Celebrate the end of the Library's Westward Bound: African American Country Music History & Country Lore exhibit with a live performance by the Black Banjo & Fiddle Fellowship. December 14th is the last day to view the exhibit.
Go on a live tour of the Westward Bound: African-American Country Music History & Cowboy Lore exhibit by curator Vania Kinard and Grammy award winning musician, Dom Flemons. Vania and Dom created this exhibit to celebrate the pioneers of American roots music and Western history. This exhibit features a display of artifacts, including photographs, instruments, books, and memorabilia from their collection.
Join us on Zoom for discussion about African-American cowboy history and contemporary culture from the perspectives of Pulitzer-prize winning photojournalist, Ron Tarver, and Grammy-award winning musician Dom Flemons. This event relates to the Library's current exhibit, Westward Bound: African-American Country Music History & Cowboy Lore, which is on display at Central Library through December 14.
Come and make and decorate a homemade "harmonica" with simple materials and jam along to harmonica music! We'll be doing this craft in honor of DeFord Bailey, a harmonica virtuoso and the first Black star of the Grand Ole Opry. Ages 5-8.
Check the library's calendar for more events about African-American Country Music leading up our December 7th family friendly celebration, and culminating in the first ever DeFord Bailey Legacy Festival, beginning on December 13th at Freight and Salvage.
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Join us for an afternoon of short films highlighting Black cowboys, country music, and local lore! We'll be screening several shorts and music videos and discussing the rich history of Black western culture on the Bay Area and that history's impact on California and the world. Expect a light refreshments, beautiful visuals on screen, and a toe-tapping good time!
Westward Bound explores the history of Black cowboys in the United States and celebrates African-American musicians in country music.
Join us for a Beyoncé inspired craft on Saturday November 16th from 4-5pm. We will be bedazzling cowboy hats with fabric gems, textile paint, disco pieces and more! The event is led by Chanel London, founder of Hella Artsy.
Bring your cowboy boots and get ready to sparkle!
The Library and Freight & Salvage have partnered to celebrate African-American country music history and cowboy culture in the West. The Library hosts an ongoing exhibit on the topic by Vania Kinard while the Freight & Salvage will be hosting a 3-day music festival honoring the great harmonica virtuoso and Grand Ole Opry performer, Deford Bailey, in mid-December.
Join us for "Black Country Before Beyoncé: The Secret History of African-Americans in Country Music, with Mark Montgomery French" a humorous, highly immersive, and historically accurate talk that uncovers the African-American roots of Country, Folk, and Americana music.
Featuring: Charley Pride, Shaboozey, Lil Nas X, Ray Charles, Rhiannon Giddens, Deford Bailey, Linda Martell, Darius Rucker, Rissi Palmer, and more!
Westward Bound explores the history of Black cowboys in the United States and celebrates African-American musicians in country music.
Join us for a Beyoncé inspired craft on Saturday November 16th from 3-4pm. We will be bedazzling cowboy hats with Chanel London, founder of Hella Artsy! Bring your cowboy boots and get ready to sparkle!