Black History Month 2015 at the SoNo Branch Library

Norwalk resident Dorothy Mobilia will set the scene for her young adult, historical novel, “How Jimmy John Won His Cloak of Freedom,” by bringing the audience to the South Norwalk of the 1860s through a series of slides during a presentation at the SoNo Branch Library, 10 Washington Street, 2:00 - 2:30 pm on Saturday, February 7, 2015.

She will relate how Jimmy John and Charley Hallock, the story’s young protagonists, met, endured the ordeals of the American Civil War, and how they came to South Norwalk. Jimmy John was a member of Bethel AME Church, Norwalk’s oldest African American church. Rev. Margaret McCready and Rev. Randy Hughes of Bethel AME will give a brief history of the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) church nationally and its beginnings in Norwalk. Ms. Mobilia will answer questions during the program.

She will have books available for sale after the event. Other events include freedom quilt craft, a screening of “James Baldwin: The Price of the Ticket,” a discussion with one of the authors of “The Justice Imperative: How Hyper-Incarceration Hijacked the American Dream,” an African drumming performance and workshop with Henry Jones and Infinite Roots and an artist talk with Jo-Ann Claybourne, whose work will be on display at the library.

All events are free and open to the public. Registration is available online or by calling 203.899.2790 ext. 15902. For more information, visit www.norwalkpubliclibrary.org/sono or https://www.facebook.com/sonobranchlibrary.