Miami, Fl – The Miami-Dade Public Library System will commemorate Black History Month this year with an extensive series of literary and cultural events that will include nationally known authors, Jazz concerts, storytelling performances and art exhibitions. This year’s theme pays tribute to Black fraternal, social, and civic institutions.

African-American activist and author Sister Souljah will discuss her novel The Coldest Winter Ever, a gritty coming-of-age story about the teenage daughter of a successful drug dealer, at the North Dade Regional Library on February 25th at 2 p.m. Sister Souljah herself appears as a character in the novel, offering the main character and other young black women some valuable advice on relationships, sex and drug use.

The Library System will feature additional visits from authors Irene Smalls, James Ransome, Joyce Carol Thomas, Preston Allen, Eloise Greenfield and illustrator Jan Spivey Gilchrist. Two presentations will highlight the cultural and artistic significance of Jazz. Elements of Jazz is an interactive program featuring artist Nicole Yarling, who teaches children the anatomy of a Jazz song. Curing the Air of its Fever is a program that demonstrates the genius of artist Gwendolyn Brooks through poetry, dance, and music. Storyteller Madafo Lloyd Wilson will perform at seven library branches, transporting audiences to Africa through descriptive folktales and song.

Art exhibitions include paintings by Haitian artist Jude Papaloko; contemporary works by Miami artist Bayunga Kialeuka; sketchbooks by Overtown artist Purvis Young; a collection of masks from the female-only Sande Society of Sierra Leone and Liberia; a photographic exhibition of Little Haiti by Gary Monroe; Harlem photographic portraits by the late Carl Van Vechten; and the artwork of James E. Ransome.

Teens, ages 12-19 years, are invited to participate in the 2006 Black History Month Teen Essay and Poetry Contest. To participate, they can contact their nearest library by February 18th for details. There are three categories of prizes, all courtesy of Downtown Book Center.

A schedule of events is found online. Presenters’ photos are available upon request. For additional information, please call (305) 375-BOOK or visit www.mdpls.org. All events, made possible through the support of Citibank, are free and open to the public.

Media Contact:
Marivi Prado, Public Affairs Officer
Tel. (305) 375-5180
pradom@mdpls.org