In recognition of February as African-American History Month, the Tulsa City-County Library will present family programs highlighting the achievements and contributions by African-Americans.
The 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.
Families are invited to these events at Rudisill Regional Library celebrating African-American History Month.
- Exhibit: “Joe Louis Barrow: A Life in Context,” Feb. 1-28. The exhibit chronicles the life of Joe Louis (aka “The Brown Bomber”), and American professional boxer and the World Heavyweight Champion from 1937-1949. Louis is considered to be one of the greatest heavyweights of all time. He is recognized as the first African-American to achieve the status of a nationwide hero within the United States, and his victory against Max Schmelling made international history. He also was instrumental in integrating the game of golf, breaking the sport’s color barrier in America by appearing under a sponsor’s exemption in a PGA event in 1952. This exhibit is sponsored by the Tulsa Library Trust and the African-American Resource Center.
- Meet Pellom McDaniels III, Author of “The Prince of Jockeys: The Life of Isaac Burns Murphy,” Feb. 5, 11:30 a.m. Pellom McDaniels III, faculty curator of African-American collections and assistant professor of African-American studies at Emory University, will talk about his book “The Prince of Jockeys: The Life of Isaac Burns Murphy.” McDaniels received a National Endowment for the Humanities for “The Prince of Jockeys.” The book chronicles the life and career of Isaac Burns Murphy, who was the first jockey to win the Kentucky Derby three times. Murphy’s 44 percent win record remains unmatched to this day. Despite his success, Murphy was pushed out of Thoroughbred racing when African-American jockeys were forced off the track, and he died in obscurity. A book signing will follow McDaniels’ presentation. Copies of his book will be available for purchasing. Sponsored by the Tulsa Library Trust and the African-American Resource Center.
- Meet and Greet Cookbook Author/Personal Chef Jennifer Hill Booker, Feb. 7, 5-7 p.m. Chef Jennifer Hill Booker returns to Tulsa to talk about her new book “Field Peas to Foie Gras: Southern Recipes with a French Accent.” A graduate of the University of Tulsa and The School of Culinary Arts at OSUIT, Booker also earned top honors from Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts in Paris, France with a Base de Cuisine certificate. She believes “food should taste like food” and for more than 20 years has spent her culinary career educating people about food, nutrition and healthy cooking practices. As a culinary educator, she demonstrates the ease, affordability, and importance of cooking and eating seasonally. A book signing will follow Booker’s presentation. Copies of her book will be available for purchasing. Enjoy Light hors d’oeuvres featured in the book and prepared by Booker. Sponsored by the Friends of the Rudisill Regional Library.
- 2015 African-American Heritage History Bowl, Feb. 23, 6 p.m. Designed around the national African-American History Month theme, “A Century of Black Life, History and Culture,” the trivia bowl is open to all high schools in Tulsa County. Trophies will be awarded for first, second and third place. All ages are welcome to attend. To participate or for more information, contact Lee Platt, 918-549-7646. Sponsored by the Tulsa Library Trust, African-American Resource Center and Friends of the Rudisill Regional Library.
For more information on Tulsa City-County Library’s celebration of African-American History Month, call the AskUs Hotline, 918-549-7323, or visit www.tulsalibrary.org.
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