Independence Regional Library can be found at the corner of Conference Drive and Monroe Road. We are proud to serve a diverse community, with many nearby schools including East Mecklenburg High School, Idlewild Elementary School, McClintock Middle School, Greenway Elementary School, Rama Road Elementary. We also serve families with young children and individuals from around the world who call Charlotte home. Visit us and you will discover a wide range of programs offered to people of all ages. We have a diverse staff who offer a variety of language learning programs,  an excellent group of children’s storytellers doing amazing work with babies and school age children, and we have many skill-building programs offered to teens to help them prepare for their future. Come and meet our library staff members who care very much about their work and the people they serve.   

If you like the outdoors, you will surely enjoy getting off the beaten path to stroll down local Greenways, McAlpine Creek and Campbell Creek. Experience wildlife and a fishpond available with stocked fish and accessible with a fishing permit. McAlpine Creek Park’s entrance is on Monroe Road near Village Lake Drive. Another fun outing for families with young children is at Grier Park. StoryWalks, provided by Charlotte Mecklenburg Library, is a unique storybook adventure for children and their families found within the park’s natural setting. This encounter is a lively story outside the pages of a traditional book. 

Near our branch is the Time Out Youth Center who welcome all who enter. It’s a special place for young people to feel a sense of belonging and community whether they identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, a straight ally – or just dislike being labeled at all. They offer a safe space and always respect the journey of each individual youth and young adult. Time Out Youth works to teach, lead discussions and workshops and gives resources to schools in the Charlotte area and surrounding counties.

Another wonderful organization making a difference in our community are the Monroe Road Advocates (MORA). They are a huge source of support in creating public art, hosting community workshops and so much more. MORA is fueled and supported by a group of neighbors and stakeholders that operate in volunteer roles. You are encouraged to visit this area and enjoy the sights, sounds, food and experiences!

Our community also has a lot of resources and organizations that serve refugees and immigrant families. The staff at Carolina Refugee Resettlement Agency embrace refugees and recognize their troubling experiences. The goal is to ease the transition into a new country while respecting people’s need to remember their roots, cultures and traditions left behind back home. At Refugee Support Services, they provide a multitude of programs to help refugees who’ve chosen to settle in Charlotte. Families and individuals can come and partake in workshops, learn about nutrition, cooking, home-buying, voting clinics, financial literacy, family first-aid, personal hygiene, college prep/admissions and more.

The Hindu Center of Charlotte is a temple that has served the Hindu Indian community in Charlotte for many decades, and they have a very active member base. The entire year is filled with traditional and colorful events seeped in the Hindu religion. If you love Indian cuisine, don’t miss out on their take-out services which help support the Center’s year-round activities.

And of course, if you are looking for a more diverse selection of groceries, we have the Super-G International Market. If you love food (and who doesn’t), please make time to visit Super-G International Market for a grocery store visit like no other. While their main emphasis is Asian foods, they have an abundance of products from South America, Europe, and Africa just to name of few. Think of it as an amusement park for food enthusiasts. One prominent place is their food court where the Korean soups, kimchi, Vietnamese hot steam buns and Chinese bakery treats will take your tastebuds to far-away places with no required passport.

The staff at Independence Regional Branch has many local suggestions as well. Patchwork is a montage of colorful street art designed and created by local artists and trailblazers, MyLoan Dinh and Bunny Gregory. It’s art that adds a curiosity and playfulness to this region. You’ll find the colorful quilt-like inspired displays at several intersections along Monroe Road.  Another staff favorite is Thursdays Live, a seasonal and free concert series allowing people and families to gather and enjoy local musicians — great for the whole family to connect with neighbors in an exciting atmosphere. Pictured here is a 16-foot-high sculpture project that was led by Lee Baumgarten. Public artist Leslie Scott is the designer/creator of this landmark that is a beacon in our area where we live, shop and explore.  One of many ethnic restaurants is Halal Street Food. Specializing in traditional Middle Eastern dishes like kebabs, shawarma, platters, doner kebab, wraps and gyros, they also have many delicious options for vegetarians. A new restaurant, but with recipes from olden times.

New to Charlotte? Explore other neighborhoods through the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library blog and WelcomeCLT, a digital space created for newcomers to Charlotte.

Resources:

• Independence Regional Branch – 6000 Conference Drive Charlotte, NC 28212 | 704-416-4800
• McCalpine Creek and Campbell Creek Greenway
• Grier Heights Memorial Park Storywalk - 3110 Leroy Street Charlotte, NC 28205
• Time Out Youth Center - 3800 Monroe Rd, Charlotte, NC 28205 | 704-344-8335
• Monroe Road Advocates
• Carolina Refugee Resettlement Agency - 5009 Monroe Rd Ste 100, Charlotte, NC 28205 | 704-535-8803
• Refugee Support Services - 3601 Central Ave, Charlotte, NC 28205 | 704-458-3245
• Hindu Center of Charlotte - 7400 City View Dr, Charlotte, NC 28212 | 704-535-3440
• Super-G International Market - 7323 E Independence Blvd, Charlotte, NC 28227 | 980-321-4048
• Halal Street Food - 4044 Connection Point Blvd Suite B, Charlotte, NC 28212 | 704-595-3876

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This blog post was written by Alice Araiza, library assistant for Charlotte Mecklenburg Library.

This blog was written as part of Charlotte Mecklenburg Library's Black Lives Matter program initiative. Learn  more about the program and corresponding events here.

As February 2022 and Black History Month comes to an end, the NFL, a pro sport dominated by Black athletes, is still making headlines. The NFL celebrated its Super Bowl contest on February 13 and ended its season but the news for aspiring coaches is not over.  

This month began with former Miami Dolphins coach Brian Flores filing a lawsuit against the NFL, and   three NFL teams including the Dolphins, claiming racial discrimination in hiring practices. NPR reported in a Monday sports article that Flores said in his lawsuit “that the NFL is ‘managed much like a plantation’ and that its 32 owners, none of whom is Black, profit from the labor of its players — 70% of whom are Black. He is seeking compensatory and punitive damages for the league's other Black head coaches, offensive and defensive coordinators and quarterback coaches and general managers, as well as African American candidates for those positions.”

For weeks, Flores continued to job-hunt and recently accepted a new job last week with the Pittsburgh Steelers. The team announced he will become its senior defensive assistant and linebacker coach.  Flores’ lawsuit, however, is still ongoing.

The NFL initially disagreed with the lawsuit claims but NFL commissioner Roger Goodell is reversing its stance by saying the league’s existing efforts to hire minority coaches are “unacceptable.”

This subject is addressed in the fourth chapter of the new John Feinstein book, Raise a Fist, Take a Knee: Race and the Illusion of Progress in Modern Sports. Entitled “Still Climbing the Wall,” the chapter includes discussions with former Black head coach Tony Dungy about Blacks and coaching. He can ignore limited hiring cycles for Black candidates in coaching but bemoans the results. “Two of the last twenty head-coaching coaching hires in the NFL have been African Americans,” he said. “That’s not a good number.” And Flores was one of the two hires.

Discrimination in sports has been a large historical topic whether looking at the stories of the determined Jackie Robinson integrating Major League Baseball during the 1940s or the flamboyant boxer Jack Johnson in the 1900s fighting white boxers. Serving as a forebear, Robinson had many to follow with dreams of opportunities and success. But the path for the Black athlete in the United States is not surefooted with the simple focus of sports and family. As a microcosm of greater society, the sports world was surrounded by the one-time Jim Crow era along with still present racist attitudes. When facing those situations, some Black athletes turned to different methods including activism to confront racism.     

In 2016, then NFL player Colin Kaepernick began silent protests of police brutality and racial inequality by taking a knee during the playing of the national anthem at the start of those football games. For a period, some followed his lead—intended as an act of peaceful protest—until criticism grew when others called the act unpatriotic. The football season ended and Kaepernick was released from his team to never play in the NFL again. The following year, he filed a lawsuit against the NFL that he was blackballed for his protests. In 2019, Kaepernick withdrew the lawsuit after a confidential settlement was reached. 

This month, another challenge to discrimination is playing out with the NFL being a direct participant. Flores’ lawsuit against the NFL loomed as another Black head coach, Lovie Smith, joined the Houston Texans and Mike McDaniel, of biracial descent, replaced Flores at Miami. To date, the NFL can claim to have five head coaches of color, three of whom are African American including McDaniel.   

Want to learn more about this topic? Black athletes are involved multiple sports including basketball, baseball, golf, tennis, among others. The disturbing conclusion is that these life stories include talented Black people being ignored, marginalized or feared. It is a cycle they confront with some major wins.

The Library has multiple titles about this subject for adults, teenagers and children readers including e-books, streaming videos and more.  Check the separate booklists for additional readings.

This blog was written by Lawrence Turner, adult services librarian at South County Regional Library.

Thank you to everyone that was able to join our Second Annual Celebration of the National African American Read-In. Our panelists did a wonderful job at discussing the lack of representation and diversity in children’s literature. Our authors also provided a read-aloud of their books.

Check out their titles below:

1. Harrison Martin: I want a Pet; The Bacon Tree; B is For Bacon Tree: Bacon A to Z
2. Shaketa Richardson: I am! I can! And I will!
3. Shirell Bates: Woolly Bully
4. Serenity Rankin: What Will I Be…?
5. Richye Porter: Big Brother Big Shoes; The NO that Meant GO! Go Harder!!!!
6. Charlitta Hatch: Black Boy Joy; Black Boy Joy Christmas Countdown
7. Dr. Janaka Lewis: Brown All Over; Freedom Narratives of African American Women; Bold Nia Maria Passes the Test; Dr. King is Tired Too!!

If you missed the celebration, don’t worry, you can get all caught up HERE and stay tuned to the Reading in Color Playlist on our YouTube channel for additional resources, and recommended black reads.

Download the accompanying PDF from this year's event with more reading recommendations, author bios, activities and more.

Libraries are houses of words.

They’re in the books on shelves, in magazines, in DVDs and in audiobooks.

At Charlotte Mecklenburg Library, those words come in 14 different languages. Including English, the Library offers resources in American Sign Language, Arabic, Chinese (traditional and simplified), French, German, Gujarati (spoken mostly in India), Hindi, Korean, Japanese, Marathi (spoken mostly in India), Russian, Spanish, Telugu (spoken mostly in India) and Vietnamese. While it’s not technically a separate language, the Library also offers materials in braille.

As our community grows and diversifies, the Library grows along with it, selecting accessible resources for families who speak many different languages.

The world languages collection, which includes nearly 5,400 print books in all other world languages not including Spanish, floats across the 20-branch system to go where they’re needed. However, some materials get priority at certain Library locations because of a greater need for a specific language.
South County Regional Library has a larger collection of Hindi materials, for example, while South Boulevard Library has a larger collection in Spanish.

Several locations have even created world languages “centers” where adults’ and children’s materials are housed together in all languages.

By far, the Library offers more Spanish materials than others (nearly 22,000 print books alone) to match the community’s needs. OverDrive/Libby, one of the Library’s digital platforms, has a Spanish collection that is frequently updated with new titles.  The Library also offers a variety of bilingual materials in English and Spanish to help readers learn a new language.

But for those families who speak Hindi? The Library has movies on hoopla for them, too. French-speaking customers can listen to music or read e-books in their language on hoopla, read French books on TumbleBook Library or even read scholarly titles on ProQuest in French. There are Films On Demand in American Sign Language, Chinese, English, French and Spanish. Explore the new World Languages Collection in OverDrive/Libby.  This collection features adult and children’s titles in French and German, and children’s titles in Korean.  Magazines in French, German, and Spanish including Elle Mexico, GQ Mexico and Cosmopolitan France are available for free through OverDrive/Libby magazines.

Of course, you, reading this now, speak English. But what if you wanted to one day read books in Russian, Arabic or Japanese?

The Library can help with that, too!

Through its free online language learning software, Transparent Language, the Library offers a digital language-learning classroom to make that a reality.

More than anything, Charlotte Mecklenburg Library is a safe space for families of all kinds and of all different backgrounds. If you would like to suggest the Library add a title in one of the collected languages, make a purchase request! We’re always looking for ways to help build a stronger community.

The South Boulevard Library is located on South Boulevard, just 0.60 miles from the Lynx Blue Line Scaleybark Station. Originally opened in 1985 as the Scaleybark Library, this location is a 18,850-square foot building and a convenient location for the many customers in this growing area along South Boulevard. The new branch includes new, reimagined spaces for both children and teens, public computers, children’s computers, a large community room, a programming room, a quiet reading room, a calming room, five group study rooms, a computer lab and a laptop bar for customers who want to bring their own devices, many collaborative spaces and a vending café. The South Boulevard Library has one of the largest Spanish and bilingual (Spanish/English) collections to serve its large Spanish-speaking community, and growing Arabic and French Children’s collections.

Around South Boulevard, you’ll find different institutions working together to connect and build their diverse community. The groups mentioned below come from distinct roots, but it’s important to note that many of them work together frequently to create steadfast systems of support. 

Through the Harris YMCA South Boulevard Initiative, the Harris YMCA has established a partnership with the South Boulevard Forest Hill Church to provide support through multifaceted means. Most of the work done through this initiative is in Spanish and is free of charge aiming to assist many of the immigrant and less affluent populations in the South Boulevard corridor. Monthly workshops are presented by experts in the field of parenting, mental health, immigration, and other vital topics to assist with information and acculturation. Multiple levels of Spanish and English classes are offered at a cost, though free conversation classes are available to registered and non-registered participants. Registration for English as a Second Language is open the first week of January, third week of March, and first week of September. While registration is required for most of their programs, participants do not need to be members of the YMCA or the church.

The Learning Help Centers of Charlotte (LHCC) is a non-profit organization that works to empower vulnerable communities by providing educational, spiritual, and social support. Together with partnerships and volunteers, they provide cultural assimilation where the community learns and celebrates Día de lo Muertos, Las Posadas, Veteran’s Day, and Easter among other holidays around the world. About 90% of LHCC’s attendees are from various Latin-American cultures. The remaining 10% of participants are of other ethnicities, creating a diverse organization. LHCC mobilizes their efforts through advocacy, community integration and collective learning. Some of the enrichment programs they provide include field trips, weekly tutoring sessions, summer camps and parent mentorship programs.

The South End Spanish Club is a conversation group that meets just up the street from the Library and occasionally throughout different South Charlotte areas. The group is made up of both native speakers and novice Spanish language learners. Meetings are usually organized in informal atmospheres, such as breweries, which allows for both an engaging and permissive learning environment. Its focus is to provide a welcoming space where people from all walks of life can connect through language, culture and experiences. Immersive learning activities (like sports, board games and artistic projects) are planned on a rotating calendar. Their schedule can be found on the South End Spanish Club Meetup or Facebook page.

Collinswood Language Academy is a K-8^th dual language school that follows the International Spanish Academy program (ISA) curriculum. ISA recognizes high performing schools in the United States and supports them to deliver a Spanish-English dual language immersion curriculum. Collinswood is a magnet school and its mission is to “cultivate a passion for learning and inspire students to achieve academic excellence, develop bilingual-biliterate mastery and embrace socio-cultural competence.” In many aspects, the school prepares students to be global citizens. Students are supported by multilingual staff who assist students as teachers, psychologist, counselors and administrators. Through their monthly bulletin, yearly International Parade, and other cultural events, Collinswood embraces, educates and values the inclusion of various cultures around the world. To attend this school, upcoming kindergarteners must enter the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools (CMS) Student Placement Lottery called CMS School Choice. Students coming into other grades must take an admission test also provided by CMS Student Placement.

The Latin American Chamber of Commerce (LACC) seeks to increase the visibility and success of Latin American Businesses. Various outlets are established within and outside the organization to assist the individual owner and overall business organization. Events are hosted throughout the year to provide educational and networking opportunities, frequently hosting Latinos and Non-Latino presenters from all over the world. One of the programs the organization runs is the LACCC Education Program which offers a place to explore entrepreneurial interests and build leadership development for entrepreneurs, professionals and youth.

New to Charlotte? Explore other neighborhoods through the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library blog and WelcomeCLT, a digital space created for newcomers to Charlotte.

Resources:

• South Boulevard Branch Library – 4029 South Blvd, Charlotte, NC 28209 | 704-416-6400
• Harris YMCA - 5900 Quail Hollow Rd, Charlotte, NC 28210 | 704-716-6800
• South Boulevard Forest Hill Church – 6210 Old Pineville Rd, Charlotte, NC 28217 | 704-716-8700
• South End Spanish Club – Charlotte, NC 28217 | Facebook
• Learning Help Centers of Charlotte (LHCC) - 1901 Archdale Rd, Charlotte, NC, 28210 | 980-297-5114
• Collinswood Language Academy – 5621 Flagstaff Dr, Charlotte, NC 28210 | 980-343-5820
• Latin American Chamber of Commerce – 145 C Scaleybark Rd, Charlotte, NC 28209 | 704-237-0552

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This blog post was written by Ana Robles, library assistant for Charlotte Mecklenburg Library.

The Cornelius Library is located in the town of Cornelius in northern Mecklenburg County.  According to the 2020 Census, the population of Cornelius is around 31,400, making it one of the largest towns in Mecklenburg County, similar in population to Mint Hill or Matthews. The Cornelius Library is located in the historic district of Cornelius, almost across the street from Cornelius Elementary School and not far from Cornelius Town Hall and Cornelius Police Department. A frequently recognized aspect of the Cornelius Library is the Mark Twain bronze statue on a bench that faces Catawba Avenue, designed by Cornelius sculptor Jon Hair.

One of the defining features of Northern Mecklenburg County is Lake Norman. Cornelius has the largest shoreline (about 70 miles) of all municipalities on the lake, and has great recreation opportunities and lake access at two of the most beautiful parks in Mecklenburg County, Jetton Park and Ramsey Creek Park. 

Cornelius has a sizable population of Hispanic origin and even has a grocery store, Tienda Maria, that offers Mexican and Latin American products. Some of the local international cuisine located in the area include Osito’s Tacos and Tortas and El Toro Mexican Grill & Bar, as well as Pho NC and Pho Nam.  About 9% of the population of Cornelius is foreign-born, according to the Census Bureau.    

There are many fun activities in Cornelius, including the Cain Center for the Arts, which offers a variety of arts experiences, including classes, workshops, camps, gallery exhibits, concerts and more. Cornelius also hosts a Jazz Festival in Smithville Park, featuring local jazz bands, food trucks, craft beer and children’s activities, as well as a Laketoberfest, featuring live music, food trucks and a kid’s zone with crafts and games. The Town of Cornelius offers events throughout the year with special themes. The YMCA for the North Mecklenburg region is also located in Cornelius and features a variety of programs for members. Another resource for newcomers to the area is The Neighborhood Care Center, which provides and/or coordinates with partners to provide programs and resources to anyone in need. 

New to Charlotte? Explore other neighborhoods through the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library blog and WelcomeCLT, a digital space created for newcomers to Charlotte.

Resources:

• Town of Cornelius |21445 Catawba Avenue, Cornelius, NC | 704-892-6031
• Jetton Park | 19000 Jetton Rd, Cornelius, NC 28031  | 980-314-1001
• Ramsey Creek Park | 18441 Nantz Rd, Cornelius, NC 28031 | 980-314-1001
• Tienda Maria | 19816 S Main St, Cornelius, NC 28031  | 704-894-9700
• Osito’s Tacos & Tortas | 20700 N Main St, Cornelius, NC 28031 | 704-997-5773
• El Toro Mexican Grill & Bar | 20930 Torrence Chapel Rd, Cornelius, NC 28031 | 704-997-2534
• Pho NC | 19420 Jetton Rd #104, Cornelius, NC 28031 | 980-729-3770
• Pho Nam | 18059 W Catawba Ave, Cornelius, NC 28031 | 704-892-9133
• Cain Center for the Arts | 19725 Oak St, Cornelius, NC 28031 | 704-896-8823
• YMCA of Lake Norman | 21300 Davidson St #8553, Cornelius, NC 28031 | 704-716-4400
• Neighborhood Care Center | 19711 Smith Cir, Cornelius, NC 28031  | 704-255-5500

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This blog post was written by Cameron Smith, branch manager for Charlotte Mecklenburg Library.

If you’re friends with a gardener, you’ve probably heard them praise the physical and mental health benefits of gardening. If you’re a gardener, you may view gardening as a form of artistic expression and self-care. However, did you know that horticultural therapy is widely used in physical and vocational rehabilitation and improves memory, cognitive abilities, language skills and socialization?

The terms “Horticultural Therapy (HT)” and “Therapeutic Horticulture (TH)” are often used interchangeably. However, the American Horticultural Therapy Association (AHTA) provides these distinct definitions:

• Horticultural therapy is participating in horticultural activities facilitated by a registered horticultural therapist to achieve specific goals within an established treatment, rehabilitation or vocational plan.

• Therapeutic horticulture is the process through which participants enhance their well-being through active or passive involvement in plant and plant-related activities. (AHTA Definitions and Positions, n.d.)

In the 19th century, Dr. Benjamin Rush, regarded as the “father of American psychiatry,” documented the positive effect working in the garden had on individuals with mental illness. In the 1940s and 1950s, horticultural therapy gained credibility and recognition for its treatment applications to a broader range of diagnoses. As a result, the American Horticultural Association was founded in 1973 to support horticultural therapy practitioners’ professional development, education and expertise.   And each year, the third full week of March has been designated as National Horticultural Therapy Week.

In 2020, Governor Roy Cooper proclaimed the third week in March as Horticultural Therapy Week in North Carolina. The proclamation cited the benefits of HT for all the populations served, including children, youth and adults with disabilities, mental illness or abuse trauma; veterans; persons with delinquent or criminal convictions; seniors and the terminally ill; and patients, staff and visitors at medical facilities.

This year National Horticultural Therapy Week is March 20 through 26. On Monday, March 21, 2022, Myers Park Library and Matthews Library will co-host a virtual program with Mecklenburg Extension Master Gardener Volunteer Rita Stanley on Therapeutic Horticulture: Plant-People Connections -- exploring nature-based therapies’ history, psychology and practicality. 

Rita completed the Master Gardening training program in 2017, and then the first Therapeutic Horticulture Certificate Program offered at UNC in 2019.  She states that the knowledge regarding the power of therapeutic horticulture has changed her perspective.  She enjoys sharing what she has learned with others in hopes that they will also find ways to incorporate it into their lives.

Horticulture Therapy might sound like a weighty topic, but it’s very down-to-earth. You probably already practice a few of these strategies and don’t realize it.  To learn more about this program or register, click here.

For this presentation, a suggested companion book is Therapeutic Gardens: Design for healing spaces by Daniel Winterbottom and Amy Wagenfeld - ISBN 9781604694420. Copies are available at the Library here.

If you’re interested in visiting a local therapeutic garden, visit The Polly Rogers Memorial Sensory Garden located in the Van Landingham Glen of the UNC Charlotte Botanical Gardens. The Polly Rogers Sensory Garden engages and stimulates all the senses through plantings and interactive elements. The designers wanted to create a magical space that is both contemplative and peaceful and colorful, whimsical, and fun (Botanical Gardens | Polly Rogers Memorial Sensory Garden, n.d.).

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This blog was written by Pamela Kemp, Library assistant at Myers Park Library

Footnotes:

AHTA Definitions and Positions. (n.d.). Retrieved March 6, 2022, from https://www.ahta.org/ahta-definitions-and-positions

Botanical Gardens | Polly Rogers Memorial Sensory Garden. (n.d.). Retrieved March 6, 2022, from https://gardens.charlotte.edu/polly-rogers-memorial-sensory-garden/

Our hearts and thoughts are with the people of Ukraine who are in the middle of unfathomable crisis. We offer our support to those on our staff and in our community who may have family, friends, and loved ones in Ukraine.

While Charlotte Mecklenburg Library celebrates and supports the joy of reading and learning, fosters exploration and personal growth, and connects individuals to each other, the community and the world, it can be difficult to locate resources when conflict and humanitarian crisis arise in our local and global community. We’re here to help.

We hope the resources below help provide insight to what's happening in Eastern Europe.

Ukraine: A List for Understanding the War 2022 

Real Talk for Teens & Middle Grade: War & Ukraine

Ukraine and Talking to Your Kids about War

Kanopy list: Conflict in Ukraine | Kanopy

To provide further context on Ukraine and its tense history with Russia, we’ve carefully curated a collection of documentary and narrative films focused specifically on this country and region. Find these helpful resources below:

• Support Ukraine with hoopla Digital. This list includes books and audiobooks by Ukrainian authors, music by Ukrainian artists, and the Oliver Stone documentary, Ukraine on Fire.
• Better understand the Crisis in Ukraine with this OverDrive collection. These titles will help you understand the history of Ukraine and the current invasion from Russia.

When the Academy Awards airs its “In Memoriam” segment this year, it will include Sidney Poitier who was the first Black actor to win the award for Best Leading Actor in 1963.

Poitier, who passed away earlier this January at the age of 94, was a role model for Black performers for years, and that legacy continues to this day. Two current Academy Award nominees for best actor, Will Smith and Denzel Washington have expressed such to the public with Smith sharing the following message on Instagram:

"An icon, legend, visionary, and true pioneer. Thank you Sidney Poitier for breaking down barriers, creating the path and making it possible for there to be a Will Smith!" 

Washington also reflected on their longstanding friendship stating, “He was the one we all followed and it was an honor to be able to call him a friend.”

The longevity of Poitier’s impact on Hollywood is undeniable. The New York Times reported that his “portrayal of resolute heroes in films like To Sir with Love, In the Heat of the Night, and Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner (all films released in 1967) established him as Hollywood’s first Black matinee idol and helped open the door for Black actors in the film industry.” 

What’s more, the newspaper reported how Poitier shaped his extraordinary film career. It stated the actor’s characters often simmered “with repressed anger” and “responded to injustice with quiet determination.” Overall, Poitier portrayed restrained and calm individuals. That typecasting calculation by Poitier led to success as white viewers were pacified by his work. Conversely, some Black moviegoers came to expect more aggressive behavior and emotion on the screen. To partially explain his plight, Poitier once wrote “I felt very much as if I were representing 15, 18 million people with every move I made.”  

Entertainment Weekly Columnist Mark Harris wrote, “Famously, he refused to play bad guys, even those that would have allowed him to challenge himself and stretch his talent. Near the height of his success, he even turned down the chance to star in a film version of Othello, unwilling to risk playing a Black man inflamed by sexual jealousy over a white woman. ‘If the fabric of the society were different, I would scream to high heaven to play villains,’ he said at the time. ‘But…not when there is only one Negro actor working in films with any degree of consistency.’”  

In the early 1960s, after years of acting on the stage, in television and in movies, Poitier reached the pinnacle of entertainment honors with the Oscar award for “his performance in the low-budget Lilies of the Field, as an itinerant handyman helping a group of German nuns build a church in the Southwestern desert.”  During that time, Poitier also quietly helped in the Civil Rights Movement. The result was an on-screen persona buttressing his stance. “His roles tended to reflect the peaceful integrationist goals of the struggle,” wrote the New York Times.

In the decades to follow, Poitier worked as an actor, director and producer in films, and for a period, skipped onscreen work until the late 1980s. His last roles were on television and included portraying Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall and the imprisoned Nelson Mandela in South Africia.

Charlotte Mecklenburg Library has a variety of Poitier’s acting work in major roles as in The Defiant Ones (said to be one of his favorite movies), To Sir with Love and his more recent in The Simple Life of Noah Dearborn. Better yet, read about his life and more in the booklist entitled Sidney Poitier: a selected retrospective.

Access the booklist

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This blog was written by Lawrence Turner, an adult services librarian at South County Regional Library.

Libraries reach beyond walls, and on April 6, 2022,  Charlotte Mecklenburg Library will celebrate National Library Outreach Day for that very reason.

We are joining the American Library Association, or ALA,  as they recognize the amazing work of library staff who meet the needs of customers where they are. Outreach services are essential to the community. Services cover all topics and support all ages. This includes virtual and in person outdoor programs, traditional programs, community festivals and events; and now we can add our Mobile Library to the list of services.

National Library Outreach Day is an opportunity to recognize and thank library staff for bringing library services to the community.  Below, you'll find a fews ways we recommend celebrating the day:

• Organizations and individuals are encouraged to write a letter or send an email to their libraries voicing their support and sharing how the library makes a difference in their lives and the people they serve.
• Use the hashtags #cmlibrary and #LibraryOutreachDay to talk outreach. Tag @cmlibrary when you visit branches or our Mobile Library, MoLi.
• Voice your support of the Libary to community leaders.

Please join us in celebrating National Library Outreach Day and help us recognize the staff and work that goes beyond the library buildings.