On a dreary, stuck-inside kind of day, a brother and sister heed their grandmother’s advice: “Use those beautiful and brilliant minds of yours. Lift your arms, close your eyes, take a deep breath, and believe in a thing. Somebody somewhere at some point was just as bored as you are now.” This precious skill, their grandmother tells them, harkens back to the days long before they were born, when their ancestors showed the world the strength and resilience of their beautiful and brilliant minds.

When Ruby Bridges was six years old, she became the first Black child to integrate the all-white William Frantz Elementary in Louisiana. This book, based on the pivotal events that happened in 1960 and told from her point of view, is a poetic reflection on her experience that changed the face of history and the trajectory of the Civil Rights movement.

Martin Luther King, Jr., was one of the most influential and gifted speakers of all time. Doreen Rappaport uses quotes from some of his most beloved speeches to tell the story of his life and his work in a simple, direct way. Those who attended the Museum’s Martin Luther King Jr. storytime last month may remember this book, which was read by Teacher Alycia!

When Little Mae was a child, she dreamed of dancing in space. She imagined herself surrounded by billions of stars, floating, gliding, and discovering. She wanted to be an astronaut. Little Mae’s curiosity, intelligence, and determination, matched with her parents’ encouraging words, paved the way for her incredible success at NASA as the first African American woman to travel in space.

Among these biographies, readers will find heroes, role models, and everyday women who did extraordinary things – bold women whose actions and beliefs contributed to making the world better for generations of girls and women to come. Whether they were putting pen to paper, soaring through the air or speaking up for the rights of others, the women profiled in these pages were all taking a stand against a world that didn’t always accept them.

Join Tacoma Public Library’s Moore Branch each Tuesday as they highlight a new artist’s story and work that helped to shape our world. The library will also be providing materials for visitors to create their own artwork!

From 11 a.m. – 3 p.m., People’s Community Center will be celebrating Black History Month with art activities, music, performances, a scavenger hunt, and more! People’s Community Center is located at 1602 M.L.K. Jr Way in Tacoma.

From February 3 – April 28, join the Washington State History Museum as they showcase the Solidarity Now! 1968 Poor People’s Campaign exhibit from the Smithsonian, with photographs, oral histories of participants and organizers, and an array of artifacts from the campaign. Visit the Museum on the Third Thursday of each month for free admission from 3 – 8 p.m.

Join the Black Night Market at Mount Tahoma High School from 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., where they’ll be highlighting BIPOC Businesses, live performing artists and Black History!