We, the staff members, thank you for attending 2012 Black History Month programs. For your educational enlightenment and pleasure, we hosted five lectures, two plays and one gospel concert. A total of 231 customers turned out for these events. Noted humanities scholar C.R. Gibbs started off activities by focusing on the economic history of African-Americans and followed it up with presentations about ancient African empires and African-American heroines during the antebellum period. The United States Attorney for the District of Columbia, Ronald Machen Jr., next discussed the office’s strategies to keep young adults away from a life of crime and incarceration. New Bethel Baptist Church’s pastor, Dexter Nutall, examined the role of African-American women in the church, asserting that their numbers are increasing in the pulpit. Playwright Khadisha Ali-Coleman celebrated the transformative lives of five African-American women—Lena Horne, Nina Simone, Billie Holiday, Zora Neale Hurston and Lucille Clifton—in her creative production,
“In Her Own Words.”
Finally, Zoe Life Ministries’ Gospel Kids and Teens Theater Group presented the witty drama about the challenges of teen life in the play “The Day of Reckoning,” and closed out February with 18 gospel selections.
As you have made your presence felt during 2012 Black History Month, we invite you to do so again by attending a series of exciting April 2012 programs. On April 11, in recognition of D.C. Emancipation Day, John W. Franklin, director of partnerships and international programs at the National Museum of African American History and Culture, will discuss the topic, “Telling Our Story.” In celebration of Jazz Appreciation Month, we will host four live performances.
- April 18, spoken jazz artist Darlene Brown performs. In 2003, the poet produced the tasteful poetry CD, Lovesick Lessons, which features inspirational poems of love and other experiences over jazz and R&B music.
- April 21, Lea and Friends visit the library. The group, noted for engaging audiences with great vocals and meaningful lyrics, will play a combination of jazz-inspired pieces.
- April 25, the sensational Music at the Met Band performs an assortment of memorable jazz songs.
- April 28, the East of the River Police Boys and Girls Steel band performs. Since 1993, the steel pan ensemble has entertained nearly 1 million people in over half a dozen states, D.C. and the Caribbean.
