Norfolk Public Library Celebrates African American History

From the City of Norfolk:

January 9, 2020

Norfolk Public Library Celebrates African American History in Observance of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

NORFOLK, VA ─ The great Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. once said; “Nothing in the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity.” In observance of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday, the Norfolk Public Library brings you two great programs in January intended to educate and entertain ─ “Voices of Monticello” and “Spirituals and Freedom Songs.”

Join us Saturday, January 11 from 11:00 a.m. to noon at the Jordan-Newby Anchor Branch Library for “Voices from Monticello.” Learn about the “Getting Word” African American Oral History Project with Niya Bates, Monticello’s Director of African American History. Explore the stories of Monticello’s enslaved families and their descendants. Bates will discuss Monticello’s efforts to restore the landscape of slavery by telling the stories of the people who lived and worked on the 5,000-acre plantation. Also, view “The Life of Sally Hemings,” an innovative exhibition based on the words of Hemings’s son, Madison. Discover more about the “Getting Word” African American Oral History Project at https://www.monticello.org/getting-word.

On the following Saturday, January 18 from 2-4 p.m., the Horace C. Downing Branch Library will present “Spirituals and Freedom Songs” with nationally renowned musician and storyteller, Calvin Earl. In 2007, Earl was instrumental in getting the United States Congress to recognize the African American Spiritual as a National Treasure. Through the communal singing of spirituals, Earl will take us on a journey to show how songs were used during slavery and later transformed into freedom songs during the Civil Rights Movement in the 1950s and 1960s. For information about Calvin Earl, visit https://www.calvinearl.com/.

Both events are free and open to the public. For a complete list of events at Norfolk Public Library, go to www.norfolkpubliclibrary.org.

Voices from Monticello Presented by Niya Bates, Director of African American History at MonticelloSaturday, January 11, 2020 | 11 AM – NoonJordan-Newby Anchor Branch Library at Broad Creek1425 Norchester Avenue, Norfolk VA | 757-664-7323 (READ)Learn about the Getting Word African American Oral History Project with Niya Bates, Monticello’s Director of African American History. Explore the stories of enslaved families and their descendants and how they shaped Monticello over the years. Learn about efforts to restore Monticello’s landscape of slavery and about The Life of Sally Hemings, an innovative exhibition based on the words of Hemings’s son, Madison. (Adults)

Spirituals & Freedom Songs Presented by Calvin Earl, Storyteller & Musician Saturday, January 18, 2020 | 2-4 PMHorace C. Downing Branch Library555 E. Liberty Street, Norfolk VA | 757-441-1968Our Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day observance features a concert by Calvin Earl, who was instrumental in getting the United States Congress to recognize the African American Spiritual as a National Treasure. In his performance, Calvin explains and sings about how in our history the spirituals were transformed into freedom songs during the Civil Rights Movement in the 1950s and 1960s. Communal singing is a part of the production. (All Ages)

This press release was produced by the City of Norfolk. The views expressed here are the author’s own.