Jessamine County Public Library will host a Black History Month Celebration on Feb. 21 from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. in Meeting Room 2.
For Jessamine County, it is their second annual “Hometown Highlights,” which gives time for individuals from Jessamine’s Black community to share historical moments, accomplishments and other interesting facts about their lives.
The event will begin with refreshments and remarks, along with time to view the Highlights of Hometown History displays and the artwork of local artists in the gallery. More specifically, the gallery will include The Gallery of Great Black Kentuckians by the Kentucky Commission on Human Rights, a display of handmade dolls by Laura Coulter and art by Kaneisha Cannady.
Immediately following the reception, there will be a screening of Lexington: Resilience in the Redline by Black Yarn. Earlier during this spring semester, Asbury screened the documentary and had a talkback following the showing, discussing the history of racial discrimination within Lexington’s housing policies.
Black Yarn is a Lexington-based non-profit organization that focuses on advancing racial equity, preserving history and highlighting economic injustice through research, film and community collaboration.
“We stand at a pivotal moment where acknowledging and understanding the historical nuances of Black prosperity is not just a matter of enlightenment, but a pathway to fostering inclusivity, dismantling systemic inequalities and building a more equitable future for all,” stated Black Yarn on their website.
The documentary, Resilience in the Redline, created by the organization, explores how Black communities in Lexington navigated, resisted and overcame systemic racism and discriminatory housing policies. Within the documentary, it specifically discussed redlining, racially restrictive covenants and real estate steering. Through the documentary, Black Yarn hopes to shed light on the areas within Lexington that are often not talked about and create meaningful change for a “more just future in our community.”
The event does not require registration and is a free event for everyone. If students are interested in supporting local black artists or watching the documentary featured at the event, they can visit the Jessamine County Library on Feb. 21 for the celebration.
