DeKalb County Public Library will offer more than 20 programs throughout February to mark Black History Month. The events, which are free and open to the public, will be held at various library branches and include historical presentations, exhibits, crafts, and films.
Alison Weissinger, director of DeKalb County Public Library, said, “We’re excited to bring such a wide range of programs to our branches this year. This lineup provides a wonderful opportunity for the community to gather and explore stories of leadership and creativity.”
One featured event is “250 Years of African American History: Exhibition Opening and Conversation with Mike Glenn.” Glenn will present his collection of historical documents, periodicals, and photographs on February 2 at the Decatur Library. The exhibition will be available in the Fourth Floor Gallery through February 28 on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays from 1 to 5 p.m., in partnership with the Georgia Center for the Book.
Another program is “Unlocking History with the National Center for Civil and Human Rights (NCCHR),” focusing on Black women’s leadership during the Montgomery Bus Boycott. The session includes an activity about media literacy using primary sources and archival materials. It is scheduled for February 13 at Scott Candler Library.
Historian Deric Gilliard will lead discussions titled “Dr. King’s Unsung Heroes and Today’s Mission,” sharing insights from his career and books on civil rights history. These sessions are set for February 11 at Hairston Crossing Library and February 28 at Stonecrest Library.
For children ages six to twelve, Ellen Gadberry will teach pottery inspired by poet and artist David Drake on February 21 at Stone Mountain-Sue Kellogg Library.
On the same day, Northlake-Barbara Loar Library will host “Hattitude: African American Hat Culture,” exploring headwear traditions in African American communities.
The full schedule of events can be found on the library’s events calendar at dekalblibrary.org/events. Some activities require advance registration.
In related context about DeKalb County schools: enrollment dropped by 2.2% during the 2022-23 school year compared to the previous year (https://www.gadoe.org/). During that period, total student enrollment was reported as 98,287 (https://www.gadoe.org/), with White students comprising approximately 14% of all students (https://www.gadoe.org/).
“We’re excited to bring such a wide range of programs to our branches this year,” said Alison Weissinger, director of DeKalb County Public Library. “This lineup provides a wonderful opportunity for the community to gather and explore stories of leadership and creativity.”
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