• By Don Dwiggins
• Posted Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Black History Month @ the Library

Our theme for Black History Month, “African American Women in History and Culture,” shines an important light upon the accomplishments of several women whose lives have influenced our culture and become part of our history.

Mark your calendar for three feature programs taking place during Black History Month.

Septima Clark, Educator in the Civil Rights Era

The first is an in-depth profile of Civil Rights leader Septima Clark. Challenging Jim Crow laws requiring passing a “literacy test” before being allowed to vote, Septima Clark fought back through the creation of Citizenship Schools. Countless numbers of African Americans learned to read and write through these schools allowing them to pass the tests before they were finally abolished.

Join Katherine Mellon Charron, Ph.D. as she discusses the three moments in Septima Clark’s life that illustrate how the roots of her Citizenship Schools can be traced to a grassroots organizing tradition forged by African American women in the segregated South.

This program is sponsored by the North Carolina Humanities Roads Scholars program of the North Carolina Humanities Council.

Thursday, February 2nd @ 3:30 pm
Southside Branch Library

Elaine Riddick, Eugenics Project Survivor & Activist

Elaine Riddick was just 14-years old in 1968 when she was forcibly sterilized by the Eugenics Board of the State of North Carolina, who labeled her as “feebleminded” and “promiscuous.” From 1927 through the early 1970’s forced sterilization of certain individuals passed as social policy in North Carolina.

Now Ms. Riddick tells her incredible story of despair and tragedy as a eugenics victim during one of the darkest chapters of our state’s history.

Friday, February 3rd @ noon
Central Library Auditorium

African American Women Firsts in Winston-Salem & Forsyth County

Finally we honor three local African American women who have achieved prominent firsts in their fields.

Business woman and entrepreneur Mutter Evans was the first African American woman to both own and operate a radio station (WAAA) in the United States.

Sylvia Sprinkle-Hamlin rose steadily through the ranks before being named the first African American and first female Library Director of the Forsyth County Public Library System.

Denise Franklin became the first African American female to co-anchor local newscasts on WXII Television. She currently works as the General Manager for WFDD FM 88.5 radio station.

Friday, February 24th @ 10 am
Central Library Auditorium

Please view our TV commercial for our Black History Month celebration.

Complete Black History Month Programming