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Community Corner

Black History Month at Scotch Plains Public Library

 The community is invited to Scotch Plains Public Library to celebrate Black History Month this February.

 The Children’s Department has scheduled a special program for children and families on Saturday, February 15 at 11:00 am when Bright Star Touring Theatre will present “George Washington Carver and Friends.” This fast paced production features  the accomplishments of influential figures including Booker T. Washington, Jackie Robinson, Thurgood Marshall, Madame C.J. Walker, and others who have helped shape our  nation throughout the last 150 years. Registration is not required for this program.

The Children’s Department is also celebrating with picture books by African American authors and illustrators . On Saturday, February 8 at 11:00 am, library staff will read books illustrated by E.B. Lewis and Kadir Nelson. The featured illustrators on February 22 at 11 am will be Bryan Collier and R. Gregory Christie. Registration is not required for this program.

Teens in grades 6 through 12 are invited to test their knowledge of Black History and popular culture by playing team Jeopardy! On Monday, February 24 at 4:00 pm. Interested participants must register in advance by calling the library at (908) 322-5007, ext. 204, by email to library@scotlib.org,  or via the Events tab on the library web site,  www.scotlib.org. Spectators are welcome, and do not have to sign up.

On Fridays at 1:00pm during February, the library will screen a series of films that celebrate Black History Month:
·        February 7: The March (not rated, 60 minutes) – Witness the compelling and dramatic story of the 1963 March on Washington, where Dr. Martin Luther King gave his stirring “I Have a Dream” speech. This watershed event in the Civil Rights Movement helped change the face of America. Recounts the events when 250,000 people came together to form the largest demonstration the young American democracy had ever seen. Documentary narrated by Denzel Washington
( We will follow this film with a rescreening of The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel(PG-13, 124 min), because the weather on January 3 prevented many people from coming out to see it.)
·        February 14: 42 (PG-13, 128 min) – History was made in 1947, when Jackie Robinson broke the professional baseball race barrier to become the first African American MLB player of the modern era. 42 tells the life story of Robinson and his history-making signing with the Brooklyn Dodgers under the guidance of team executive Branch Rickey. Starring Chadwick Boseman and Harrison Ford
 ·        February 21: Red Tails (PG-13, 125 minutes) – After having been kept on the ground during World War II, the Tuskegee Airmen of the 332nd Fighter Group are called into action under the direction of Colonel A.J. Bullard. Starring Cuba Gooding, Jr. and Terrence Howard
·        February 28: Lee Daniels’ The Butler (PG-13, 132 min) – As Cecil Gaines serves eight presidents during his tenure as a butler at the White House, the civil rights movement, Vietnam, and other major events affect this man’s life, family, and American society.

Scotch Plains Public Library programs are free and open to the public. The Scotch Plains Library is located at 1927 Bartle Avenue, one block from Park Avenue in the center of town.

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