Women's History Month 2023

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About Women's History Month

During Women’s History Month 2023, DC Public Library is "Celebrating Women Who Tell Our Stories." This theme honors all women, including trans women, and femme individuals who have made it their life's work to capture our stories and reflect them back to us with their words, their art or their actions. In a time when our stories are actively being censored, they are one of our most important tools of resistance. Stories help us reflect on our past for a better understanding of our present. Stories shine a light on the changemakers and glass ceiling breakers. Stories inspire us to join hands in solidarity to pursue justice. There is infinite power in stories, in who gets to tell them, who they are told about and who gets to hear them. 

This month, you are invited to immerse yourself in the power of these stories with DC Public Library. Join us for engaging programs, check out recommended reads, stream movies and music, research amazing women who have created change right here in D.C. and much more. 

About the Women's History Month Wordmark
The wordmark for Women's History Month includes an inclusive gender symbol for those who identify as women or femme. 

Events

Join the DC Public Library for Women's History Month author talks, film screenings, workshops and more. See some highlighted events below and view all upcoming Women's History Month events on the Library's calendar.

	Black Women will Save the World Sunday, Mar. 5, 3 p.m. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library	Join the Library and Mahogany Books for a special Women's History Month discussion with reporter and author April Ryan. She will talk about her new title Black Women Will Save the World and in partnership with African Ancestry reveal her roots.  Limited complementary copies of Women Will Save the World will be available for you to add to your home library courtesy of the DC Public Library Foundation.
	Salute to Ruby Dee: Ruby Dee at 100 Mondays, 5 p.m. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library	The life and times of an icon, Ruby at 100 is a month-long series in partnership with Prosperity Media. Beginning with her early days in TV and theatre, to her activism with the March on Washington, to her work as an actor and playwright, each week we will view video clip presentations, live short stage readings, and film screenings that highlight the life and career of Ruby Dee.
	Reader's Theatre: Miss Lady Bird's Wildflowers Wednesday, Mar. 8, 4 p.m. West End Library	Join in the retelling of a story about an intelligent and influential lady in celebration of Women's History Month. Together, we will read and act out the story of Lady Bird Johnson who, as the wife of President Lyndon Johnson, reminded citizens about the importance of conserving natural resources and promoted the beautification of cities and highways by planting wildflowers.
	In Conversation: Angela Davis Wednesday, Mar. 15, 7 p.m. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library	Angela Davis, a political activist at the cutting edge of the Black Liberation, feminist, queer and prison abolitionist movements for more than 50 years comes to the MLK Library to share her lifetime of experience and wisdom from the front lines of fighting for justice. Tickets for this event are currently sold out. It will be streamed LIVE on DC Public Library's Youtube channel. Click here to learn more and subscribe to get notified when we go live.
	The Public Square with Michelle Miller Thursday, Mar. 16, 6:30 p.m. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library	The DC Public Library is excited to host a premiere author talk in partnership with The Washington Association of Black Journalists and the DC Public Library Foundation with Michelle Miller on her newly released title Belonging: A Daughter’s Search for Identity Through Loss and Love. Michelle will be in conversation with award-winning journalist Keith Alexander. The first 50 registered attendees will receive a copy of Belonging provided by The DC Public Library Foundation.
	An ASL Tribute to Women's History and the Arts Thursday, Mar. 16, 7 p.m. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library	The VOCA ensemble will feature stories about Black Women, as well as Black Deaf Women. Join members of Visionaries of the Creative Arts (VOCA) as they share ASL poetry, storytelling, and dance to chronicle Black women's history.
	Somewhere in Time: Discovering DC History Saturday, Mar. 18, 1 p.m. Mt. Pleasant Library	During Women's History Month discover the stories of the city! Travel through time as we research District history—be it person, neighborhood building, or movement—this workshop series will help you access and navigate the library's digital collections for your own research. Each one-hour meeting will be devoted to a #goDigital resource (such as Dig DC, Archives of Sexuality and Gender, or Ancestry) and sharing your progress with your fellow researchers.
	Cinema at Rosedale: Harriet Thursday, Mar. 23, 5 p.m. Rosedale Library	Celebrate Women's History Month at Rosedale Library with a screening of the Academy Nominated 2019 film, Harriet. The film tells the extraordinary tale of Harriet Tubman's (played by Cynthia Erivo) escape from slavery and transformation into one of America's greatest heroes, whose courage, ingenuity, and tenacity freed hundreds of slaves and changed the course of history.
	Senior Movie Day: Hidden Figures Tuesday, Mar. 28, 1 p.m. Francis A. Gregory Library	Celebrate Women's History Month with a free matinee screening of the Academy Award-Nominated film, Hidden Figures which tells the story of a team of Black female mathematicians who served a vital role in NASA during the early years of the U.S. space program. This screening is hosted in collaboration with the Age-Friendly DC initiative.
	Alma's Art Thursday, Mar. 30, 4 p.m. Anacostia Library	Join the Anacostia Library for the kick-off of “Alma’s Art,” a five-week art experience for families with children between the ages of 5 and 8 based on the art of D.C. resident Alma Thomas. This program is being presented by Project Create, an arts organization located in Anacostia, and Beyond the Book. Participants will create art that they can take home and receive a copy of Alma's Art, written by Roda Ahmed and illustrated by Anita Cheung.
	We Who Believe in Freedom: Black Feminist DC Thursday, Mar. 30, 5 p.m. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library	Be the first to visit the new exhibition, We Who Believe in Freedom: Black Feminist DC on opening night! Explore the stories of Black feminists through the long 20th century and their impact on their communities in DC and across the country. This exhibition is hosted by the National Women’s History Museum in partnership with the DC Public Library.

Exhibitions

The DC Public Library has both in-person and online exhibitions that explore the lives and legacies of women who have made an impact on the art world, the Civil Rights movement and the fight for gender equality.

Emmett Till & Mamie Till-Mobley: Let The World See Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library | First Floor Jan. 26 - Mar. 12	We Who Believe in Freedom: Black Feminist DC Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library | First Floor Opening Mar. 30	Alma Thomas: Life is Color Online Exhibition

Recommended Reads

Check out titles that explore the stories of multifaceted women who have made an impact with their art, their activism, their journalism, their research, their athleticism and more.

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Mayor's Office on Women's Policy and Initiatives