All this month, Branches throughout the city will host dozens of Black History Month activities for all ages and interests. Here is a sample of what you’ll find as we celebrate this year’s national theme, “Black Women in American History and Culture.”

Black Women in Music
Storytellers Rosie "Ms. Felix" Willis and Fred "Jellyjaw" Johnson present the contributions of African-American women to music. Families
February 22 Schlafly 7-8 p.m.

Annie Malone: Pioneer of Black Cosmetology. 
Pioneer of African-American hair care products for women, Annie Malone opened a black cosmetology school in St. Louis in 1917. Storyteller and actress Carole Shelton portrays Annie in an original dramatic monologue. Teens
February 15 Carpenter 4-5 p.m.

Gimme Wings
A one-woman show that centers on Celeste, a young aviation student who longs to fly but hates learning about the history of aviation. Her instructor, Professor Wright, instructs her to clean up an area at Parks Airport that contains documents of women who made aviation history: Bessie Coleman, Willa Brown, Janet Harmon Bragg, and Melissa "M'Lis" Ward. Celeste "becomes" each of these women with a different costume piece that was a signature clothing item for each woman. Grades 4- 12
February 21 Machacek 10 a.m.