Welcome to the
SCHOMBURG CENTER FOR RESEARCH IN BLACK CULTURE
Where Every Month Is Black History Month
Schomburg Director Khalil Gibran Muhammad celebrates our 90th anniversary gala with honorees Franklin Thomas, Darren Walker, Norman Lear, Elizabeth Alexander, and Mercer Cook, son of honoree Vernon Jordan, as well as New York Public Library President Anthony Marx last fall. The Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, located in Harlem, New York, is a research unit of The New York Public Library system. It is recognized as one of the leading institutions focusing exclusively on African-American, African Diaspora, and African experiences. Starting with the collection of Arturo Alfonso Schomburg more than 90 years ago, the Schomburg collects, preserves, and provides access to materials documenting black life locally, nationally and internationally. It also promotes the study and interpretation of the history and cultures of peoples of African descent. Today, the Schomburg serves the community not just as a center and a library, but also as a place that encourages lifelong learning and inspires exploration.
SCHOMBURGCENTER.ORG
WINTER 2016
TABLE OF CONTENTS PUBLIC PROGRAMS 4
FIRST FRIDAYS
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BEFORE FIVE
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BETWEEN THE LINES
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FILMS AT THE SCHOMBURG
9 DAPLINE! 9
SCHOMBURG ON LOCATION
10 THE LAPIDUS CENTER PRESENTS… 10 VISUALLY SPEAKING 12
WOMEN’S JAZZ FESTIVAL
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HARLEM OPERA THEATER
14 TALKS AT THE SCHOMBURG 15
ARTURO SCHOMBURG CELEBRATION
19 THEATER TALKS 19 STAGE FOR DEBATE 20 CONVERSATIONS IN BLACK FREEDOM STUDIES
EXHIBITIONS & RELATED PROGRAMS 16 90 YEARS OF SCHOMBURG COLLECTIONS 18 THE 75TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE AMERICAN NEGRO THEATRE
EDUCATION AT THE SCHOMBURG 21
EDUCATION PROGRAMS
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BLACK COMIC BOOK FESTIVAL
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
PLAN YOUR VISIT To register for our FREE events, please visit: schomburgcenter.eventbrite.com Guided tours are conducted Monday through Friday, 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Registration is required at least 30 days in advance. To register for a guided or selfguided tour for a group of 15 people or more, please email: schomburgtours@nypl.org. Subscribe to our e-newsletter: nypl.org/schomburgnews CONNECT with the Schomburg:
22 CALENDAR
SUPPORT 26 SPECIAL EVENTS 27 MEMBERSHIP
Schomburg Center
Take 2 or 3 train to 135th St 515 Malcolm X Boulevard New York, New York 10037-1801
for research in black culture The New York Public Library
For more information, ASK NYPL: 917.ASK.NYPL or nypl.org/asknypl
FIRST FREE PUBLIC PROGRAMS
FRIDAYS
JOIN US FOR OUR POPULAR MONTHLY SOCIAL GATHERING, WHERE THERE’LL BE LIVE MUSIC AND SIGNATURE DRINKS!
FEBRUARY 5 AT 6:00 PM
BLACK LOVE EDITION MARCH 4 AT 6:00 PM
VERY BLACK 70s EDITION APRIL 1 AT 6:00 PM
R&B DIVAS EDITION 4
FREE PUBLIC PROGRAMS
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 27 AT 2:00 PM
HARLEM ON MY PLATE
Harlem on My Plate is a documentary short film that explores the history of Harlem’s food renaissance. The film explores how food has remained at the center of the cultural, social and economic growth of Harlem, and features interviews with Harlem restaurateurs, chefs, politicians, historians, and celebrities. It also examines the Great Migration of African-Americans from the South to Harlem in the early 1900’s, the Harlem Renaissance of the 1920’s and 30’s, and the preservation of recipes and traditions as it relates to the Harlem’s New Food Renaissance today. Harlem on My Plate is funded by Citi in support of the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture.
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 17 AT 2:00 PM
THE LIFE, LOVE AND LEGACY OF AUDRE LORDE
Interviewed a few months prior to her death, feminist poet, author and activist Audre Lorde commissioned Dr. Gloria Joseph to write The Wind is the Spirit: The Life, Love and Legacy of Audre Lorde. They discussed a comprehensive biography that would tell Lorde’s story in full, revealing her tenacity, complexity and passion. Told Griot style, this combination anthology and biography brings together a wide range of prominent authors and activists who all submitted essays, reflections, stories, poems, memoirs and photos that illuminate how Lorde’s literary vision and life inspired each of us to be so much more than we were before. Dr. Joseph will sign books following the program.
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 23 AT 2:00 PM
MARY LOU WILLIAMS: THE LADY WHO SWINGS THE BAND
Mary Lou Williams: The Lady Who Swings the Band is a documentary about a brilliant outlier, a woman who dared to live on her own terms. During a time when women were expected to stay at home and raise children, Mary Lou Williams forged her own path as an unparalleled jazz pianist, composer and arranger. But this is also the story about a woman who paid a high price battling the gender and racial barriers in her way. Through her lens, it tells a larger story about women’s ongoing struggle for equality. A conversation with filmmaker Carol Bash will follow.
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 20 AT 2:00 PM
HOMAGE 5: LIFE AFTER DEATH
Playwright Shaun Neblett (pen name MC SNEB) returns to the Schomburg with a workshop performance of Homage 5: Life After Death, an original play developed from Notorious B.I.G’s album Life After Death. It pays homage to the themes and lyrics of the 5 classic album.
FREE PUBLIC PROGRAMS
THURSDAY, JANUARY 21 AT 6:30 PM
SHERIE RANDOLPH & GLORIA STEINEM
Sherie Randolph, associate professor of history and African American Studies at the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, chronicles the life of Florynce “Flo” Kennedy—from her progressive upbringing, to her groundbreaking graduation from Columbia University Law School, and longtime career as a media-savvy activist in her book, titled Florynce “Flo” Randolph will be in conversation with Gloria Steinman, co-founder of Ms. Magazine, on Kennedy’s extraordinary legacy. A book signing will follow.
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 3 AT 6:30 PM
EDDIE GLAUDE & IMANI PERRY Democracy in Black by Eddie Glaude, professor of Religion and African American Studies at Princeton University, is his impassioned response to the reinforced inequality facing Black America. In it, he argues that we live in a country founded on a “value gap”—with white lives valued more than others—that still distorts American politics today. Part manifesto, part history, and part memoir, Democracy In Black is a landmark book on race in America, and one that promises to spark wide discussion as we move toward the end of our first black presidency. Glaude will be in conversation with Dr. Imani Perry, professor of African American Studies at Princeton University. A book signing will follow.
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FREE PUBLIC PROGRAMS
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 17 AT 6:30 PM
MICHAEL ERIC DYSON & KHALIL G. MUHAMMAD
A provocative and lively dive into the meaning of America’s first black presidency--from “one of our most graceful and lucid intellectuals writing on race and politics today” (Vanity Fair). Join acclaimed author, radio host, and sociology professor Michael Eric Dyson and Schomburg Director Khalil Gibran Muhammad when they discuss Dyson’s The Black Presidency: Barack Obama and the Politics of Race in America. A book signing will follow.
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 23 AT 6:00 PM
ANTONIO “L.A.” REID
In Sing to Me, a stunning record of Antonio “L.A.” Reid’s life and career, he shares the inspiring story of his struggles and success, and takes readers inside the glamorous and hard-hitting world on which he has left his indomitable stamp. Reid is one of the most accomplished and innovative people working behind the scenes in the music industry, and brought us numerous African-American music artists, including Toni Braxton, TLC, Usher, Rihanna, OutKast, Kanye West and many others. A book signing will follow.
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FREE PUBLIC PROGRAMS
TUESDAY, JANUARY 19 AT 6:30 PM
PAN!
Since the evolution of Pan, a musical instrument crafted from oil drums in 1939, steelbands have mushroomed in every corner of the planet. Each year, philharmonic orchestras of more than 100 musicians come to Trinidad from all over the world to compete for the greatest Pan event: the Panaroma. Pan! is the story of the men and women across the Caribbean and the world who’ve sacrificed so much for their art, and whose passion and courage have drawn them to the world championships. Their stories are interlaced with re-enactments of the rags-to-riches tale of the steelband movement: born in poverty and violence but climbed to the highest levels of social and artistic acceptance without losing its life-or-death urgency.
TUESDAY, JANUARY 26 AT 6:30 PM
BLACK AND CUBA
This award-winning documentary follows street-smart Ivy League students and outcasts at their elite university who band together on an adventure to the enigmatic Caribbean island of Cuba, whose population is 60% black. Their journey through the streets of Havana and Santiago reveals enthralling scenes of Cuban life, including hip-hop performances, block parties, and candid encounters with AfroCuban youth. As they film their experience, the young travelers discover connections between Cuban and American perspectives on human rights, race, and revolution. A conversation with filmmaker Dr. Robin J. Hayes will follow the screening.
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 18 AT 6:30 PM
AFRIPEDIA
Afripedia is a docu-series and a visual guide to art, film, photography, fashion, design and music. With Africa and the world constantly evolving, the image of Africa and Africans needs to change too. We will screen three episodes of the docuseries with a talkback to follow. This program is presented through an annual collaboration with the African Film Festival.
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 9, THURSDAY, MARCH 10 & FRIDAY, MARCH 11 AT 7:00 PM
ASHES AND EMBERS
Ashes and Embers explores a disillusioned Vietnam War veteran’s attempt to come to terms with his past and his current place as a black man in America. This program is presented in collaboration with ARRAY, the rebirth of the African-American Film Festival Releasing Movement (AFFRM) founded by filmmaker Ava Duvernay. 8
FREE PUBLIC PROGRAMS
TUESDAY, APRIL 5 AT 6:30 PM
JACKIE ROBINSON
Jackie Robinson, a two-part, four-hour film directed by Ken Burns, Sarah Burns and David McMahon, tells the story of an American icon whose life-long battle for first-class citizenship for all African Americans transcends even his remarkable athletic achievements. A talkback will follow with Ken Burns and journalist William C. Rhoden.
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25 & FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 26 AT 7:00 PM
DAPLINE!
Dapline! is a modern dance performance in collaboration with choreographer Andre Zachery and visual artist LaMont Hamilton. The work plays off the ritual of dap lines that were performed by Bloods (black conscious GI’s) on bases during the war. Composed in a fugue, Dapline! is comprised of movement and phrases that gradually heighten in complexity. The project aims to evoke the space in between, where the dap moves inter-generationally and stirs feelings of love, brotherhood, and solidarity. A conversation will follow the performances.
THURSDAY, MARCH 17 AT 6:30 PM
JOHN OLIVER KILLENS CELEBRATION
John Oliver Killens was a pioneer in the world of literature. The author of bold and politically charged works including Youngblood and And Then We Heard the Thunder, Killens was one of the most influential African-American literary activists from the 1950s to the 1980s.
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FREE PUBLIC PROGRAMS
THE LAPIDUS CENTER PRESENTS… All programs are brought to you by the Lapidus Center for the Historical Analysis of Transatlantic Slavery.
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1 AT 9:00 AM
TEACHER WORKSHOP: SLAVERY IN NEW YORK
Graham Hodges, professor of History and Africana and Latin American Studies at Colgate University, will lead our second annual workshop for teachers.
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 29 AT 6:30 PM
SLAVERY AND MEMORY
This enlightening discussion will focus on memory, commemorations, and legacies of the slave trade and slavery, and feature panelists John Cummings and Ibrahima Seck of the Whitney Plantation and Museum; Columbia University professor Saidiya Hartman; architect Rodney Leon; and University of Pennsylvania professor Salamishah Tillett.
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 9 AT 6:30 PM
VISUALLY SPEAKING: THE TIMELESS ART OF KAMOINGE
Immerse yourself in the visual stream created over the past 50 years by Kamoinge, the pioneering African-American photographic collective. Timeless presents over 280 stunning photos interspersed with insights and thoughts from Kamoinge’s 30 members who include many of the nation’s most acclaimed photographers. Curated by photojournalist Terrence Jennings, this installment of Visually Speaking will bring together Anthony Barboza, Ming Smith, Herb Robinson and Gerald Cyrus for a dynamic conversation and presentation of the art in this new compendium. 10
FREE PUBLIC PROGRAMS
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16 AT 6:30 PM
RECLAIMING OUR ANCESTORS
William Grimes was the first runaway to autonomously publish an autobiography. Jeffrey Brace, born in West Africa, became a revolutionary veteran, an abolitionist and an author. Solomon Northup, a free man sold in Louisiana, wrote Twelve Years a Slave. Dred Scott sued for his freedom, which led to the infamous 1857 “Dred Scott Decision.” In this program, their descendants Regina E. Mason, Rhonda Brace, Vera J. Williams, and Lynne M. Jackson share their families’ inspiring journeys.
THURSDAY, APRIL 21 AT 6:30 PM
BLACK INDIAN LIVES OF THE PAST AND PRESENT: A DIALOGUE Anthropologist Robert Collins and historian Tiya Miles will explore the complexities, tensions, intimacies, alliances, and legacies of the interrelated histories of African Americans and Native Americans. Collins, an African-Choctaw, teaches American Indian Studies at San Francisco State University and is the co-curator of the Smithsonian exhibition “IndiVisible: African-Native American Lives in the Americas.” Miles, a professor at the University of Michigan, received a MacArthur “genius” grant in 2011 for her work on relations between Africans and Cherokees.
MONDAY, APRIL 18 AT 6:30 PM
VISUALLY SPEAKING: DEBORAH WILLIS ON FRAMING BEAUTY IN AFRICANAMERICAN VISUAL CULTURE
An exploration led by professor Cheryl Finley on the impact Dr. Deborah Willis has had on black photography and visual archival studies. Willis has received major awards including the MacArthur “genius” fellowship, and was named one of the “100 Most Important People in Photography” by American Photography magazine.
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WOMEN’S JAZZ FESTI
FREE PUBLIC PROGRAMS
Curated by singer/producer/activist Toshi Reagon, this year’s performance series promises to be even bigger and better with show-stopping performances from veteran and emerging talent. For tickets, call (888) 718-4253 or visit schomburgcenter.eventbrite.com. $25 Members; $30 Non-Members
MONDAY, MARCH 7 AT 7:00 PM
SACRED REVOLUTION
Sacred Revolution will explore the soul music and cross-genres of Mahalia Jackson, Mavis Staples and Sister Rosetta Thorpe. Join Lakecia Benjamin, Kat Dyson, Marcelle Davies Lashley, Shelley Nicole and more as they give praise to those who led the way.
MONDAY, MARCH 14 AT 7:00 PM
SAME STEPS, DIFFERENT PLACES
Same Steps, Different Places showcases the relationship between dance, rhythm and music from across the globe, and features performances by Camille Brown Dance Company, Meklit Hadero, Dormeisha Sumbry-Edwards and more.
MONDAY, MARCH 21 AT 7:00 PM
ALICIA HALL MORAN AND MAL DEVISA
Performer and composer Alicia Hall Moran will present her project, “Black Wall Street,” collaboration with classical Indian music. The concert will open with a dynamic acoustic performance by Mal Devisa, an emerging talent whose songwriting is filled with so much spirit and force.
MONDAY, MARCH 28 AT 7:00 PM
BERNICE REAGON JOHNSON’S COMPOSITIONS
Accompanied by a series of special guest performers, legendary singer, songwriter, scholar, and activist Bernice Reagon Johnson, will present a special evening of her compositions that have illustrated the transformative power of black music and cultural history.
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 12 AT 7:30 PM
SALUTE TO BLACK HISTORY MONTH: 150TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE LIFE OF HARRY T. BURLEIGH
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IVAL
FREE PUBLIC PROGRAMS
Harlem Opera Theater will celebrate the life and works of Harry T. Burleigh, prolific baritone and composer of more than two hundred art songs. Through his performances, original compositions and arrangements of spirituals, Burleigh helped establish American folk music in the concert hall and became the first black American composer to gain international prominence. Experience classical vocalists bring Burleigh’s outstanding art songs and spirituals to life. Ticketing: 6:00 PM – Reception and Concert | $40 • 7:30 PM – Concert (Only) | $25 Purchase your tickets online at harlemoperatheater.org or call 212-592-0780.
SCHOMBURGCENTER.ORG
FREE PUBLIC PROGRAMS
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 1 AT 6:30 PM
BASQUIAT AND CONTEMPORARY QUEER ART
Julianna Huxtable and The Very Black Project (Andre Singleton & Justin Fulton) will present a #veryqueer #verybasquiat #verydiasporic #veryblack conversation on the life and legacy of Jean Michel-Basquiat. This program, created by New York University Africana Studies graduate students, Ja’nell Ajani and Ayanna Legros, explores and historicizes the cultural phenomena and life events that laid the foundation for Basquiat’s creative genius and his undeniable impact on African Diasporic communities across the globe. This program is presented in collaboration with Basquiat: Still Fly at 55.
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 24 AT 6:30 PM
WHO IS AFRAID OF BEN CARSON?
Historian Leah Wright Rigueur explores the landscape of black conservatism through the prism of Ben Carson with Professor Jelani Cobb. Rigeur’s first book, The Loneliness of the Black Republican: Pragmatic Politics and the Pursuit of Power, covers more than four decades of American political and social history, and examines the ideas and actions of black Republican activists, officials and politicians–from the era of the New Deal to Ronald Reagan’s presidential ascent in 1980. Her work provides a new understanding of the interaction between African Americans and the Republican Party, and the seemingly incongruous intersection of civil rights and American conservatism. A book signing with both speakers will follow.
TUESDAY, MARCH 22 AT 6:30 PM
SOCIAL JUSTICE = BLACK WOMEN AND GIRLS
Leading scholars and advocates explore the social and historical landscape of advancing justice for black women and girls. This program is co-sponsored by the Ms. Foundation and the Sidney Hillman Foundation.
THURSDAY, APRIL 16 AT 6:30 PM
VANESSA AGARD JONES & SIMONE LEIGH
Artist Simone Leigh and scholar Vanessa Agard Jones will be in conversation on the connections between their respective practices and research influences.
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FREE PUBLIC PROGRAMS
MONDAY, JANUARY 25 AT 6:30 PM
ARTURO SCHOMBURG CELEBRATION
Arturo Schomburg was a notable writer, activist, collector, and bibliophile, who devoted his life to acquiring and archiving materials related to the history and culture of people of African descent– amassing over 10,000 documents. In 1926, he sold his personal collection to the Division of Negro Literature, History and Prints of the 135th branch of The New York Public Library, which is now known as the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture.
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 21 AT 3:00 PM
COMMEMORATING THE ASSASSINATION OF EL-HAJJ MALIK EL SHABAZZ
In collaboration with the Malcolm X Museum, this program will focus on Malcolm X’s legacy and impact from an international perspective with special remarks by selected guests and dignitaries, a conversation and a multimedia presentation.
MONDAY, APRIL 11 AT 7:00 PM
NIKKY FINNEY: THE BATTLE OF AND FOR THE BLACK FACE BOY
Join us for a special reading and interdisciplinary performance of Nikky Finney’s poem, The Battle of and for the Black Face Boy (Oxford American, September 2015). The piece is a stirring of metaphors around “the slow dance of the civil war and the enslavement of Black people in America.” Finney will read the work in conversation with artist Keisha Scarville and others.
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 27 AT 6:30 PM
FOR THE PUBLIC
For The Public is a new live performance and poetry series featuring emerging and early-career poets. SCHOMBURGCENTER.ORG
EXHIBITIONS & RELATED PROGRAMS
CELEBRATING 90 YEARS How do you capture the essence of Schomburg Center’s ten-million-item collection inside four cases for a pop-up exhibition? We did it last fall and created a beautiful snapshot of some of our most cherished gems at the New York Public Library’s Stephen A. Schwarzman Building, the site of our 90th anniversary gala. The exhibition, titled Celebrating 90 Years of the Schomburg, narrated the Center’s history with 50 items drawn from our five research divisions. On display werewords by iconic writers spanning the last five centuries and images and materials that highlight critical moments in global black history–from the March on Washington to the Anti-Apartheid Movement. The exhibition also included letters, manuscripts, artifacts, sculptures, prints, album covers, photographs, books, maps, and other novelties. Celebrating 90 Years of the Schomburg revealed the flourishing intellectual and artistic community that illuminates in the Center’s collections. Steven Fullwood, Assistant Curator of our Manuscripts, Archives and Rare Books Division, explains, “When any marginalized person dares to archive themself, it is a radical act.” This statement speaks to Arturo Schomburg’s mission, which rests at the intersection of artistry, memory, connection, knowledge, and action.
Note: As we continue to make your Schomburg experience an even better one with newly renovated features, our exhibition halls will be closed to the public from February through August. But we invite you to revisit our ongoing exhibition, The 75th Anniversary of the American Negro Theatre, and learn more about our vast collections through this commemorative piece honoring the Schomburg’s 90-year legacy. 16
EXHIBITIONS & RELATED PROGRAMS
OF THE SCHOMBURG
SELECT ITEMS FROM THE EXHIBITION: • A 1930s hand-corrected draft of Richard Wright’s Native Son • Malcolm X’s travel diaries, 1964 • “John Brown,” an address delivered by Frederick Douglass at Harpers Ferry and edited in Douglass’ own hand, 1881 • Telegrams from Langston Hughes and Tennessee Williams to Lorraine Hansberry congratulating her on the opening night of A Raisin in the Sun, 1959 • Maya Angelou’s handwritten draft of I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, 1968 • John Coltrane’s “Lover Man” sheet music, 1950s • Juan Latino’s book of Latin poetry, Ad Catholicvm, pariter et invictissimvm Phillippvm Dei gratia Hispaniarum regem, 1573 • Zora Neale Hurston’s Their Eyes Were Watching God, 1937 • Arthur A. Schomburg’s “The Negro Digs Up His Past,” in Alain Locke’s The New Negro, signed to Schomburg by Alain Locke, Countee Cullen, Jessie Redmon Fauset, W.E.B. Du Bois
SCHOMBURGCENTER.ORG
EXHIBITIONS & RELATED PROGRAMS
THE 75TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE
AMERICAN NEGRO THEATRE The Schomburg Center celebrates the 75th anniversary of our renowned American Negro Theatre (ANT). Known to the locals as “The Harlem Library Little Theatre,” the ANT was founded in 1940 as a community space for thespians to work in productions that illustrated the diversity of black life. This exhibition is drawn entirely from the Schomburg collections and highlights the ANT’s stage productions from 1940 through 1949 with photographs, posters, playbills, and news clippings. Images include scenes from successful plays such as Anna Lucasta, studio workshops, and radio broadcasts featuring prominent talent like Ossie Davis, Ruby Dee, Harry Belafonte, Sidney Poitier and Lofton Mitchell, whose careers began at the ANT.
(clockwise from the top) Owen Dodson, author of Garden of Time, circa 1945; William Greaves and Sadie Brown in Garden of Time, 1945, Photographer unknown, Theater Stills Collection; Oscar Polk and Ruth Attaway in You Can’t Take It With You, 1946, Photographer: VanDamm Studio, Theater Stills Collection. Courtesy of Photographs & Prints Division, Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture
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THEATER TALKS
FREE PUBLIC PROGRAMS
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 8 AT 7:00 PM
THE COLOR PURPLE THE MUSICAL
This landmark musical based on Alice Walker’s novel of the same name follows the inspirational Celie, as she journeys from childhood through joy and despair, anguish and hope to discover the power of love and life. With a fresh, joyous score of jazz, ragtime, gospel and blues, this European premiere is directed by John Doyle, and adapted for the stage by Pulitzer Prize and Tony award winner Marsha Norman, with music and lyrics by Grammy award-winners Brenda Russell, Allee Willis and Stephen Bray. Join our evening conversation about the musical featuring members of the cast and creative team.
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 22 AT 6:30 PM
HUGHIE
Hughie is set in the lobby of a small midtown hotel on the West Side of Manhattan where Erie Smith, a drunken, small time hustler, is mourning the recent death of the hotel’s night clerk, Hughie. Erie regales the new night clerk with tall tales of his glory days spent with Hughie. Join lead actor Forest Whitaker in his Broadway debut in conversation with director and Tony Award winner Michael Grandage and other members of the cast and creative team.
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 16 AT 6:30 PM
STAGE FOR DEBATE: RESPECTABILITY & ACTIVISM
In October 2015, Dr. Randall Kennedy published an article in Harper’s Magazine arguing a progressive defense of respectability politics. For our inaugural debate at the Schomburg Center, we bring together a contemporary debate on respectability and its relationship to activism and black liberation movements in the U.S. and abroad. Dr. Brittney Cooper and Mychal Denzel Smith will join Kennedy Glenn Lowery for an important discussion on representation and the underbelly of black sociocultural politics. SCHOMBURGCENTER.ORG
EDUCATION AT THE SCHOMBURG
FIRST THURSDAYS!
CONVERSATIONS IN BLACK FREEDOM STUDIES
Join Schomburg Education for the sixth season of Conversations in Black Freedom Studies, a dynamic adult education series that features a full lineup of provocative scholars and community members committed to engaging dialogue about black freedom studies. Curated by professors Jeanne Theoharis (Brooklyn College) and Komozi Woodard (Sarah Lawrence College), the series can be followed live or through our archival website: www.blackfreedomstudies.org. Follow @SchomburgCBFS for updates and visit blackfreedomstudies.org for more information.
Reserve your seat for the live conversations at www.schomburgcenter.eventbrite.com Conversations in Black Freedom Studies takes place on the first Thursday of each month at 6:00 PM FEBRUARY 4
BLACK POWER AND POLITICAL REPRESSION
with Rhonda Williams, Kenneth Janken, and Erik McDuffie
MARCH 3
WOMEN IN THE BLACK PANTHER PARTY
with Robyn Spencer, Ericka Huggins, and Mary Phillips
APRIL 7
THE CHURCH AND THE STRUGGLE
with Jennifer Scanlon, Genna Rae McNeil, and more
MAY 5
EDUCATIONAL INJUSTICE AND ORGANIZING
with Matt Delmont, Brian Purnell, and Carla Shedd
JUNE 2
RETHINKING BLACK POWER 50 YEARS LATER
with Aram Goudsouzian and Aldon Morris
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EDUCATION AT THE SCHOMBURG
EDUCATION PROGRAMS SCHOOL GROUPS: THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 11 AT 10:30 AM GENERAL PUBLIC: SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 13 AT 6:00 PM
YOUTH THEATER PERFORMANCE: THE LYIN KING
Schomburg Education presents Changing Perceptions Theater and students from The Eagle Academy for the Young Men of Newark in The Lyin King. This performance, created and performed by youth, asks: “What does a boy do when he does not know his dad and has to give a speech about who his father is?” He lies and uses his favorite Disney movie for inspiration. The Lyin King is a great show for children, families and young men who are trying to find their way. Priority seating is available for youth! Register at schomburgcenter.eventbrite.com.
SATURDAY, JANUARY 16 FROM 10:00 AM TO 7:00 PM
4TH ANNUAL BLACK COMIC BOOK FESTIVAL The Schomburg Center’s 4th Annual Black Comic Book Festival celebrates the rich tradition of black comix in a full-day event featuring panel discussions, film screenings, hands-on workshops and exhibit tables with premiere black comic artists from across the country. Don’t miss this popular annual event and check out the mind-blowing Afrofuturism art and design exhibition, Unveiling Visions: The Alchemy of the Black Imagination, curated by John Jennings and Reynaldo Anderson. The Schomburg Center’s Black Comic Book Festival is presented by Deirdre Hollman (Schomburg Education and The Junior Scholars Program) in collaboration with Jerry Craft (Mama’s Boyz) and John Jennings (SUNY Buffalo/Black Kirby). All exhibitors are by invitation only. Please contact schomburged@nypl.org for more information. Fun for all ages! Register at www.schomburgcenter.eventbrite.com. #blackcomicbookfestnyc
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CALENDAR OF EVENTS JANUARY
FEBRUARY
SATURDAY, JANUARY 16 FROM 10AM - 7:00 PM
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1 AT 9:00 AM THE LAPIDUS CENTER PRESENTS…
4TH ANNUAL BLACK COMIC BOOK FESTIVAL
TEACHER WORKSHOP: SLAVERY IN NEW YORK
TUESDAY, JANUARY 19 AT 6:30 PM
FEBRUARY 1 AT 6:30 PM
FILMS AT THE SCHOMBURG
TALKS AT THE SCHOMBURG
PAN!
BASQUIAT AND CONTEMPORARY QUEER ART
THURSDAY, JANUARY 21 AT 6:30 PM BETWEEN THE LINES
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 3 AT 6:30 PM
SHERIE RANDOLPH & GLORIA STEINEM
BETWEEN THE LINES
EDDIE GLAUDE & IMANI PERRY
MONDAY, JANUARY 25 AT 6:30 PM
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 8 AT 7:00 PM
ARTURO SCHOMBURG CELEBRATION
THEATER TALKS
THE COLOR PURPLE - THE MUSICAL TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 9 AT 6:30 PM VISUALLY SPEAKING
THE TIMELESS ART OF KAMOINGE WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 10 AT 6:30 PM
FILM SCREENING: HARLEM ON MY PLATE
TUESDAY, JANUARY 26 AT 6:30 PM
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 11 AT 10:30 AM
FILMS AT THE SCHOMBURG
YOUTH THEATER PERFORMANCE: THE LYIN KING
BLACK AND CUBA
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 27 AT 2:00 PM
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 12 AT 7:30 PM
BEFORE 5
HARLEM ON MY PLATE
SALUTE TO BLACK HISTORY MONTH: 150TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE LIFE OF HARRY T. BURLEIGH
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CALENDAR OF EVENTS SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 13 AT 6:00 PM
YOUTH THEATER PERFORMANCE: THE LYIN KING
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 24 AT 6:30 PM TALKS AT THE SCHOMBURG
WHO IS AFRAID OF BEN CARSON?
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 16 AT 6:30 PM
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25 AT 7:00 PM
RESPECTABILITY & ACTIVISM
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 26 AT 7:00 PM
STAGE FOR DEBATE
DAPLINE! DAPLINE!
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 17 AT 2:00 PM
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 29 AT 6:30 PM
THE LIFE, LOVE AND LEGACY OF AUDRE LORDE
SLAVERY AND MEMORY
BEFORE 5
THE LAPIDUS CENTER PRESENTS…
MARCH THURSDAY, MARCH 3 AT 10:30 AM
YOUTH DANCE PERFORMANCE: DANCE THEATER OF HARLEM
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 17 AT 6:30 PM BETWEEN THE LINES
MICHAEL ERIC DYSON THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 18 AT 6:30 PM FILMS AT THE SCHOMBURG
AFRIPEDIA
MONDAY, MARCH 7 AT 7:00 PM WOMEN’S JAZZ FESTIVAL
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 21 AT 3:00 PM
SACRED REVOLUTION
COMMEMORATING THE ASSASSINATION OF EL-HAJJ MALIK EL SHABAZZ
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 9, THURSDAY, MARCH 10 & FRIDAY, MARCH 11 AT 7:00 PM FILMS AT THE SCHOMBURG
ASHES AND EMBERS
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 22 AT 6:30 PM THEATRE TALKS
MONDAY, MARCH 14 AT 7:00 PM WOMEN’S JAZZ FESTIVAL
HUGHIE
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 23 AT 6:00 PM
SAME STEPS, DIFFERENT PLACES
BETWEEN THE LINES
ANTONIO “L.A.” REID SCHOMBURGCENTER.ORG
CALENDAR OF EVENTS WEDNESDAY, MARCH 30 AT 6:30 PM
THE CASE FOR THE THREE-SIDED DREAM - A FILM SCREENING WITH WBGO RADIO
THURSDAY, MARCH 31 AT 6:00 PM
ED TALKS: CHRISTOPHER EMDIN: REALITY PEDAGOGY AND URBAN EDUCATION #HIPHOPED
THURSDAY, MARCH 17
ZORA NEALE HURSTON CELEBRATION
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16 AT 6:30 PM THE LAPIDUS CENTER PRESENTS…
RECLAIMING OUR ANCESTORS THURSDAY, MARCH 17 AT 6:30 PM SCHOMBURG ON LOCATION
APRIL
JOHN OLIVER KILLENS CELEBRATION
SATURDAY, APRIL 2 AT 3:00 PM
URBAN WORD TEEN POETRY SLAM SEMI-FINALS
MONDAY, MARCH 21 AT 7:00 PM WOMEN’S JAZZ FESTIVAL
ALICIA HALL MORAN AND MAL DEVISA
TUESDAY, APRIL 5 AT 6:30 PM
TUESDAY, MARCH 22 AT 6:30 PM
JACKIE ROBINSON
FILMS AT THE SCHOMBURG
TALKS AT THE SCHOMBURG
SOCIAL JUSTICE = BLACK WOMEN AND GIRLS
MONDAY, APRIL 18 AT 6:30 PM VISUALLY SPEAKING
DEBORAH WILLIS ON FRAMING BEAUTY IN AFRICAN-AMERICAN VISUAL CULTURE
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 23 AT 2:00 PM
BEFORE 5
MARY LOU WILLIAMS: THE LADY WHO SWINGS THE BAND
MONDAY, APRIL 11 AT 7:00 PM
NIKKY FINNEY: THE BATTLE OF AND FOR THE BLACK FACE BOY
MONDAY, MARCH 28 AT 7:00 PM WOMEN’S JAZZ FESTIVAL
BERNICE REAGON JOHNSON’S COMPOSITIONS
FRIDAY, APRIL 15 AT 5:00 PM
TEEN NIGHT AT THE SCHOMBURG: OPEN MIC
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CALENDAR OF EVENTS THURSDAY, APRIL 16 AT 6:30 PM TALKS AT THE SCHOMBURG
VANESSA AGARD JONES & SIMONE LEIGH
DON’T FORGET TO REGISTER: All public programs are FREE unless noted otherwise.
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 20 AT 2:00 PM BEFORE 5
HOMAGE 5: LIFE AFTER DEATH THURSDAY, APRIL 21 AT 6:30 PM
Registration is required: schomburgcenter.eventbrite.com
THE LAPIDUS CENTER PRESENTS…
BLACK INDIAN LIVES OF THE PAST AND PRESENT: A DIALOGUE TUESDAY, APRIL 26 AT 4:00 PM
TEEN TALK: PEN WORLD VOICES FESTIVAL
All registered seats are released 30 minutes before start time, so we recommend that you arrive early. First Come, First Seated.
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 27 AT 6:30 PM
FOR THE PUBLIC
Visitors: Please pardon our appearance as we continue to renovate the Schomburg Center to provide an even better experience for you.
SCHOMBURGCENTER.ORG
SHOWS, AND FROM FILM SHOOTS TO LECTURES—WE CAN DO IT ALL. SUPPORT THE SCHOMBURG
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pl.org
The Schomburg Center offers four magnificent spaces, catering to intimate gatherings as well ARE YOU LOOKING as lavish extravaganzas. While you and your guests are enjoying the fabulous setting, you will know PERFECT VENUE HOST that you are helping to support the collections, YOUR NEXT services, and programs of theEVENT? Schomburg Center.
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The Schomburg Center offers four magnificent spaces that can house anywhere from 75 to 321 guests. Whether it’s an intimate gathering or a lavish extravaganza, we have a space to meet your needs. While you and your guests are enjoying the fabulous and historic setting, you will know that you are helping support the collections, services, and programs of the Schomburg Center. For more information about hosting your special event at the Schomburg, please contact schomburgcenterevents@nypl.org.
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SUPPORT THE SCHOMBURG
SCHOMBURG SOCIETY
BECOME A MEMBER TODAY! Membership in the Schomburg Society benefits the Schomburg Center—and you! By joining, you stand with thousands of members to help sustain the Schomburg’s rich and unique collections, free public programs, exhibitions, educational outreach, and so much more.
JOIN TODAY AND SUPPORT THIS ESSENTIAL WORK For a contribution of $35 or more, you will receive special benefits including: • A personalized membership card • A 20% discount at The Schomburg Shop • A year-long subscription to our newsletter Africana Heritage • Invitations to special events and exhibition previews Visit us at schomburgcenter.org/support or call (212) 491-2252 or email schomburgsociety@nypl.org. If you are already a Schomburg Society member, then thank you—and please share this with a friend!
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Schomburg Center for research in black culture The New York Public Library
515 MALCOLM X BOULEVARD | NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10037-1801
SCHOMBURGCENTER.ORG
DON’T FORGET TO REGISTER: All public programs are FREE unless noted otherwise. Registration is required: schomburgcenter.eventbrite.com All registered seats are released 30 minutes before start time, so we recommend that you arrive early. First come, first seated. For school programs, please email schomburgEd@nypl.org