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Health & Fitness

"Created Equal" Programming Planned By Stratford Library

Film, Book Talk Included for “Black History Month” Events

To mark the 50th anniversary of Martin Luther King’s March on Washington, the Stratford Library will take part in the annual, nationwide celebration of “Black History Month” with a film, book and speaker series highlighting the Civil Rights movement in America.

Created Equal: America’s Civil Rights Struggle is an initiative of the National Endowment for the Humanities that uses the power of documentary films to encourage community discussion of America’s civil rights history. NEH has partnered with the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History to develop programmatic and support materials for the sites. The Stratford Library is one of 473 institutions across the country awarded a set of four films chronicling the history of the Civil Rights Movement. The powerful documentaries, with riveting new footage illustrating the history of civil rights in America, will be the centerpiece of the Library’s month long programming efforts. All events are free and open to the public.

The schedule of events for Created Equal: America’s Civil Rights Struggle is:

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THE ABOLITIONISTS

Monday, February 3 at Noon

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A small group of moral reformers in the 1830s launched one of the most ambitious social movements imaginable. Guest speaker: Stratford Councilwoman Stephanie Philips

THE LOVING STORY

Thursday, February 6 at 6:30 pm

The moving account of Richard and Mildred Loving who were arrested in 1958 for violating Virginia's ban on interracial marriage. Panel discussion with local couples will follow the film showing.

TEEN BLACK HISTORY ESSAY & ART CONTEST

Saturday, February 8 at 11 am

Annual celebration of original work by Stratford teenagers.

THE BUTLER

Monday, February 10 at Noon

Forest Whitaker stars in the true story of Cecil Gaines who served as the White House butler under eight presidents. A box office hit.

SLAVERY BY ANOTHER NAME

Thursday, February 13 at 6:30 pm

Even as slavery ended in the south after the Civil War, new forms of forced labor kept thousands of African Americans in bondage until the onset of World War II.

Guest speaker: Author Jennifer Baszile (“The Black Girl Next Door”)

FREEDOM RIDERS

Tuesday, February 18 at 6:30 pm

The Freedom Rides of 1961 were a pivotal moment in the long Civil Rights struggle that redefined America.

Guest speaker: Educator Donald Goodson, Co-chair of C.A.R.E.

BOOK DISCUSSION: 12 YEARS A SLAVE

Wednesday, February 26 at Noon

Solomon Northrup's classic memoir (and subject of the current Oscar-nominated film) tells the true story of his experiences as a "free slave" forced back into servitude.

Discussion leader: Kathy Faggella

All events will be held in the Stratford Library Lovell Room, 2203 Main Street in Stratford, CT. Schedule is subject to change. For further information call: 203.385.4162 or visit: www.stratfordlibrary.org. Sponsors for Created Equal: America’s Civil Rights Struggle include: Citizens Addressing Racial Equity (C.A.R.E.), the Stratford South End Community Center and the Square One Theatre Company.

Created Equal: America’s Civil Rights Struggle is made possible through a major grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities, as part of its Bridging Cultures initiative, in partnership with the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History.

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