10:30 - 11:30
United States
This program has been postponed, Thur., April 5, 11 a.m.. Thank you for your interest in our programs.
Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist Nikole Hannah-Jones and artivist Nikkolas Smith discuss their lyrical picture book in verse. The 1619 Project: Born on the Water begins with a Black student who receives a family tree school assignment, and she can only trace back three generations. Grandma gathers the family and the student learns not only the history of the enslaved African people, their contributions to the United States and their life, language and land that predates enslavement. The student learns how her people are people that survived. Through storytelling, poetry and breathtaking art readers learn more about the consequences of slavery and the history of the contributions of Black resistance. In this special engagement in partnership with the SFUSD, students and educators alike are invited to listen, be inspired and learn from vital voices in the world today.
Nikole Hannah-Jones is a Pulitzer Prize–winning reporter covering racial injustice for the New York Times Magazine, and creator of the landmark 1619 Project. In 2017, she received a MacArthur Foundation Fellowship, known as the Genius Grant, for her work on educational inequality. She has also won a Peabody Award, two George Polk Awards, three National Magazine Awards and the 2018 John Chancellor Award for Excellence in Journalism from Columbia University. In 2016, Hannah-Jones co-founded the Ida B. Wells Society for Investigative Reporting, a training and mentorship organization geared toward increasing the number of investigative reporters of color. Hannah-Jones is the Knight Chair in Race and Journalism at Howard University, where she has founded the Center for Journalism and Democracy. In 2021, she was named one of Time’s 100 most influential people in the world.
Nikkolas Smith is a Houston, Texas–born Artivist, picture book author and Hollywood film illustrator. He is the author-illustrator of The Golden Girls of Rio, nominated for an NAACP Image Award, My Hair Is Poofy & That’s Okay! and World Cup Women. As a Black illustrator, Smith is focused on creating captivating art that can spark important conversations around social justice in today’s world and inspire meaningful change. Many of his viral, globally shared and published sketches are included in his book Sunday Sketch: The Art of Nikkolas. Smith also speaks on his Artivism at conferences, workplaces and schools around the world. He leads workshops in digital painting, character and movie poster design. Smith lives in Los Angeles, California.
Author Readings & Lectures
Engage with your favorite writers and discover your next read.
Women's Interest
Programs spotlighting women's history, rights and current issues.
HERstory is SFPL's celebration of Women's History Month, spotlighting authors, thinkers, visionaries and artists during the month of March. Program offerings are for all ages.
sfpl.org/herstory
More Than a Month: Black Interest
Connect to engaging discussions and performances related to the Black community.
More Than a Month recognizes important events in Black history, honors community and national leaders and fosters steps towards collective change. Programming features authors, poets and craft classes.