Celebrating 100 Years of Black History Commemorations
SPPL invites you to participate in a three-part event series commemorating 100 years of Black History commemorations in the United States, highlighting significant moments and traditions in Black history in Minnesota and nation-wide. Taking place across 2026, the series includes film and conversation during Black History Month, an interactive Juneteenth Lunch-N-Learn, and a drumming and storytelling program rooted in Minnesota’s Black oral traditions.
These events are grounded in Black history, culture, and lived experience and are led by Black artists, historians, community leaders, and library staff. While rooted in the Black community, the events are open and welcoming to all who wish to learn, reflect, and engage.
Celebrate Black History Month
Honor Black History Month with a Doc-N-Dine featuring filmmaker and educator Mr. Derek Francis., opens a new window This event includes a screening of his short documentary Separate Not Equal,, opens a new window followed by a facilitated conversation exploring key moments in Minnesota’s Black history: school integration using public transportation.
Through firsthand accounts from former students, educators, and community members, the film traces Minnesota’s path toward racial integration, including the 1971 merger of Hale and Field Elementary Schools in South Minneapolis. Francis will also share insights from his recently published book, Our First Bus Ride., opens a new window
Celebrate Juneteenth
Celebrate Juneteenth with a Lunch-N-Learn led by community educator Mr. Lee Henry Jordan, founder of Juneteenth Speaks, opens a new window.
This interactive event explores the history and meaning of Juneteenth, with a focus on how the celebration has been observed and shaped in Minnesota. Participants will engage in discussion and activities that highlight Juneteenth as a commemoration of freedom, resilience, and community.
Celebrate Black Storytelling Traditions
Join us for a drumming and storytelling experience led by Joshua Gillespi, highlighting the work of the Minnesota Black Storytelling Alliance, opens a new window.
Through interactive drumming, storytelling, and conversation, participants will explore how Black oral traditions have preserved history, strengthened community, and passed down cultural knowledge across generations. This immersive event invites audiences to learn through sound, movement, and story.