Black History Month at the Navarre Branch Library
A Century of Black History Commemorations
This year, Black History Month celebrates its centennial anniversary. Established by Dr. Carter G. Woodson in 1926, the celebration was originally recognized as Black History Week. Dr. Woodson served as director of the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History (ASNLH) and through his work there, created the long-standing tradition to recognize and celebrate Black history.
In 1976, it was expanded to what we know today; February as Black History Month and in 1986 it was formally recognized by Congress. This year’s theme is “A Century of Black History Commemorations.”
Celebrating in Monroe
In the L.S. Navarre Branch Library Scrapbook, digitized and available through the Monroe County Library System’s website in Digital Collections, there are several pages with photographs from the 1970s and 1980s showing how the library celebrated Black History Week.
While book displays were a common way for libraries to promote themes and events, there were many different types of programs and tools that were also shared during Black History Week/ Month at the L.S. Navarre Branch Library.
In February of 1971, high school students Lymon Jett Jr, and James Taylor displayed their artworks at the branch.
The exhibit, which lasted almost three weeks, was intended to create a better understanding between races, according to a Monroe Evening News article clipping featuring the students’ work.
The photo shows the students standing next to their artworks.
Monroe Salutes Its Black Citizens
Also preserved in the L.S. Navarre Branch Library scrapbook is a booklet titled “Monroe Salutes Its Black Citizens; May 20, Our Heritage Day, Michigan Week, 1969.” The booklet was compiled under a committee which included Mrs. Mary Daume, Monroe County Library System and Mrs. Sue Hardaway, Community Aid Division of the Monroe County Office of Economic Opportunity, Inc. as well as Mrs. Octavia Covington, Mrs. Virginia Covington, Mrs. Margaret Philpot, Mrs. Virginia Caine, Mrs. Hazel Ethridge and Mrs. Alberta Lewis.
The booklet is a wellspring of Black history in Monroe. Included is a history of the first Black families in the late 1880s and Black families that established community ties in the Orchard East area in the 1920s (many of which were part of the development of the booklet). There is also mention of historical churches, Black community members in leadership roles in civic activities, important clubs and organizations and lastly, a long list of Black owned businesses, complete with many owners and addresses.
The first Michigan History Week began in 1954, and while it is not technically associated with Black History Month, the “Our Heritage Day” part offered the opportunity to highlight and learn more about Monroe’s Black History.
Community Images
Community Images: Focusing on Monroe’s African American Community was a newsletter that was edited and published by Monroe resident, Denise Gray. In the 1994 (Volume 3, Issue 1) edition an article was submitted by John Terrasi titled “Read-In Chain for Black History Month”. The article talks about the national program, which began in 1990 and was sponsored by the Black Caucus of the National Council of the Teachers of English (NCTE).
In 1994 the program was locally sponsored by the Monroe County Black History Committee and the Monroe County Library System. The programs involved with a Read In event can vary, but the article states that approximately 45 people attended to hear stories and discuss a range of topics from the Civil War era to African Queens and Kings. In the photo, from the newsletter, is Robert J. Miles, reading at a podium at the event.
The Read-In Chain program went on for several years and the library has some material up until 2004, including VHS recordings we are planning to digitize in the future.
The program is still ongoing nationally today, if you are interested in participating or planning an event, visit the NCTE website, at Get Involved, to learn more. The newsletter was shared with the library by an Orchard East community member. (If you have any copies of the publication we would love to speak with you!)
All of these images, and many more, are accessible through the library’s website and digital collections. If you look through the Navarre Branch Library digital collection, you’ll notice in the scrapbook that there are photographs and newspaper clippings that refer to Black History Week as Negro History Week or Month. This term is now considered outdated and even offensive. The shift in language began in the late 1960s and early 1970s with the growth of the Black Power Movement, which advocated for replacing the term for its connections to racism and segregation and using “Black” instead, as a symbol of pride and self-determination. It is important to acknowledge that the term is no longer used, but having a record of it is essential to learning about Black history and the changes in cultural identification and society.
For these reasons, the library has chosen to make and keep these images accessible; as a tool for learning and reflection. This piece is part of a series to highlight images and documents from the Memories of Orchard East Digital Archive; a participatory and community-centered archival collection project that focuses on the history of the East Side and Orchard areas of Monroe. The Navarre Branch Library scrapbook digital collection can by found in the library’s digital collections, and are not currently a part of the Memories of Orchard East Digital Archive collection. However, these materials do directly relate to the Orchard East community.
If you have any information about the Monroe County Black History Committee or anything relating to the Orchard East, please contact the library at (734) 241-5770 ext. 217. We would love to hear your stories!