Black Music Month

Turn up the volume this Black Music Month with DC Public Library! Throughout June, join us in honoring the rich history and enduring influence of Black music. From iconic artists of the past to the vibrant sounds shaping the present, attend exciting free concerts, author talks and screenings; check out recommended reads for all ages; stream unlimited music with your library card and more. We're proud to amplify the voices and stories that have shaped Black music. Don't miss out on this opportunity to learn, engage, and celebrate!

Prince and Purple Rain: 40 Years

Saturday, June 1, Noon | Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library

Black Music Month and DC Public Library’s Discover Summer kicks off with an author talk and day party in celebration of the 40th Anniversary of Purple Rain, the Grammy and Oscar-winning album by Prince and the Revolution. Minneapolis-based music journalist Andrea Swennson debuts her new work Prince and Purple Rain: 40 Years, a definitive look at Prince the artist, the creation of The Revolution, and the legendary film and multi-platinum soundtrack.

My Black Country with Alice Randall

Wednesday, June 5, 7 p.m. | Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library

Grab your cowboy hat and head on down to the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library to celebrate Black Music Month with Alice Randall, on her new title My Black Country. We are thrilled to partner with Mocha Media on this enlightening discussion with Alice Randall, acclaimed songwriter, novelist, and professor from Vanderbilt, to discuss her latest book, "My Black Country: A Journey Through Country Music’s Black Past, Present, and Future." The talk will dive into the history of Black Country music and the impact of Black musicians on American culture.

Go-Go on the Rooftop Returns

Sundays in June, 1  - 5 p.m. | Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library

The beat is back on this summer at the Go-Go on the Rooftop Concert Series at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library! This June, in honor of Black Music Month, the Go-Go Archives are inviting you to a FREE concert each Sunday in June with beats by DJ Big John and a line-up that features both current and future legends of D.C.'s official music. Meet some of D.C.’s incredible small business owners at the Pop-Up Vendor Mall in front of MLK Library.

• Sunday, June 9 | MAB 2.0, Still Familiar with Headliner E.U.
• Sunday, June 16 | Headliner Black Alley
• Sunday, June 23 | Relentless Band with Headliner Backyard Band

• Sunday, June 30 | R&S Project with Headliner Junkyard Band

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Black Punk Now: James Spooner and Chris Terry 

Thursday, June 13, 7 p.m. | Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library 

Join the Library for a rich conversation with James Spooner and Chris Terry, editors of the anthology Black Punk Now. Spooner and Terry will discuss this collection of essays, stories and comics that explore the lives and experiences of the Black punk community.

The South Got Something to Say

Thursday, June 20, 7 p.m. | Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library

The DC Public Library is excited to host The Atlanta Journal-Constitution for a special screening and panel discussion of the riveting, Emmy-nominated documentary, "The South Got Something to Say." "The South Got Something to Say" compellingly narrates the story of a city and culture evolving in tandem, as told by the artists at the heart of this evolution. This event marks the inaugural venture of AJC Films into the realm of original content, drawing from the paper's 155-year-old archive.