Contributors: Rachel Jamison and Aaron Yeager.
Want to learn more about Black history, both locally and beyond? Take a look below, for ways you can get involved this month.
“The Truth About Sojourner”
Saturday, February 18th, 1 to 2 p.m.
Goodyear Branch Library Community Room
The Goodyear Branch Library and performer Josy Jones, of The Chameleon Village Theater Collective, will present “The Truth About Sojourner.” Attend to hear the story of Sojourner Truth’s life, and famous speech, “Ain’t I a Woman,” and examine artifacts from the time.
Spirituals and Art Songs Recital
Saturday, February 18th, 3 to 4:30 p.m.
Guzzetta Recital Hall, The University of Akron
Applied voice students of Dr. Frank Ward will present a program of Spirituals and Art Songs by Black Composers. Many of the songs will include text by noted poets Langston Hughes and Paul Laurence Dunbar, among others. This event is free and open to the public.
Igniting Inclusion: A Conversation with Journalist David Lee Morgan, Jr.
Monday, February 20th, 6 to 8 p.m.
Stow-Munroe Falls Room, Stow-Munroe Falls Public Library
Join local resident and current English teacher at Stow-Munroe Falls High School, David Lee Morgan, Jr., as he shares insights from his decades-long career in journalism, as well as his recent pivot to education, where he co-leads the high school’s Bulldogs Taking Action club and teaches a class on diverse literature.
Exploring The Underground Railroad (Virtual)
Monday, February 20th, 6 to 7 p.m.
Join park rangers and volunteer actors to explore the Underground Railroad that once traveled through Cuyahoga Valley National Park. This presentation chronicles the efforts of Black canal boat captain John Malvin, who transported runaway slaves.
Black History Month Community Read Book Discussions
Saturday, February 25th, 2 to 3 p.m.
Nordonia Hills Branch Library
Participants of all ages are invited to keep the conversation going, as we discuss two books by Tyler Merritt. Activities and refreshments will be provided.
Black Homesteaders on the Great Plains (Virtual)
Monday, February 27th, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.
The call of free land offered Black Americans the possibilities of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, on the Great Plains. Learn about the struggles that Black homesteaders met in building and sustaining households and communities. Discuss with rangers how these stories impact the Great Plains region today.
Rethinking Race: Two-Week Forum of Events
Begins Monday, February 27th, 7 p.m.
EJ Thomas Hall
The event begins with keynote speaker Michelle Alexander, the New York Times bestselling author of “The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness.” The event is free, with tickets available for pickup at the ticket office, weekdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Learn more about other events running through March 9, by tapping below.
Film Screening of “Punch 9 for Harold Washington,” and Q&A with Director Joe Winston
Tuesday, February 28th, 2 to 4 p.m.
Jean Hower Taber Gardner Student Union Theatre, University of Akron
See a free screening, and participate in a question-and-answer session, with filmmaker Joe Winston. The film focuses on Harold Washington, Chicago’s first Black mayor.