Entrusted to Our Keeping: The Legacy of African-American Literary Societies in Newark, the Nation, the World
\nGuest curator: Sandra L. West<\/p>\n

Exhibition | Special Programs
\nMain Library
\nSecond Floor Gallery
\nJanuary 23 to March 22, 2008
\nClick here for a printable brochure. young_girl_reading
\nPhoto courtesy of the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture\/New York Public Library<\/p>\n

East_Orange’s_Read-up!_Book_ClubThe exhibition for Black History Month celebrates black America\u2019s love affair with books; the fact that African Americans, at one point in their history, were not allowed to read, and that African Americans currently maintain a newsworthy and steadily growing amount of reading organizations\/book clubs\/literary societies in Greater Newark, around the country, and abroad.<\/p>\n

P_Wheatley_Lit_Club_flyerCurated by local author and historian Sandra L. West, Entrusted to Our Keeping: The Legacy of African-American Literary Societies in Newark, the Nation, the World will be installed on the second-floor gallery from January 23 to March 22, 2008. The opening reception will be followed by a community discussion on the impact of the controversial hip-hop generation upon the sanctity of African- American literature.<\/p>\n

FEW_Harper_Lit_Society_meetingThere will be memorabilia, current statistics, information about early (1800) literary societies, documentation on Newark groups, Greater Newark groups, national organizations, and reading groups in Africa. Specific items include a photograph of Louis Reyes Rivera, editor of John O. Killens\u2019 Great Black Russian, an original letter from the late Ann Petry (author of The Street) that discusses possible names for what eventually became the Frances E.W. Harper Literary Society, a photo of Susan Robeson talking about her book, and memorabilia from Newark\u2019s Phillis Wheatley Book Club of the early 1900s.<\/p>\n

J.Brown,_S.West,_J.Janifer,_L.RodriguezEmphasis will be given to the Frances E.W. Harper Literary Society, which has been in residence at the Library for more than 20 years. The group was founded by Sandra L. West, and encouraged by the late James Brown, former Newark Public Library Black Studies Librarian.<\/p>\n

Wednesday, January 23
\nWhat\u2019s Hip Hop Got to Do With It?
\nA Community Discussion about the Impact of Hip-Hop Upon African-American Literature
\nSpecial Guest: Nina Mitchell Wells, New Jersey Secretary of State
\nPanelists: Ron Kavanaugh, MosaicBooks.com; Herb Boyd, Baldwin\u2019s Harlem: A Biography; Gilda Rogers, Arrested Development: The State of Black Achievement and Education in Hip-Hop America; Irene Daniels, Newark Literacy Campaign; Elyse Smith, student, Bloomfield College; Edna Bailey-Woody, motivational speaker; Moderator: Dr. Margaret Hayes, Bethany Book Club
\nCentennial Hall, 6:00pm
\nSee photos from the event.<\/p>\n

Wednesday, January 30
\nAuthor\u2019s Talk: The Harlem Writers Guild
\nMembers of the Guild will read from their works, discuss the writing life, and autograph books. Featuring Grace F. Edwards, E. L. Hobgood, Walter Dean Myers, Gammy L. Singer, K.C. Washington, and Sandra L. West
\nCentennial Hall, 6:00pm<\/p>\n

Monday, February 4
\nRead-In: Read Your Favorite African-American Author
\nThe public is invited to bring a book by a black author and read a two-minute snippet to keep alive these treasured works. Guest authors will also read and meet with the audience.
\nLobby, noon<\/p>\n

Saturday, February 9
\nAuthor Discussion and Book Signing
\nNell Painter will discuss and sign copies of her book, Creating Black Americans.
\nCentennial Hall, noon<\/p>\n

Wednesday, February 13
\nRescheduled for
\nWednesday, February 20
\nConversations With African-American Authors: August Wilson.
\nA video presentation on August Wilson, followed by a discussion on Wilson. Hosted by Sandra L. West, founder, F.E.W. Harper Literary Society.
\nJames Brown African American Room, 6:00pm<\/p>\n

Wednesday, February 20
\nConversations With African-American Authors: Alice Walker.
\nA video presentation on Alice Walker, followed by a discussion on Walker. Hosted by Dorothea M. Moore, chairperson, F.E.W. Harper Literary Society.
\nJames Brown African American Room, 7:00pm<\/p>\n

Saturday, March 1
\nWriting the Marvelous Real: Magical Realism for 21st Century Voices.
\nSheree Ren\u00e9e Thomas, editor of the Dark Matter series, is the instructor for this interactive\/multimedia speculative fiction-writing workshop.
\nJames Brown African American Room, 10:00am<\/p>\n

All programs are free and open to the public. For more information call us at 973-733-5411. In case of inclement weather, please call 973-733-7784 to determine whether the Library is open.<\/p>\n

PNC_Bank_logo
\nPNC Bank is proud to support
\nThe Newark Public Library\u2019s Black History Month programs.<\/p>\n

NJ_Historical_Commission_logo
\nThis exhibition and related programs are funded in part by an operating support grant to The Newark Public Library from the New Jersey Historical Commission, a division of the Department of State.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Entrusted to Our Keeping: The Legacy of African-American Literary Societies in Newark, the Nation, the World Guest curator: Sandra L. West Exhibition | Special Programs Main Library Second Floor Gallery January 23 to March 22, 2008 Click here for a printable brochure. young_girl_reading Photo courtesy of the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture\/New York… <\/p>\n

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