Florida Public Library celebrates Black History Month with a series of programs and speakers

FLORIDA — February is Black History Month, sponsored by the Association for the Study of African American Life and History.
Throughout the month, the Florida Public Library will be hosting special programs and guest speakers celebrating the accomplishments and contributions of African American people:
'Hidden Figures'On Friday, Feb. 9 from 1 to 3 p.m., there will be showing of the movie "Hidden Figures," the story of a team of African-American women mathematicians who served a vital role in NASA during the early years of the U.S. space program. It is based on the book by Margot Lee Shetterly.
Beverly BraxtonOn Wednesday, Feb. 21, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., the Florida Public Library welcomes Beverly Braxton who will share selected poems from "Remember the Bridge: Poems of a People" written by Carole Boston Weatherford. Weatherford’s collection summarizes the broad span of African American history, with short rhyming poems.
Starting with Africa, the author takes the reader on a journey through time up to the present. Her poems focus on famous men and women, ordinary folks and legendary heroes who made their people proud.
Braxton is a teacher and educational leader who throughout her 28 years at the Warwick Valley School District worked at all levels of the educational system: classroom teacher, PTA officer, school/district committees and staff development.
Since her retirement in 2010, Braxton has been teaching parenting workshops and in 2014 founded Family Central, a grass roots, non-profit Parenting Support Network based in Warwick.
Braxton is a recipient of numerous teaching awards and honors and continues to work as an education consultant, adjunct professor, trained facilitator and published writer.
'The Invention of Wings'On Thursday, Feb. 22, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., the library’s monthly book club will be discussing "The Invention of Wings" by Sue Monk Kidd. The story follows Hetty "Handful" Grimke, a Charleston slave, and Sarah, the daughter of the wealthy Grimke family. The novel begins on Sarah's eleventh birthday, when she is given ownership of Handful, who is to be her handmaid.
The book follows the next 35 years of their lives. The book is inspired in part by the historical figure of Sarah Grimke (a feminist, suffragist and, importantly, an abolitionist).
Registration for these and other programs in February is available online at www.floridapubliclibrary.org or by calling 845 651-7659.
Florida Public Library is located at 4 Cohen Circle behind Village Hall in Florida and is open seven days a week.