“R-E-S-P-E-C-T: Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul”, written by Carole Boston Weatherford and illustrated by Frank Morrison, is on display on the first floor of the University Library on the Brownsville campus. The book is one of several featured in the exhibit space and available to check out in observance of Black History Month. VERILU INFANTE/THE RIDER PHOTOS
Throughout February, UTRGV students will have access to databases, journals, books and films in observance of Black History Month.
Raquel Estrada, Acquisition and Collection Development librarian for UTRGV, said Black History Month is an opportunity to celebrate African American and Afro Hispanic culture and heritage.
“I think it is a time to bring awareness to the triumph and success of many individuals as well as the struggles, past and present,” Estrada said.
A book display featuring topics such as Black resistance and Afro Hispanic culture is available on the first floor of the University Library on the Brownsville campus. Estrada said the library is working on creating a similar display on the Edinburg campus.
“We kind of just want to showcase a variety of topics within Black history,” she said. “… If [students] see something on the display, they can just take it off the display and check it out.”
To spark discussion and interest, the University Library on the Brownsville campus will host two film screenings of “Speaking Truth to Power” by Barbara Lee at 11:30 a.m. Feb. 17 and “The Central Park Five” by Ken Burns at 11 a.m. Feb. 24. Both screenings will take place in Library Instruction Room 1.118 and are open to the public.
The library also offers a guide that highlights materials, including books, films, journals and databases. There is also a resource poster complete with popular book titles and links to government resources.
Estrada said the poster can be viewed in person on the third floor of the Brownsville and Edinburg University Libraries, as well as in the Mario E. Ramirez, M.D., Library on the Harlingen campus.
Both the poster and the library guide can be accessed at utrgv.libguides.com.
Council for Cultural Activities
The Council for Cultural Activities will host two screenings of the movie “Till,” directed by Nigerian native Chinonye Chukwu, who is also known for the films “Clemency” and “A Long Walk.”
“Till” tells a “powerful and important story of Mamie Till-Mobley, the mother of Emmett Till, and her fight for justice after her son’s murder,” according to art sophomore Alyna Lizcano, a CCA co-chair.
In 1955, 14-year-old Emmett Till was lynched while visiting his cousins in Mississippi. Till-Mobley then fought for justice for her son and, in turn, helped usher in the civil rights movement, according to Lizcano.
“‘Till’ tells the story while also showing the power of love and family and the fight for what is right and just,” she said. “And we hope that after viewing this movie at our event, students will be able to have, like, a discussion about the topics that they witnessed and also just learn stuff that maybe they’ll relate to.”
Lizcano believes that celebrating the achievements of African Americans in the United States is important and that offering events, such as the movie screenings, allows students to learn about topics they may not be familiar with.
“[The movie screenings] give other students, like, a safe space to have on campus where they can relate to what they’re watching and maybe think back on it later and realize that the world is not always as good as it may seem,” she said. “There’s dark sides to it, but it’s important that we acknowledge them and learn from them. That way, we can go on and become greater versions of ourselves.”
