African American History Month

The Chicago Public Library is Celebrating Diversity during African American History Month, February 2012, by observing the culture, heritage, contributions and achievements of African Americans. The Chicago Public Library will commemorate diversity in music during all 2012 heritage month celebrations.

In February, the public is invited to visit neighborhood branches, the two regional libraries and the Harold Washington Library Center to participate in and enjoy a variety of free programs, special events and exhibits highlighting the significant contributions of African Americans to music.

The Chicago Public Library’s African American History Month Opening Program features a candid and enlightening panel discussion on Carl Davis, one of Chicago’s legendary music producers. In addition, panel members will talk about Davis’ autobiography, The Man Behind the Music: The Legendary Carl Davis, a behind-the-scenes look at the African American music industry in Chicago. This free event will take place at 1:00 p.m. Saturday, February 4 at Woodson Regional Library, 9525 S. Halsted Street. Panelists will include Gene Chandler, Herb Kent, Marshall Thompson, Gregg Parker, Gus Redmond, Leonard Fourte and Maurice White. Clarence Waldron, former senior writer and editor at Jet Magazine, will moderate the discussion. The program will also include performances by Diane Caesar and the mime team from Unity Fellowship Church in Harvey, Ill. The opening program is co-sponsored by Life to Legacy Publishers.

Learn about African Americans’ contributions to music.

Learn about African American History.

African American History Month Calendar of Events

February

African American Stories for Preschoolers
Wednesday, February 1, 11:00 a.m.
Jeffery Manor Branch
Children will learn about African American history and culture through stories and crafts.

African American Stories for Preschoolers
Thursday, February 2, 10:00 a.m.
Coleman Branch
Children will hear stories about African American history and create a related craft.

Storytelling Showdown
Thursday, February 2, 4:00 p.m.
Coleman Branch
Librarians and children will bring literary characters to life using puppets, props and their imaginations while reading their favorite books to a lively audience.

Music Beats on the Internet
Thursday, February 2, 4:00 p.m.
Jeffery Manor Branch
Learn to use databases to discover information about favorite entertainers.

Adult Book Discussion
Thursday, February 2, 6:00 p.m.
Walker Branch
Join a discussion of The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of American’s Great Migration by Isabel Wilkerson. This Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist chronicles the migration of African Americans from the South between 1915 and 1970.

Introduction to African American History and Genealogy Databases
Saturday, February 4, 10:00 a.m.
Harold Washington Library Center
Electronic Resource Center, Fourth Floor
This one-hour hands-on class will explore using newspapers, biography and history databases, and genealogical and census information to trace individual and family histories. Sample searches will be demonstrated with time afterward for questions and research. The class is limited to 11 people, and reservations are required. Please call (312) 747-4600 for reservations.

African American History Month Opening Program
Saturday, February 4, 1:00 p.m.
Woodson Regional Library
The Chicago Public Library’s opening event for African American History Month features a candid and enlightening panel discussion on Carl Davis, one of Chicago’s legendary music producers. The program will also include performances by Diane Caesar and the mime team from Unity Fellowship Church in Harvey, Ill. The opening program is co-sponsored by Life to Legacy Publishers.

So You Think You Can Sing
Tuesday, February 7, 4:00 p.m.
Jeffery Manor Branch
Participants will enjoy an afternoon of lip-syncing to songs by their favorite artists.

African American Stories for Preschoolers
Wednesday, February 8, 11:00 a.m.
Jeffery Manor Branch
Children will learn about African American history and culture through stories and crafts.

The Berklee Initiative-Chicago West Community Center
Wednesday, February 8, 4:00 p.m.
Austin Branch
Teens from the After School Matters Program will present live musical performances that range from jazz standards and Motown classics to popular soul, R&B and rock ’n’ roll favorites.

West African Drumming
Wednesday, February 8, 4:00 p.m.
King Branch
Teens will provide an overview of the music of the djembe drum including cultural and historical significance of the instrument in West Africa. After School Matters teens will showcase the versatility of the djembe drum by demonstrating how different sounds are made and will perform several traditional djembe drum songs.

African American Stories for Preschoolers
Thursday, February 9, 10:00 a.m.
Coleman Branch
Children will hear stories about African American history and create a related craft.

Storytelling Showdown
Thursday, February 9, 4:00 p.m.
Coleman Branch
Librarians and children will bring literary characters to life using puppets, props and their imaginations while reading their favorite books to a lively audience.

African American History Quiz Game
Thursday, February 9, 4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Greater Grand Crossing Branch
Win prizes playing a quiz game featuring questions about great African Americans and the civil rights movement.

CPS All City Dance Ensemble
Saturday, February 11, 2:00 p.m.
Kelly Branch
Join students from area Chicago Public Schools as they perform exciting and energetic dance routines in celebration of African American History Month.

Songwriting and Producing
Tuesday, February 14, 4:00 p.m.
West Englewood Branch
Teens from After School Matters will present a live musical performance featuring original tunes that span the pop, hip-hop and R&B genres.

African American Stories for Preschoolers
Wednesday, February 15, 11:00 a.m.
Jeffery Manor Branch
Children will learn about African American history and culture through stories and crafts.

R.B.C. Band Ensemble
Wednesday, February 15, 4:00 p.m.
Beverly Branch
Apprentices from the After School Matters R.B.C. Band Ensemble will perform a 30-minute set featuring a mix of R&B, soul and gospel songs.

Artist Development Music Program
Wednesday, February 15, 5:00 p.m.
Avalon Branch
After School Matters teens will perform several choreographed singing routines ranging from R&B to Motown to gospel.

African American Stories for Preschoolers
Thursday, February 16, 10:00 a.m.
Coleman Branch
Children will hear stories about African American history and create a related craft.

African Mask Making
Thursday, February 16, 4:00 p.m.
Jeffery Manor Branch
Participants will learn about the history of African masks and create a mask to take home.

Djembe Music Corps
Thursday, February 16, 4:00 p.m.
West Chicago Avenue Branch
Djembe Percussion Corps offers a dynamic program where youth will learn the sacred techniques and significance of the Djembe drum among West African cultures. Teens from After School Matters will present innovative performances showcasing precisely coordinated sequences that are powerfully creative and energetically fierce.

Chicago Jazz Ensemble—Louis Armstrong Music Listing Section
Saturday, February 18, 2:00 p.m.
Woodson Regional Library
Auditorium
Join students from area Chicago Public Schools as they perform music from legendary trumpeter Louis Armstrong. Chicago Jazz Ensemble Artistic Director Dana Hall will discuss Armstrong’s rich musical legacy. A question-and-answer session will follow.

Chicago Opera Theater
Tuesday, February 21, 4:00 p.m.
Chicago Bee Branch
After School Matters apprentices from the Chicago Opera Theater will perform 30 minutes of classical opera, operetta and musical numbers. Songs will be offered in a variety of forms including duet, trio, quartet and as a full ensemble.

History Through Hidden Words
Tuesday, February 21, 4:00 p.m.
Jeffery Manor Branch
Participants will learn about African Americans in the music industry through a word-search puzzle. A book will be awarded to all participants.

African American Stories for Preschoolers
Wednesday, February 22, 11:00 a.m.
Jeffery Manor Branch
Children will learn about African American history and culture through stories and crafts.

African American Stories for Preschoolers
Thursday, February 23, 10:00 a.m.
Coleman Branch
Children will hear stories about African American history and create a related craft.

Adult Book Discussion
Thursday, February 23, 10:45 a.m.
Harold Washington Library Center
Talking Book Center
Join a discussion of The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of American’s Great Migration by Isabel Wilkerson. This Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist chronicles the migration of African Americans from the South between 1915 and 1970.

Jazz in the Afternoon
Hosted by the Talking Book Center
Thursday, February 23, 12:15 p.m.
Harold Washington Library Center
Cindy Pritzker Auditorium
Attend an afternoon of jazz featuring the Kenny Coleman Jazz Ensemble. The group will perform a variety of jazz selections, capturing the musical forms and historical significance of notable African Americans in jazz in Chicago and beyond.

Storytelling Showdown
Thursday, February 23, 4:00 p.m.
Coleman Branch
Librarians and children will bring literary characters to life using puppets, props and their imaginations while reading their favorite books to a lively audience.

Introduction to African American Genealogy
Saturday, February, 25, 10:00 a.m.
Greater Grand Crossing Branch
What do you want to know about African American history and your heritage? Learn more in a hands-on workshop using Chicago Public Library resources including databases and the website’s Popular Topics pages.

Introduction to African American History and Genealogy Databases
Saturday, February 25, 10:00 a.m.
Harold Washington Library Center
Electronic Resource Center, Fourth Floor
This one-hour hands-on class will explore using newspapers, biography and history databases, and genealogical and census information to trace individual and family histories. Sample searches will be demonstrated with time afterward for questions and research. The class is limited to 11 people, and reservations are required. Please call (312) 747-4600 for reservations.

Slow Jamz with Etta James
Saturday, February 25, 11:00 a.m.
Brainerd Branch
Music by Etta James and a discussion of The Rage to Survive: The Etta James Story.

CPS All City Concert Band
Saturday, February 25, 2:00 p.m.
Legler Branch
Under the direction of Carlos Ayento, students from area Chicago Public Schools will provide musical entertainment.

Meet the Author: Lowell Thompson
Tuesday, February 28, 6:00 p.m.
Harold Washington Library Center
Cindy Pritzker Auditorium
Lowell Thompson will discuss and sign his new book, African Americans in Chicago, which chronicles the story of black Chicago from Jean Baptiste Point DuSable, the brown-skinned man recognized as Chicago’s first non-Indian settler, to President Barack Obama.

African American Stories for Preschoolers
Wednesday, February 29, 11:00 a.m.
Jeffery Manor Branch
Children will learn about African American history and culture through stories and crafts.