La Plata, January 25, 2017 – “As a long time educator I understand the importance of serving as the Ex-officio member of the Board of Trustees for the Charles County Public Library,” stated Amanda M. Stewart, Vice President, Charles County Commissioners, “I believe that it is through Black History Month programming and access to African American history resources like those available at the Library, that our county is strengthened and an appreciation for our diversity is achieved.”

The Charles County Public Library will offer two very distinct series of programs to commemorate Black History Month during the month of February.

The series Black Leaders of Charles County is presented by the Culture Queen, Jessica Smith, founder of Culture Kingdom Kids. Jessica “Culture Queen” Smith is a master performing and teaching artist who creates fun and cultural experiences for children.

Free programs suitable for ages 6 – 11 will occur at all four Charles County library branches:

February 9 at 6 p.m. – P. D. Brown Library, 50 Village Street, Waldorf, MD

February 15 at 6 p.m. – La Plata Library, 2 Garrett Avenue, La Plata, MD

February 22 at 6 p.m. – Potomac Library, 3225 Ruth B. Swann Drive, Indian Head, MD

February 28 at 3 p.m. – Waldorf West Library, 10405 O’Donnell Place, Waldorf, MD

We are very excited to host the program series, Black Leaders of Charles County, which tells the story of an important and often under-appreciated part of the County’s history,” said Sarah Guy, CCPL Program Coordinator. “The opportunity to learn about the past, and about the people who have made a difference in our community, can not only bring people together but inspire a new generation of leaders. The library, as a community space for learning and education, is the perfect setting for this type of program.”

The Black History Month Film Series will feature films and television shows, each Wednesday evening about African Americans at the P.D. Brown Library at 50 Village Street, Waldorf, MD

The free films suitable for ages 13+ will include:

February 1 at 5:30 p.m.:

Southside with You – The film chronicles the summer 1989 afternoon when the future President of the United States, Barack Obama, wooed his future First Lady, Michelle Obama, on a first date across Chicago’s South Side.

February 8 at 5:30 p.m.:

Free Angela and All Political Prisoners – A documentary that chronicles the life of young college professor Angela Davis, and how her social activism implicates her in a botched kidnapping attempt that ends with a shootout, four dead, and her name on the FBI’s 10 most wanted list.

February 15 at 5:30 p.m.:

Selma – A chronicle of Martin Luther King’s campaign to secure equal voting rights via an epic march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama in 1965.

February 22 at 5:30 p.m.:

Glory Road – In 1966, Texas Western coach Don Haskins led the first all-black starting line-up for a college basketball team to the NCAA national championship.

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About Charles County Public Library

Charles County Library System has four physical buildings. The Waldorf West and P.B. Brown Memorial branches are both located in Waldorf. The La Plata branch serves as the headquarters and in located in the town of La Plata. The western side of the county is served by the Potomac Branch located in Ruth B. Swann Park. A mobile library unit will be launching in the spring of 2017.