Black History Month events with Charlotte Mecklenburg Library in 2024

Elevating Our Voices: Code Switching and Black Identity
Saturday, February 3, 2024
1 to 2:30 p.m.
Allegra Westbrooks Regional Library
2412 Beatties Ford Road, Chrlotte, NC 28216
Ages 16+

Code switching is the practice of altering one’s speech as a result of one’s environment or present company. In the Black community, individuals often employ code switching to eliminate or reduce bias and stereotypes, especial in non-Black dominate spaces and/or the workplace.

Join us for a candid conversation as we explore the nuances of code switching in the workplace. Is it helpful, harmful, necessary?

Panelists Geillian Rankin-Jackson, Winston Robinson, and Marvin Stephens will share their experiences and insights from the classroom to the boardroom.

Black Owned Business Showcase: authors, writers and Illustrators
Sunday, February 4, 2024
2 to 4 p.m.
SouthPark Regional Library
7015 Carnegie Blvd, Charlotte, NC 28211
Ages 12+

Come and be Inspired! Meet successful African-American authors, writers, and illustrators from the Charlotte community as we gather for a motivational afternoon of experiences, insights, and advice about the writing and publishing process. Join us for a valuable opportunity for aspiring writers and readers to engage with authors to understand the craft of writing and the author’s journey.

Researching the Lives of Enslaved Ancestors
Monday, February 5, 2024
2 to 4 p.m.
West Boulevard Library
2157 West Boulevard, Charlotte, NC 28208
Ages 16+

Join Genealogy Librarian Danielle Pritchett to learn more about African American Ancestry. Learn the strategies needed to locate enslaved ancestors in government documents. We will take a closer look at slave schedules, property inventories, and wills.

Black History Month — Bingo
Monday, February 5, 2024
6 to 7 p.m.
North County Regional Library
16500 Holly Crest Lane, Huntersville, NC 28078
Ages 5-12

In honor of Black History Month, (school-age students and pre-teens) can register to play a bingo challenge that introduces famous and influential African Americans who have shaped our society for the better.

This event will take place at North County Regional Library. Please register to reserve your spot. Small prizes will be offered for the winners.

College Sunday: Black History Month Edition
Sunday, February 11, 2024
2 to 4 p.m.
ImaginOn
300 E 7th Street, Charlotte, NC
Ages 12-18

Join the Teen Loft for our College Sundays series!

Play some HBCU and black history themed Kahoot, enjoy some NPHC trivia, and hear from special guests about the black college experience!

HBCU stands for Historically Black Colleges and Universities and the NPHC is the council of historical Black Greek organizations with notable members such MLK, Kamala Harris, Zora Neale Hurston, George Washington Carver, Shaq, Colin Kaepernick, and more!

Black History Month Family Storytime: Kadir Nelson
Monday, February 12, 2024
10:30 to 11 a.m.
ImaginOn
300 E 7th Street, Charlotte, NC
Ages 0-5

In honor of Black History Month, today’s storytime will feature books illustrated by the wonderful African American illustrator Kadir Nelson. Your whole family can enjoy stories, songs, and movement activities that support early literacy skill development and help foster a love of books and reading in your child. Parents and caregivers are encouraged to participate.

Homeschool Rally Jr. Edition (Ages 5-7): Celebrating Alma Woodsey Thomas
Tuesday, February 13, 2024
1 to 1:45 p.m.
ImaginOn
300 E 7th Street, Charlotte, NC
Ages 5-7

Homeschool Rally Jr. Edition (Ages 8-11): Celebrating Alma Woodsey Thomas
Tuesday, February 13, 2024
2:15 to 3 p.m.
ImaginOn
300 E 7th Street, Charlotte, NC
Ages 8-11

February is Black History Month! This Homeschool Rally will introduce children ages 5-7 to celebrated African American artist and teacher Alma Woodsey Thomas. Participants will explore watercolor painting techniques and make paintings in her style. We might get messy, so dress accordingly!

Black Genealogy: Moving Beyond the 1870 Census
Thursday, February 15, 2024
6 to 7:30 p.m.
Mountain Island Library
4420 Hoyt Galvin Way, Charlotte, NC 28214
Ages 16+

Celebrate Black History Month at Mountain Island Library with an exciting program presented by Danielle Pritchett, Genealogy Librarian at the Robinson-Spangler Carolina Room.

Unlock the secrets of African American genealogy with this presentation, navigating the challenges of tracing enslaved or free ancestors. Explore crucial records like slave schedules, free Negro Registries, cohabitation records and more! Discover effective strategies using census clues to trace lineage before 1865.

This event will also be offered online. Please register to receive the zoom link.

National African American Read In Celebration
Saturday, February 17, 2024
11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Sugar Creek Charter Elementary
4101 N Tryon Street, Charlotte, NC 28206
All ages

This year, the theme is “Celebrating Literacy Through the Arts”. In addition to a few performances, there will be art activities for all ages, and food trucks on site, available to purchase for multiple dietary needs.

A children’s workshop will be hosted by Clay Works. Registration is required. A Teen Paint Party will also be hosted and will require registration. This event is open to the entire family!

Rookie Science: Ice Cream Making
Saturday, February 17, 2024
2 to 4 p.m.
ImaginOn
300 E 7th Street, Charlotte, NC
Ages 5-11

Celebrate Black History Month as we learn more about the ice cream innovator, Augustus Jackson. We’ll explore the science behind making modern ice cream through books and hands-on educational activities before sampling our own sweet treats.

Researching the Lives of Enslaved Ancestors
Wednesday, February 21, 2024
2 to 4 p.m.
Steele Creek Library
13620 Steele Creek Road, Charlotte, NC 28273
Ages 16+

Join Genealogy Librarian Danielle Pritchett to learn more about African American Ancestry. Learn the strategies needed to locate enslaved ancestors in government documents. We will take a closer look at slave schedules, property inventories, and wills.

Black History Month: Scavenger Hunt
Thursday, February 22, 2024
4:30 to 5:15 p.m.
Allegra Westbrooks Regional Library
2412 Beatties Ford Road, Charlotte, NC 28216
Ages 5-12

Join us as we continue to celebrate Black History Month in the month of February. This afternoon we will be learning about well known black figures throughout history with a scavenger hunt around the library. Participants will match a picture of a black figure with the corresponding famous quote or contribution.

Stories with Mother Minter
Saturday, February 24, 2024
11 to 11:45 a.m.
Myers Park Library
1361 Queens Road, Charlotte, NC 28207
Ages 3-18

Elisha “Mother” Minter is a storyteller and drummer who delights audiences with beautiful African tales and stories of growing up in rural North Carolina. Listen to stories and participate in extension activities at this special program in celebration of Black History Month.
This program is recommended for ages 3-8 and their families.

Registration required. Please be sure to register the number of children and adults who will attend.

Gardening and Building Community
Saturday, February 24, 2024
1 to 2 p.m.
Myers Park Library
1361 Queens Road, Charlotte, NC 28207
Adults

Presenters from the Extension Master Gardener Volunteers of Mecklenburg County will discuss the tradition of gardening in African American communities and current community gardening initiatives in Mecklenburg County.

Meet Author ReShonda Tate
Saturday, February 24, 2024
5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Hickory Grove Library
5935 Hickory Grove Road, Charlotte, NC
Ages 16+

Hickory Grove Public Library welcomes Bestselling author ReShonda Tate. As the national bestselling author of more than fifty books, ReShonda Tate has the credentials, and the passion, to bring stories to life.

ReShonda writes both adult and teen fiction, as well as nonfiction. Her sophomore novel, Let the Church Say Amen, was made into a film directed by actress Regina King, and produced by TD Jakes and Queen Latifah. Her novel, The Secret She Kept was also made into a television movie.

ReShonda’s latest novel, The Queen of Sugar Hill, is set to be released on January 30th. The Queen of Sugar Hill is based on the extraordinary life of Hattie McDaniel, who won an Oscar in 1940 for her role as Mammy in “Gone With the Wind.” Instead of the win changing her life, Hattie found herself thrust in the middle of two worlds—Black and White—and not being welcomed in either. As the NAACP waged an all-out war against Hattie and actors like her, the emotionally conflicted actor found herself fighting daily as she navigated the horror and beauty of Hollywood.

Family Storytime: African Stories
Monday, February 26, 2024
10:30 to 11 a.m.
ImaginOn
300 E 7th Street, Charlotte, NC 28202
Ages 0-5

Your whole family can enjoy stories, songs, and movement activities that support early literacy skill development and help foster a love of books and reading in your child. Parents and caregivers are encouraged to participate.

In honor of Black History Month, come join us for a special multicultural family storytime for ages 0-5! Today we will read books from and about Africa, featuring children in Africa. We’ll also put out a special African mask Make & Take craft for preschoolers afterwards.

Summer of Soul (…or When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised): Screening
Thursday, February 29, 2024
5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
South County Regional Library
5801 Rea Road, Charlotte, NC 28277
Ages 16+

In his acclaimed debut as a filmmaker, Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson presents a powerful and transporting documentary, part music film, part historical record, created around an epic event that celebrated Black history, culture, and fashion. Over the course of six weeks in the summer of 1969, just one hundred miles south of Woodstock, The Harlem Cultural Festival was filmed in Mount Morris Park (now Marcus Garvey Park). The footage was largely forgotten, until now. This documentary shines a light on the importance of history to our spiritual well-being and stands as a testament to the healing power of music during times of unrest, both past, and present. The feature includes concert performances by Stevie Wonder, Nina Simone, Sly & the Family Stone, Gladys Knight and the Pips, Mahalia Jackson, B.B. King, The 5th Dimension, and more.