African American Library to hold Juneteenth exhibit and events

The African American Museum will commemorate June 19, 1865, known as Juneteenth, the day that marked the end of the Civil War, with an exhibit and several events.

Nearly 147 years ago, Union soldiers led by Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger marched into Galveston and announced the end of the Civil War, which finally enabled the Emancipation Proclamation to take effect and the beginning of freedom for those enslaved.

The African American Library at the Gregory School is located at 1300 Victor St. in Bellaire and can be reached at 832-393-1440. All events and exhibits are free and open to the public.

The "Color of Life" exhibit will be on display from Saturday, June 16 to Sept. 1. Regular hours are from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. The exhibit features artwork of downtown Navasota artists Leon and Molly Bee Collins and is supported by the City of Houston and Rice University/Houston Enriches Rice Education.

The artists will discuss their work at a lecture, "The Color of Life: The Works of Leon and Molly Bee Collins," at 2 p.m. Saturday, June 16.

The museum will offer an afternoon with authors Drs. Robert and Jean Galloway from 3-4:30 p.m. June 23. The authors will discuss and sign their book, "The Unity of Woman: Naturally African: The Unity of Woman, Nature and African Sculptured Form."

As part of the Lunch with a Legacy series, the museum will welcome entrepreneur Marcus Davis for a talk from 2-4 p.m. June 30. Davis is the mastermind behind the Breakfast Klub Restaurant and Reggae Hut Cafe.

For information about the Houston Public Library, go to www.houstonlibrary.org or call 832-393-1313.