Though we celebrate the accomplishments of the people of the African and Black Diaspora all year, every February provides an opportunity to focus on and highlight the history and contributions of African Americans. Black History Month has a different theme each year, and 2024’s theme is African Americans and the Arts. There is not enough blog space on the Internet to cover this incredibly wide-ranging topic, but we at Shelf Talk want to provide a bit of background, and opportunities for you to learn more and join in the celebration. Carter G. Woodson, 1875 – 1950 (image courtesy of Blackpast.o ..read more

By the late 1980’s, the AIDS crisis had reached a fever pitch in the United States. Afflicting primarily (but not exclusively) the gay male population, tens of thousands of people were dying every year, with elected officials responding at a snail’s pace, if at all. To emphasize the impact this was having on the arts community, the art group Visual AIDS founded Day With(out) Art (DWA), an annual day of action and remembrance. The first DWA was held on December 1st, 1989, corresponding with the second annual World AIDS day. For the first few years, Visual AIDS would highlight pieces of art hang ..read more

Fall is a great time to sink into a riveting read. Even better: Read the book, and then see the author speak at one of these upcoming events with The Seattle Public Library. From Tananarive Due’s new horror novel set in Jim Crow-era Florida to Lauren Groff’s 17th century survival story to new books by Timothy Egan, Jonathan Evison and Bryan Washington, the Library truly has something for everyone this autumn. All library events are free and open to the public. Check the event descriptions at spl.org/Calendar for registration links. Find more upcoming programs at spl.org/Authors. Graphic noveli ..read more

Bisexuality Visibility Day, celebrated annually on September 23, is a chance to bring awareness to bi people around the world. A diverse and vast community, bi authors create works to educate, entertain, and acknowledge the existence and experiences of this identity. Here are some recent titles to check out! In Robin Gow’s Ode to My First Car, high schooler Claire is looking forward to spending the summer with her best friend and crush, Sophia. All plans come to a halt when Claire totals her car, requiring her to work at the local nursing home to pay off the damages. She never expects to ..read more

“Sharecropper” by Elizabeth Catlett Black Activism in Print: Visual Art from the African American Collection, now on view at the Level 8 Gallery of the Central Library, is more than just an art exhibit. Though it features beautiful art prints by prominent artists and activists Charles White and Elizabeth Catlett, it is also a wonderful opportunity to learn about the history of the Douglass-Truth Branch (formerly the Yesler Branch), and how members of the Black community of the Central District built the African American Collection and saved the branch from closure in the 1960s. Over the past h ..read more

As I’m writing now on the lands of the Coast Salish people, specifically the Duwamish, in a city named for Duwamish and Suquamish Chief Seattle, it feels appropriate to recognize the many ways Indigenous individuals and nations have shaped our society. One way we can do this is by centering Indigenous creators, like Indigenous authors, which is also a category for this year’s Book Bingo card. Check out one of these titles written by Indigenous authors who have connections to the Pacific Northwest: Cowlitz author Elissa Washuta explores colonization, trauma, mental illness, and addiction in ..read more

Hail library patrons and well met! Summertime Renaissance Faire season is upon us! Here are a few items we hope will excite and inspire you to join in the revelry. Let the anachronistic good times roll! For some background, have you ever wondered how the idea of a modern Ren Faire came about? In Rachel Rubin’s Well Met the author explores various aspects of its evolution from a humble 1960’s fund raising event in California, to the modern celebrations that host hundreds of thousands across the US. When it comes to fiction, humor seems to be the name of the game when set at the Ren Faire ..read more

In my last post, I introduced you to several notable fiction titles in Appalachian literature. In this post, I’m highlighting three nonfiction titles that give you a glimpse into the history and diverse lived experiences of the region. The Southern Review of Books calls titles such as these a “new wave of Appalachian literature [that] reveal a nuanced and complicated reality about a place marked by the relentless exploitation of its natural resources, victimization and abandonment by federal programs, and the rich cultural overlaps of the people who call it home.” Another Appalachia: Coming U ..read more