Cherry Hill Library Celebrates Black History Month

CHERRY HILL, N.J. -- The Cherry Hill Public Library celebrates Black History with free events during the month of February.

Events offer the opportunity to meet a Negro League veteran on Feb. 10 and a hip-hop pioneer on Feb. 22.

Programs for children include a story time featuring African-American books and a film about courage and family in 1963 Alabama.

All events are free and open to the public.

Page Turners

Monday, Feb. 8

7 p.m. – 7:45 p.m.

You are never too old for story time! This new program is for children in grades 1-4 who still enjoy being read to. This event will feature stories highlighting African-American history and culture.

A New Jersey Legend: John Henry “Pop” Lloyd and the Legacy of Negro League Baseball

Wednesday, Feb. 10

7 p.m. – 9 p.m.

Dr. Lawrence Hogan will present on the history of black professional baseball in Atlantic City and legacy of one of its greatest players, Hall of Fame shortstop John Henry “Pop” Lloyd.

You will also meet Veteran Negro Leaguer Pedro Sierra who played for the Detroit Stars in the 1950s. Writer, musician and playwright, Kevin Kane, will perform his “Breaking the Line with the Mudville Nine” the negro league version Casey at the Bat from which was first performed in 2013 at the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY.Click here for more information.

Film Screening: The Watsons Go to Birmingham

Sunday, Feb. 21

2 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Set in 1963, this film follows a couple and their three children as they take a road trip to Birmingham, Alabama where history is unfolding during the civil-rights movement. Click here to view the trailer for this film. (Rated PG, 87 minutes, 2013)

Hip Hop History with DJ Ready Red

Monday, Feb. 22

7 p.m. – 9 p.m.

Join us for an evening of hip-hop history with former Geto Boys member Collins Leysath, aka DJ Ready Red. Charles Brown, Assistant Dean at the Rutgers School of Business, will lead the conversation with Collins and discuss the influence of southern hip-hop, life inside the music industry, the origins of gangster rap and what’s good and bad about today’s hip-hop scene. Click here for more information.

To find out more about Cherry Hill Public Library and these events, contact Katie Hardesty, khardesty@chplnj.org or 856-903-1207.

--Press release from the Cherry Hill Public Library