2023 BPL Black History Month Spotlight: Powderly, Woodlawn and Wylam Branch Library

It's the cover of the Black History Month 2023 booklet with the addition of the word spotlight. The cover of the BPL's Black History Month Booklet 2023. It features a black back ground with the words Black in red, History in yellow, and Month in green for the pan-african colors. Beneath Black History Month 2023, the outline of the word spotlight in yellow.

Black History Month 2023 is underway at the Birmingham Public Library (BPL)There are over 70+ programs happening across almost all BPL locations. Today we are spotlighting programs at 3 libraries: Powderly, Woodlawn and Wylam.

Among the highlights: 

* At Powderly Branch Library, middle and high schoolers are invited to attend "Comics in Color: Black History Gets Graphic" at 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, February 21. This comic book discussion will highlight African Americans' role in graphic novels/comic books. There will be video demonstrations and vintage comic books to win as door prizes.   

* Adults are invited to "Faces: African Mask Making at 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday, February 22 at the Powderly  BranchThe presenter will be Kimmy Contrell, a contemporary artist from Atlanta who makes beautiful African masks. Join us to make your own African masks and learn a out their significance. 

* Join us at Wylam  Branch Library at 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday, February 14 as the Wylam After-School Club discusses the Underground Railroad and how enslaved people used quilt codes to send secret messages to each other.  Participants will color quilt patterns and learn their hidden meanings.    

You can find our Black History Month 2023 booklet online on the home page of our website

Read our branch spotlights below.

Powderly Branch Library
3301 Jefferson Ave SW, Birmingham, AL 35221

Handprint Peace Flowers Craft (Grab n Go)
All month long

Preschool and elementary aged children can pick up this Grab n Go craft at the Powderly Branch Library. Inside will be colorful paper, instructions, and a supply list for any extras. These peace flowers represent the struggle for peace, equality, and justice for all.

Comics in Color: Black History Gets Graphic
Tuesday, February 21 | Starts at 4:00 p.m.

Middle and high schoolers are invited to join a comic book discussion and journey through comic book history that will highlight African Americans role in graphic novels/comic books. There will be video demonstrations and vintage comic books to win as door prizes as well as other activities.

Faces: African Mask Making
Wednesday, February 22 | Starts at 3:00 p.m.

Learn about the artist Kimmy Cantrell, a contemporary artist from Atlanta who makes beautiful African masks. Join us and make your own African mask and learn about the significance of these masks. This program is for adults and older.

Woodlawn Branch Library

5709 1st Ave N, Birmingham, AL 35212

Famous African Americans Word Search
All month long

Enjoy this word search puzzle by finding the names of famous African Americans. Take the puzzle with you or complete it here at the library.

Wylam Branch Library
4300 7th Ave, Wylam, Birmingham, AL 35224

Come and visit us throughout the month of February to help complete an African American jigsaw puzzle.

Wylam After-School Club

Tuesday, February 14 | Starts at 3:30 p.m.

The Underground Railroad workers and enslaved people used quilt codes to send secret messages to each other. Participants will color quilt patterns and learn their hidden meanings.

Wylam Book Club
Wednesday, February 15 | Starts at 11:00 a.m.

Book club will discuss The Underground Railroad (also available in Spanish) by Colson Whitehead. This novel is a contemporary writer’s take on the underground railroad. 

“It is an unconventional coming of age story, part slave narrative, part historical fiction, part magical realism, in which Whitehead transforms the metaphorical Underground Railroad of our historical memory into an actual mode of transportation.”

Check out the BPL's calendar for more programs! 

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