Uniondale Library closes out Black History Month with a party

As Black History Month comes to a close, the Uniondale Library made sure to finish this month on a high note.

The Library’s Junior Friends recently orchestrated a captivating event that brought the community together in celebration of Black Americans. The free event, held at the library, featured a rich blend of traditional African foods, fun arts and crafts projects to work on, and incredible performances that left attendees inspired and culturally enriched.

The Library's Junior Friends, a dynamic group of young, passionate teens that participate in and help sponsor community service and library programs — while voicing their ideas and developing valuable leadership and organizational skills.Their dedication to highlighting the importance of Black history was evident in every aspect of the evening, from the meticulously curated menu to the captivating performances.

The highlight of the evening was the captivating performances that showcased the immense talent within the Uniondale community. Faith Randle, a former Junior Friend, took center stage with her mesmerizing vocal prowess enchanted the audience with soulful renditions that paid homage to African American musicians.

Adding an up-beat element to the celebration, the Uniondale Public Library Step Team brought their most energetic and rhythmic performance of the evening. The synchronized steps and percussive beats echoed through the library, leaving the audience in awe of the team's skill and dedication.

“Black history is something that should be celebrated year round, not just one month out of the year,” said Amanda Borgia, one of the librarians in Uniondale who helped organize the event.

She explains that there are so many everyday examples of Black history all around us everyday, but most people just don’t know it. “You can drive safely with stop lights thanks to Garrett Morgan, if you take an elevator instead of the stairs today, you do not have to manually close those doors and worry about your safety thanks to Alexander Miles, we have caller id because of Shirley Jackson, and you can enjoy a delicious potato chip thanks to George Speck.”