By Zoe Elrod, Internal Communications Coordinator  

By highlighting Black stories and lived experiences, the Metropolitan Library System creates opportunities for learning, conversation and community connection that help keep these histories alive. This winter, the library will host a variety of programs celebrating Black history, culture and community. From author talks to take-home kits, scavenger hunts, writing and crafting workshops, book clubs and creative displays, these events invite the public to engage with stories that have shaped our state and nation. 

Please visit metrolibrary.org/blackhistorymonth for programs near you! 

African American Experiences 

• Feb. 7 at the Ronald J. Norick Downtown Library 

Retired Metropolitan Library System librarian Phillip Tolbert returns to the Ronald J. Norick Downtown Library to present an overview of African American contributions to U.S. history across fields including medicine, science, literature, music, sports and more. He said that he hopes attendees will gain a deeper understanding of the breadth and impact of those contributions, 

“I’m hoping that guests will get a sense of the purpose and importance of African American history and also see the countless contributions African Americans have made to the history and development of this country,” Tolbert said in an interview with Metro Library. 

While preparing the presentation, Tolbert said he continued learning, discovering individuals whose stories are often overlooked. 

“I’ve already discovered some new people that I didn’t even know had done things,” he said. “There are significant figures in the medical field who have accomplished things that are just unbelievable. There are also people in the entertainment world who did incredible things that I never knew about.” 

Tolbert encourages attendees to continue exploring African American history beyond the event, leaving the door open for further research, learning and awareness. 

Celebrating Ralph Ellison: “More Than Invisible” 

• Feb. 21 at Ralph Ellison Library, Feb. 27 at Edmond Library, and Feb. 28 at Patience S. Latting Northwest Library.  

The Metropolitan Library System invites readers of all ages to celebrate the life and legacy of Ralph Ellison, one of Oklahoma City’s most influential literary figures. Join us for a series of family-friendly programs inspired by the children’s book “Ralph Ellison: More Than Invisible” by acclaimed author Quraysh Ali Lansana. Following a launch at the Ralph Ellison Library, the celebration continues with programs designed to introduce children and families to Ellison’s story and enduring impact. 

Lansana is an award-winning author of more than 20 books spanning poetry, nonfiction and children’s literature. An Oklahoma native, Lansana is an associate professor at the University of Tulsa, where he directs the African American Studies program and focuses on history,culture and storytelling. 

“Libraries saved my life; they were the first places that told me my stories mattered,” Lansana said. 

His biography introduces young readers to Ralph Ellison, best known for “Invisible Man,” a novel translated into 17 languages that continues to shape conversations about race and identity. Born in Oklahoma City in 1914, Ellison began as a musician before finding his voice as a writer, earning international honors including the National Book Award and the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Through photographs and personal anecdotes, Lansana traces Ellison’s journey from his Oklahoma City childhood to his global influence, inviting families to connect with a literary legend and encouraging young readers to see themselves in history. 

“I want kids to understand that one of the world’s most influential writers grew up on streets not far from their own,” Lansana said. 

Before Greensboro: Why the 1958 Katz Sit-In Matters Nationally 

• Feb. 21 at the Ronald J. Norick Downtown Library 

Historian and author Dr. Karlos Hill will present a powerful discussion that places Oklahoma City at the center of the modern sit-in movement. 

A Regents’ Professor of African and African American Studies at the University of Oklahoma, Hill is the author of three books, including “Beyond the Rope,” and “The 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre: A Photographic History.” He describes his work as “bearing witness” to the Black past and will sign books following the presentation, with copies available through Second Story Books. 

Drawing on the words and reflections of the 13 original Katz sit-in participants, Hill’s presentation serves as both a historical exploration and a tribute to the young people whose courage helped shape the civil rights movement. 

“The history of this community changed the world in some very particular ways,” Hill said. “And we should not only remember it, but we should be inspired and activated by it.” 

Hill’s talk focuses on the three-day Katz Drug Store sit-in and its role in sparking later protests, placing Oklahoma City within a national civil rights story. He also traces a lesser-known origin that includes the student play “Brother President,” about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the Montgomery Bus Boycott, which helped inspire the Katz sit-in. 

The presentation will take place at the Ronald J. Norick Downtown Library, just down the block from the newly completed Clara Luper Plaza. With this presentation, Hill hopes attendees leave with a deeper understanding of the Katz sit-in, why it mattered, and how the actions of 13 young people led to the desegregation of 38 stores. 

“People don’t just change the world,” he said. “They change the world out of a deep sense of connection and compassion for how the past shows up today in our lives, in the lives of our community.” 

Oklahoma Black Communities Symposium 

• Feb. 28, Noon to 5 p.m. at the Ronald J. Norick Downtown Library 

The Oklahoma Black Communities Symposium brings together individuals, organizations and institutions from across Oklahoma who are working to research, document and preserve Black communities. The event will feature presentations focused on Black urban enclaves, rural communities and historic Black towns, offering attendees opportunities to learn and connect with others engaged in preservation and scholarship. 

The keynote address, “From Tulsa to Beyond: African American Genealogy in Oklahoma,” will be presented by professional genealogist Nicka Sewell-Smith. 

“We'll be talking about everything from Dawes cards to more federal records, things such as school and college records, and even people working in the community right now to preserve the history of Black folks in the Sooner State,” Nicka Sewell-Smith said. 

Her presentation explores Oklahoma-specific resources for uncovering family histories, including tribal records from the Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Muscogee and Seminole nations, along with other historical archives.