February is Black History Month. Check out the following events to appreciate and celebrate Black heritage.
MLK Day of Service
Illinois State University’s Center for Civic Engagement is hosting its annual MLK Day of Service, a day to honor Dr. King’s contributions to fighting for social justice.
The event will take place from 1 to 3 pm Friday at the Bone Student Center. Participants will be making Black History Month-inspired craft kits for the Boys & Girls Club of Bloomington-Normal.
Black History Month Scavenger Hunt
The Normal Public Library is hosting a scavenger hunt for kids to learn more about the importance of Black History Month.
The event is geared towards children ages 5 to 12, but all are welcome to join.
The hunt will begin Feb. 1 and run through the end of the month. To begin, participants must visit the service desk on the second floor.
History Reads Book Club
The McLean County Museum of History is partnering with the Bloomington Public Library to host History Reads Book Club: “The Defender: How the Legendary Black Newspaper Changed America.”
The discussion will be held at 7 pm Feb. 7 in the Governor Fifer Courtroom at the museum, as well as via zoom for those who cannot attend in person.
To learn more and register, visit the museum’s website.
dr Ken Warren Lecture
Ken Warren, a distinguished English professor at the University of Chicago, will hold a lecture titled, “Rethinking Race and Social Construction: A View from the Humanities” at 6 pm Feb. 27 in room 244 in Schroeder Hall on ISU’s campus.
The lecture will focus on how race as a social construct has become a single view across academics that primarily discusses the diversity and variety of humans.
Diversity mural
To celebrate Black History Month, the Bloomington Public Library will have a Diversity Mural available for the entire month of February to allow children to create a self-portrait.
Additionally, its bulletin boards and displays will highlight information about African American authors, illustrators and characters.
Materials to create the self-portraits will be provided at the craft table in the Children’s Department.
Explore The Black Life in America Database
The Bloomington Public Library is providing The Black Life in America Database to provide information and news coverage of the African American experience from 1704 to 1975. The database includes thousands of news sources and hundreds of publications.
To register for the program, visit the Bloomington Public Library website.
MEGAN SPOERLEIN is a News and Features Reporter for The Vidette. Spoerlein can be contacted at [email protected]. Follow Spoerlein on Twitter at @meganspoerlein.
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