Black History Month programming at City Library
Published: February 11, 2025
On display
Books by Black authors and books with Black voices for all ages are available on display in the children’s, teens, fiction and nonfiction sections.
Programs
Adult book club: “In the Upper Country”
Wednesday, Feb. 19, 7 – 8:30 p.m. | Third floor program room & online via Zoom
In the Upper Country is the story of young Lensinda Martin, who is summoned to interview an old woman who has shot and killed a slave hunter. The woman, who recently arrived in Dunmore, Alta., via the Underground Railroad, refuses to confess but instead proposes a deal: a story for a story. Through these stories, the interwoven nature of Indigenous and Black histories in North America becomes apparent and Lensinda’s destiny could be changed forever.
Film screening: “Sounds & Pressure: Reggae in a Foreign Land”
Wednesday, Feb. 26, 7 – 8:30 p.m. | Third floor program room
In the golden age of reggae, some of Jamaica’s brightest stars left their homeland behind to shine their light in an unlikely hub of Caribbean creativity. “Sounds & Pressure: Reggae in a Foreign Land” (2024, rated PG) follows the journeys of these musical icons. Through rare archives and infectious beats, this captivating five-part anthology series from the National Film Board of Canada takes you from Kingston to Kensington Market to see and hear how reggae took root in Canada against all odds.
A conversation with Harrison Mooney
Tuesday, March 4, 9:30 – 10:30 a.m. | Online via Zoom
Harrison Mooney is an award-winning author. His debut memoir, “Invisible Boy,” recounts his difficult childhood as a Black transracial adoptee in Abbotsford, tracing his journey to Black consciousness, and struggle to find self-acceptance in a prejudiced environment. After reading a selection from his heart-wrenching and sometimes hilarious book, he will speak to attendees about his experience growing up Black in a white family, the importance of loving the skin you’re in, knowing your history, and owning your story.
This program is recommended for teens in high school.
For more information, and to register for these events, visit nvcl.ca/calendar.