In recognition of February as African-American History Month, the Tulsa City-County Library presents free family programs highlighting African-Americans’ achievements and contributions.
The month begins with two opportunities to meet Omar Tyree (aka The Urban Griot). Tyree is a New York Times best-selling author, journalist, lecturer, poet, screenwriter, songwriter, playwright, literacy advocate and founder of the Urban Literacy Project. Among his many accolades, Tyree won the 2001 NAACP Image Award for outstanding literature in fiction and the 2006 Phillis Wheatley Literary Award for body of work in urban fiction. His works include “Capital City,” the “Flyy Girl” trilogy, “12 Brown Boys” and other urban fiction novels. Tyree will present the following programs:
· “Contemporary Writing Workshop for Teens” Feb. 2, 10-11:30 a.m., Rudisill Regional Library, 1520 N. Hartford. Tyree’s Urban Literacy Project has the goal of increasing the overall literacy rate among urban and other disadvantaged youth and citizens through informative lectures, performances, presentations and workshops. In this fun workshop, Tyree will focus on social media to teach students the five key components of literacy: reading, writing, thinking, visualization and application. Educators are encouraged to bring their students.
· “Author Presentation and Book Signing: Where Are We Now?” Feb. 2, 6-8:30 p.m., Rudisill Regional Library. Tyree will discuss negative African-American imagery and the ongoing dysfunctions that persist in the culture, music, reality TV and social media. Does it all add up to the continued false images perpetuated in the media? Afterward, Tyree will sign copies of his books, which will be available for purchasing at the program.
Additional events planned to celebrate African-American History Month include:
· “Greatest Stories Never Told: Fly With Aviator James Herman Banning” Feb. 4-March 2, Rudisill Regional Library. This 3-D exhibit and living history presentation celebrates one of Oklahoma’s great African-American aviation heroes. Born and raised on a homestead in Canton, Okla., James Herman Banning became the first African-American to receive a U.S. Department of Commerce pilot’s license. Full of bravery and determination, Banning successfully made the first transcontinental flight across the United States in 1932. No one would allow him to fly solo in their airplanes, so he built his own plane. Bring your children to explore this STEM exhibit to encourage them to strive for their goals and reach beyond their expectation. Children will be able to see themselves as aviators, explorers, writers and leaders.
At the exhibit’s opening on Saturday, Feb. 4, 9-11 a.m., living history actor Jeantique Oriol will bring Banning to life. The audience will get an opportunity to ask questions about his life and times.
· “African-American History Month Essay Contest” – The contest is open to seventh- and eighth-grade students. Entries must be submitted by Feb. 20 to any Tulsa City-County Library location or via email to sa@tulsalibrary.org. For contest rules and regulations, call the Suburban Acres Library, 4606 N. Garrison, at 918-549-7655. All winners and participants are invited to an award ceremony, Saturday, March 4, 1-3 p.m. at Suburban Acres Library.
· “2017 African-American Heritage History Bowl,” Feb. 23, 5-9 p.m., Central Library’s Pocahontas Greadington Learning & Creativity Center, Fifth Street and Denver Avenue. Designed around the national African-American History Month theme “The Crisis in Black Education,” the trivia bowl is open to all junior high schools, high schools, sororities, fraternities, social and business organizations, churches, teams, book clubs, groups and families to enter. There is a Junior High/High School Bowl and a Community Bowl. Trophies will be awarded for first, second and third place in each bowl. Plus, VR headsets will be awarded to first-place winners in the Junior High/High School category, and a cash prize will be awarded for first place in the Community Bowl. All ages are welcome to attend. To participate or for more information, call Rudisill Regional Library at 918-549-7645.
Tulsa City-County Library’s African-American Resource Center, located at Rudisill Regional Library, 1520 N. Hartford, serves to collect, preserve and provide access to resources honoring and documenting the experiences of people of African descent. The center is devoted to providing the community with current and comprehensive resource materials and professional reference materials on the culture and history of African-Americans.
For more information on Tulsa City-County Library programming and services, call the AskUs Hotline, 918-549-7323, or visit www.tulsalibrary.org.
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