Celebrate Black History Month with a selection of special themed programming, including crafts, stories and special exhibits.
Events for Adults
Motown: Music that Moved the World (Zoom)
Wednesday, February 2, 7 p.m.
In the 60s, Motown Records produced hits as efficiently as Ford Motor Company produced automobiles! Learn how Motown became Hitsville, USA. Register now.
Movie Screening: Fences (in person)
Wednesday, February 9, 6:30 p.m.
Enjoy the 2016 film—starring Denzel Washington and Viola Davis—based on the August Wilson play that follows a Black family’s lives in 1950’s Pittsburgh.
The Great Migration and The Great War (Zoom)
Tuesday, February 15, 7 p.m.
Historian Clarence Goodman will delve into The Great Migration, a period of time when large numbers of African Americans moved from the Jim Crow South to northern cities but still faced many of the same struggles. He will also look at the effect that this had on American war efforts during World War I. Register now.
Events for Children
Inspirations: Jacob Lawrence (in person)
Tuesday, February 1, 4:30 p.m.
Jacob Lawrence is remembered for his paintings of American and African American history. Come learn about his art, and make a painting of your own! Register now.
Black History Month Craft Packs
Wednesdays, February 2 & 23
Celebrate Black History Month with a kit filled with activities and crafts from the Children’s Services Desk, while supplies last.
DIY Guess Who
Wednesday, February 9
Design your own Guess Who board game with this interactive kit based on African American heroes and sheroes!
Inspirations: Richard Wright (in person)
Tuesday, February 22, 4:30 p.m.
Richard Wright is known for writing fiction, autobiographies and also haiku! Come learn about this famous writer and try writing some poetry of your own. Register now.
Keena Ford-Inspired Journal (in person)
Monday, February 21, 1:30 p.m.
Grades 2–3
Make your own journal inspired by the Keena Ford book series. Register now.
Community Event
24th Annual Black History Month Celebration (in person)
Saturday, February 12, 2 p.m.
Bolingbrook High School, 365 Raider Way
Join the Black History Month Awareness Club for their annual college and university fair and program. This year’s main event will feature Jesse White and the Jesse White Tumblers. For details, visit bolingbrookblackhistory.com. All ages welcome.
Books
Place a hold from home by clicking on one of the covers in the carousel below, or visit us in the library to see our other Black History Month displays. You can also find brand-new books by Black authors here.
One Book, One ‘Brook
Join us for the debut of One Book, One ‘Brook, our new community-wide reading initiative! We’re inviting everyone in the Bolingbrook community to come together through the shared experience of reading the same book and to participate in enlightening and empowering conversations. For our inaugural book selection, we’ve chosen Caste: The Origins of our Discontents by Isabel Wilkerson. || LEARN MORE >