contact William Swanson at 612-481-1799 or Roseville Library at 651-724-6001 or www.rclreads.org.
Saturday, February 2
10 am & 2 pm — Fighting Chance: The Struggle for Woman and Black Suffrage in Reconstruction America, Minnesota History Center, 345 Kellogg Blvd. W., St. Paul
At the landmark Seneca Falls Convention (1848), Frederick Douglass helped Elizabeth Cady Stanton convince delegates to support the strange concept of woman suffrage. Twenty years later, Cady Stanton’s opposition to and Douglass’ support for the Fifteenth Amendment (1869) brought these two civil rights’ giants and their causes to a bitter parting of the ways, with Douglass believing that White women could wait for the vote, and Cady Stanton asserting that the political participation of uneducated Black men would destroy America unless balanced by that of more civilized, educated White women.
Join historian Faye Dudden, Colgate University, for a look at how these two causes, so long allied, came to such a terrible rift.
Tickets are $14 ($10 for MHS members). For tickets, call 651-259-3015 or go to http://tickets.mnhs.org.
10:30 am — Drum Fun and Vocals, Too, Burnhaven Library, 1101 W. County Rd. 42, Burnsville
Leonard King, Jr. highlights the chronology of rhythm development commonly referred to as jazz, blues, R&B and gospel.
This event is free. For more information, call 952-891-0300 or go to www.co.dakota.mn.us.
2-3 pm — Challenges of Black Genealogy, Sumner Library, 611 Van White Mem. Blvd., Minneapolis
Librarian and storyteller Jerry Blue will share the experience of tracing his family history and about the 1940 Census. He also will demonstrate resources to help you dig up your own Black roots.
This event is free; registration is requested. To register, call 612-543-6875 or go to www.hclib.org.
Monday, February 4
6-8 pm — Hip-Hop Workshop: Makin’ Beats, Augsburg Park Library, 7100 Nicollet Ave., Richfield
Learn about writing and producing an original hip-hop CD, beginning with storytelling, then sampling and multi-track recording from prominent local hip-hop music producers. Participants get to take away a CD of the completed song.
For youth in grades 7-12
This event is free; registration is requested. To register, call 612-543-6200 or go to www.hclib.org.
7 pm — Community Cinema: The Powerbroker, Merriam Park Library, 1831 Marshall Ave., St. Paul
The Powerbroker, by Bonnie Boswell, profiles civil rights leader Whitney Young, who during the 1950s and ’60s, led the National Urban League and navigated a divided society. He challenged America’s White business and political leaders directly, but his efforts to open the doors for equal opportunity were often attacked by African Americans who felt his methods were in contrast with the Black Power Movement.
A panel discussion moderated by David Gillette of TPT follows the film.
This event is free. For more information, call Alayne Hopkins at 651-366-6488.
Tuesday, February 5
4-6 pm — Truth Be Told Spoken Word Workshop, Rondo Community Outreach Library, 461 N. Dale St., St. Paul
For teens: Join us for a spoken word writing and performance workshop facilitated by artist Tish Jones. Participants will use the art of spoken word to highlight their personal history while working with other writers, learning poetic devices, and crafting new works.
This event is free. For more information, call 651-266-7400 or go to www.sppl.org.
7-8 pm — Tracks of New Thinking, Wentworth Library, 199 E. Wentworth Ave., West St. Paul
Experience the legacy of African American poetry and music through the talents of Anita Ruth and T. Mychael Rambo. Beginning with songs of freedom, discover not only the beauty of the compositions, but also the power of language in communicating ideas, experiences and emotions.
This event is free. For more information, call 651-554-6800 or go to www.co.dakota.mn.us.
7:30 pm — Givens Black Books: Jewell Parker Rhodes’ Voodoo Dreams, Brooklyn Park Library, 8600 Zane Ave. N., Brooklyn Park
Join storyteller Nothando Zulu for a discussion of Jewell Parker Rhodes’ Voodoo Dreams.
This event is free. For more information, contact the Givens Foundation at 952-831-2555 or www.givens.org.
Reach the MSR staff at msrnewsonline@spokesman-recorder.com.