Local Guide to Black History Month

February is Black History Month and there are many ways to celebrate the contributions of America's most notable African Americans right here in your community.

Here's a look at some of the events planned in the West Hempstead and Lakeview. 

• "Black History Lecture and Display." Charles Winslow will be making this presentation on Feb. 4 from 2-3 p.m.at the Lakeview Public Library.
• Black History Movies. The Lakeview Public Library will be showing a series of films celebrating Black History Month from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Feb. 11 and Feb. 25. (Adults must accompany children under 12 years of age.)
• Black History Celebration. Nassau County Legis. Robert Troiano, the Nassau County Guardians and other local organizations will be participating in a special event at the Lakeview Public Library from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Feb. 11.
• "Hidden Colors." The Lakeview Public Library will be showing this documentary on Feb. 11 beginning at 2 p.m. The film, which is intended for an adult audience, explores "the real and untold history of people of color around the globe...discuss[ing] some of the reasons the contributions of African and aboriginal people have been left out of the pages of history."
• "I Can't Die But Once." See this moving live performance by Gwendolyn Quezaire-Presutti at the  on Feb. 13 at 7 p.m. It tells the story of how Harriet Tubman was one of the most daring and effective spies during the Civil War.
• African Dance." This performance, featuring Shayna Prophet, will take place on Feb. 15 at 6 p.m. at the Lakeview Public Library.
• Teen Book Club. Local teens can participate in a discussion on the book, Claudette Colvin: Twice Towards Justice, which tells the story of a 15-year-old girl who refused to give up her bus seat and became a key plaintiff in the case that ended segregation laws in Montgomery, AL. It will take place on Feb. 16 from 4-5 p.m. at the Lakeview Public Library.
• "Eyes on the Prize." This series at the Lakeview Public Library will include a screening and discussion of two movies - "Mississippi: Is this America?" on Feb. 21, and "Bridge to Freedom" on Feb. 28. Both programs will run from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
• "The State of Integration." The Save Our Sons Network will be hosting this program on Feb. 21 at the Lakeview Public Library at 6 p.m. It will evaluate the application of Brown vs. Board of Education on Long Island. The featured speaker will be Dr. Alan Singer, the director of Secondary Education and Social Studies at Hofstra University and author of New York and Slavery.
• "Global Sounds: A Black History Celebration." This free concert featuring the musical talents of vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Chris Merwin will take place at the from 2-4 p.m. on Feb. 26. 
• "The African American Experience." This easy-to-use and wide-ranging online database of African American history and culture has been developed with the guidance of librarians and subject specialists. Learn how to use it during a special program on Feb. 27 at 6 p.m. in the Lakeview Public Library.

If you know of a Black History Month event we left out, please add it in the comments section below. (And remember, you can always post events coming up in your community to our Patch calendar here.)