BROOKINGS This year, the Brookings Public Library will honor Black History Month with various presentations on Black culture, history and issues featuring Black voices.
The series of events will kick off Feb. 1 at 6 p.m. with a screening of short films by Hazard Film Project. This program will include screenings of the films The Black Project, Black & Blue, and Hazard. The screenings will be followed by a Q&A with Hazard Film Projects director.
On Feb. 5 at 6 p.m., Preston Love Jr. will give a presentation entitled The Cycles of Voter Suppression. This presentation will cover the history of voter rights and voter suppression from the advent of the 15th Amendment to present day. Love Jr. is a currentU.S. Senate candidate from Nebraska, as well as a professor and activist.
On Feb. 12 at 6 p.m., Simon Nguru, owner of 254 Gift Shop, will give a presentation entitled, Inside 254: A Look at Black Entrepreneurship and Kenyan Culture. Nguru will share his story of becoming an entrepreneur and opening Brookings first African gift shop. He will be showcasing items from his shop and showing how some are made, as well as discussing his home country, Kenya and its culture.
On Feb. 22 at 6 p.m., the Brookings Public Library, along with the Hilton M. Briggs Library, will host their first annual African American Read-In, where selected readings by Black authors will be read aloud by community members. This event will open with a book tasting where attendees will have a chance to mingle, enjoy refreshments, and browse books by Black authors from various genres. Readings will begin at 6:20.
The months events will close out on Feb. 29 at 6 p.m. with the Black History Month Celebration, highlighting Black culture and history through presentations, activities, food, and fellowship. Food will be served first and presentations will begin at 6:30 p.m.
All Black History Month events will be in person in the librarys Cooper Room. For more information about these and other library events, visit the librarys website at www.brookingslibrary.org and followit on Facebook @bkglib.
The library’s mission is to provide materials and information contributing to the education, recreation and quality of life for the Brookings community.
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