Best of BARD: January 2017
New Year, New You. But that doesn’t mean we can’t keep the gritty heavy hitters in our lives, representing the Top Five. I’m not gonna lie, I was tempted to … Continued
Behind the Camera: 5 Female Directors to Watch
It’s also heartening to see that after her snub last year the Academy realized that it had a diversity problem; this year (for the first time) there are people of color nominated in every major acting category and in the director’s category. This is likely the result of a diversified voting pool this year which leads to a more diverse selection of nominees. While this is certainly progress, there still has never been a female Black director nominated for an Oscar. So, instead of focusing on this year’s nominees (love you, Moonlight) I’m going to focus on a handful of films directed by African-American women that you should definitely seek out.
The Legacy of Ezra Jack Keats and a Boy Named Peter
In Andrea Davis Pinkney’s new book, A Poem for Peter, the author beautifully depicts in verse the life of Ezra Jack Keats and the creation of his most famous character, Peter.
Cons
I love any story about a con artist. From the most grand, slick schemes and cons, to small clumsy ones, I’ve always been fascinated by it. Partially, it’s the psychology … Continued
Ecofeminist Novels by Black Authors
Ecofeminists believe that nature and culture are intrinsically linked, and that the environmental harm we’re doing to our planet parallels the harm oppressive cultures do to marginalized groups like women and people of color. The word “ecofeminist” is itself a compound of “ecology” and “feminist.” In practice, it is an intersectional, multidimensional approach to social justice that recognizes we are linked to the land and our environments. Unsurprisingly, many women of color have written both novels and nonfiction books with strong ecofeminist themes; here are just a few of them.
The History of Black History Month
When the call first went out for blog post topics to celebrate Black History Month (also known as African-American History month), I responded that I’d like to write a “History … Continued
Girls Rock on 2017 Amelia Bloomer List
There were a lot of amazing books recognized last month at the Youth Media Awards during the American Library Association Midwinter Conference in Atlanta (poor Falcons). Picture an Academy Awards celebration … Continued
Black History Month Staff and Board Member Book Picks
Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh staff and board members recommend these must read books that celebrate African American authors, culture and history.
The Blues and Langston Hughes
Langston Hughes was a poet, novelist, and playwright who captured and chronicled the collective and individual experiences of African Americans. First recognized as a literary figure during the Harlem Renaissance, Hughes … Continued
Coretta Scott King Book Award Winners: Not Just For Kids
The Coretta Scott King Book Awards are given out yearly to “outstanding African American authors and illustrators of books for children and young adults that demonstrate an appreciation of African American culture and universal human values.” Since 1970, the award named for Martin Luther King Jr.’s wife has honored such authors as Toni Morrison, Sharon Draper, and Walter Dean Myers. Although the books receiving the award are written for a young audience, many of them are also great reads for adults. Take a look at some of these winning titles.