Fearing the Black Body Author Talk with Sabrina Strings
Sunday, February 25, 2024 | 1 p.m. - 3 p.m. | San Diego Central Library, 9th Floor Shiley Special Events Suite

University of San Diego and San Diego Public Library present: Fearing the Black Body: The Racial Origins of Fat Phobia with Sabrina Strings as this year's speaker for our annual Black History Month Author Talk.

Join us for a talk with Sabrina Strings, Professor and North Hall Chair of Black Studies at UC Santa Barbara. Dr. Strings is the author of the award-winning book: Fearing the Black Body: the Racial Origins of Fat Phobia and appeared on Netflix's "The Black Beauty Effect." She will be speaking to San Diego about Fearing the Black Body: The Racial Origins of Fat Phobia, which argues that the contemporary ideal of slenderness is, at its very core, racialized and racist.

Schedule:

• 1 p.m. - 2 p.m.: Author talk and Q&A
• 2 p.m. - 3 p.m.: Book signing

Registration encouraged.

Afro-Mexicanos: Mexico finally Recognizes Its Black Citizens
Monday, February 26, 2024 | 6:30 p.m. - 8 p.m. San Diego Central Library, Shiley Special Events Suite
Join WorldBeat Cultural Center's Afro-Mexican department director Jorge Gonzalez for a stimulating discussion on the presence and history of people of African descent in Mexico. For the past 500 years, Afro-Mexicans have been omitted from Mexican history, governmental rights, and society.  According to the 2020 census which was the first time the country’s Black population was officially recognized, there are 2,576,213 self-identified Afro-descendants. Mexico was previously one of only two Latin American countries (with Chile) to not officially count their African-descended citizens. 
Registration encouraged.

Exploring Identity, Love, and Being Black in America in Fiction Writing: A Conversation with Jason Mott
Tuesday, February 20, 2024 | 1 p.m. - 2 p.m. | Virtual
You’re invited to join us as we talk to New York Times bestselling author Jason Mott about his recent novel Hell of a Book. This magnificent work of fiction is deeply honest, at times electrically funny, and is a book that goes to the heart of racism, police violence, and the hidden costs exacted upon Black Americans and America as a whole.
Registration required.

Black History Celebration and Author Talk
Saturday, February 17, 2024 | 1 p.m. - 5 p.m. | Logan Heights Library
Everyone is welcome for a fun afternoon with face painting, music by DJ Charles Egypt, soul food from Mad'm Chef with Kitchen Magician and a presentation by author and America's first African American to win the city title of Miss America, Dr. Catherine Grace Pope. Dr. Pope will be discussing her recent memoir, In Search of the Crown, and copies will be available for purchase.

Crafternoon: Kente Cloth paper craft (Grades K-3)
Monday, February 12, 2024 | 4:30 p.m. - 5 p.m. | Tierrasanta Library
Our February Crafternoon will feature a Kente Cloth paper craft in honor of Black History Month. Kente Cloth is a hand-woven cloth originally made by the Ashanti people in the West African country of Ghana. It is characterized by patterns and specific colors, all of which have special meaning. Join us to learn more and create your own Kente Cloth paper craft.

Black History Drag Queen Storytime
Saturday, February 17, 2024 | 10:30 a.m. - 11:30am | Skyline Hills Library
Join us as we celebrate Black History Month with a very special PRIDE storytime featuring Friidae! PRIDE Storytime is a family-friendly way of recognizing and celebrating our diversity and individuality through age-appropriate stories & songs. This is a safe space, all families are welcome.

Freedom Quilt Fabric Mosaic

• Tuesday, February 13, 2024  | 4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. | Central Library, 2nd Floor Teen Center
• Thursday, February 22, 2024 | 4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. | Skyline Hills Library
• Tuesday, February 27, 2024 | 5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. | Mountainview/Beckwourth Library

Participants will have the opportunity to create a meaningful art project inspired by Freedom Quilts from the 1800’s. Using up-cycled fabric and an 8”x8" framed canvas, they will emulate design motifs and patterns that pay homage to Freedom Advocates and supporters of the Underground Railroad.
   
Create it! Tuesdays (Ages 5-11)
Tuesdays, February 13, 20, & 27 2024 | 5 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. | Valencia Park/Malcolm X Library

• February 13:  Create a Freedom Quilt Square
• February 20: Freedom Quilt Mosaic with Toshwerks
• February 27:  Design a Kente Cloth

Crafternoon | African Mask Craft
Tuesday, February 27, 2024 | 4 p.m. - 5 p.m. | Balboa Library
African masks represent the spirits of people or things and were worn during ceremonies and celebrations. Masks are  rooted in the belief of animism, or the worship of the natural world. Celebrate Black History Month by making your own mask.

Create-it Thursday: Black History Month: Rocketship Craft
Thursday, February 29, 2024 | 4 p.m. - 4:45 p.m. | Skyline Hills Library
February is Black History Month! Join us to learn about some pioneers in Space and create a cool STEAM Rocketship craft! Register online or call if you need assistance registering at 619-527-3485.
Registration required.

The Sum of Us: One Book, One San Diego Book Discussion
Saturday, February 3, 2024 | 2 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. | North University Community Library
The City and County of San Diego Filipino American Employees Associations invite you to join us for a book discussion on the 2023 One Book, One San Diego adult selection, The Sum of Us: What Racism Costs Everyone and How We Can Prosper Together by Heather McGhee. The author is an economic policy expert who argues that our fortunes are tied to the fortunes of others and that racism hurts everyone, not just people of color.

Solidarity Fight! 2^nd Annual SoCal Sumo Open
Saturday, February 24, 2024 | 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. | Black Box Theatre at City Heights/Weingart Library
HONU SUMO Club and Maximum Effort Foundation invites you to attend the 2^nd Annual SoCal Sumo Open, led by JJ Jones, Co-Executive Director of Maximum Effort Foundation. JJ Jones is the first Black person in history to organize a sumo tournament in San Diego. The SoCal Sumo Open shares appreciation for the Japanese community's contributions to martial arts and Black people's contribution to martial arts and civil rights, while promoting Black and Asian solidarity. This is a day of sumo, music, food, meeting neighbors and making new friends.

Wikipedia Edit-a-Thon: Black History Month
Monday, February 26, 2024 | 6 p.m. - 8 p.m. | Central Library, 4th Floor Wells Fargo Technology Learning Center
Learn to edit Wikipedia pages and contribute to making knowledge more accessible! Join us in editing and writing Wikipedia articles. All experience levels are welcome. It is highly recommended that participants create a Wikipedia account ahead of time. This month, we will be editing articles themed around Black history.
Registration encouraged.

BLACK COM!X DAY 2024
Saturday, February 3, 2024 through Sunday, February 4, 2024 | 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. | WorldBeat Cultural Center
The 6^th year of highlighting Black Owned Cartoons & Comics. A FREE event for everyone to enjoy from all walks of life! Two days of fun!
Event Schedule

• Saturday, February 3, 2024 |  1 p.m. - 2 p.m.  | Empowered: Black Culture in Anime & Manga
• Sunday, February 4, 2024 | 1 p.m. - 2 p.m. | The Real Afro Avenger! Cheryl Morrow

Martin Luther King Jr. Community Choir San Diego Performance
Saturday, February 10, 2024 | 1:30 p.m. – 2 p.m. | Rancho San Diego Library
Enjoy an afternoon of traditional and contemporary gospel music with the Martin Luther King Jr. Community Choir San Diego (MLKCCSD). Program is sponsored by the Friends of the Rancho San Diego Library.