OKLAHOMA CITY– The Metropolitan Library System will celebrate Black History Month with diverse library programs throughout Oklahoma County in the month of February.

 

Black History Month programs will include performances from Rhythmically Speaking and Adam and Kizzie, Freedmen genealogy presentations, a film series presented at Ralph Ellison Library and others.

 

To kick off Black History Month at the library, Adam and Kizzie will perform Roots of African American Music. The performance will take the audience on an informative musical journey through the socioeconomic, spiritual and artistic struggle and triumph of Black Americans.

 

Popular theater group, Rhythmically Speaking will perform Miss Blues: Oklahoma’s First Lady of The Blues. The show depicts Dorothy Ellis, known as Miss Blues, who sang the blues in Texas and Oklahoma and is a member of the Oklahoma Blues Hall Of Fame.

 

Ron Graham, vice president of the Black Genealogy Research Group of Oklahoma, will present Freedmen’s genealogy. The program will highlight ways in which customers can begin researching their family tree.

 

Throughout the month, the Ralph Ellison Library will also hold additional Black History Month programs and performances. They will host a Black History Month film series including screenings of The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman, I Am Not Your Negro and The Hate U Give. Other events at the Ralph Ellison Library will include a black-owned business and career opportunities expo and a live stage production of Brown Skinned Rich Girl from Spiritually Bold Inc.

 

For more information on Black History Month programming and resources, visit http://www.metrolibrary.org/blackhistorymonth.

 

Rhythmically Speaking Presents: Miss Blues: Oklahoma’s First Lady of The Blues

Warr Acres Library 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 12

Downtown Library 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 16

Ralph Ellison Library 3 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 17

Midwest City Library 7 p.m. Monday, Feb. 18

Choctaw Library 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 19

 

Adam and Kizzie Present: Roots of African American Music

Southern Oaks Library 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 2

Northwest Library 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 9

Bethany Library 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 23

 

Freedmen's Genealogy Program with Ron Graham

Downtown Library 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 2

Ralph Ellison Library 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 9

 

Ralph Ellison Library’s Black History Month Film Series

The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman 6 p.m. Monday, Feb. 4

I Am Not Your Negro 6 p.m. Monday, Feb. 11

TBA 6:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 18

The Hate U Give 6 p.m. Monday, Feb. 25

 

Other Black History Month Events at Ralph Ellison Library

Black History Month Trivia Quizzes all day Friday, Feb. 1

Black-Owned Business and Career Opportunities Expo 12 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 23

Spiritually Bold Inc. Presents: Brown Skinned Rich Girl A live stage production 6 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 26