Madison Public Library - Goodman South Madison Library

This event will feature remarks from five artists who will be present: Jerry Butler, Jerry Jordan, Linda Mathis Rose, Henry Hawkins and Freida High Tesfagiorgis.  They will share their art, its connections to African American history and culture, and their partnership with UMOJA.  The event will feature a performance of Lift Every Voice by Pam Soward and a short movie about the history of UMOJA and its founder, Ms. Milele Chikasa Anana.  A dinner reception will feature African American food from local African American caterer, Ruthie’s Chili Spot.

Chances are, you’ve had one – more than one. They can be inspiring, terrifying, tedious, nauseating, and profound.  Jobs.   Jobs put food on our tables, roofs over our heads, and (sometimes) anxiety in our hearts.

The Someone's Gotta Do It monologues introduce you to characters telling their work stories: the exhilarating, the necessary, and the outlandishly absurd.

Join three African American writers from Madison as they discuss their poetry, prose, and drama in relation to the work of three African American literary giants who also lived and worked in Madison during the 20th century.  Experience literature that will shed light on what it means to be African American in Wisconsin today, yesterday, and tomorrow.

Restorative Justice: Join the Movement

An Evening of Rare Jazz Films

Jazz historian Gary Alderman will present and explain films of the historically-significant innovators of modern jazz, including the only two existing videos with sound of Charlie Parker. Among the other musicians shown will be those relevant to Parker’s music and career, including Lester Young, Coleman Hawkins, John Coltrane, Dizzy Gillespie, Miles Davis, Sonny Sitt, and Cannonball Adderly. ​