All LA County Library locations will be closed on Monday, March 31 in honor of César Chávez Day. Our Digital Library is open 24/7.
In celebration of African American & Black History Month, join us in the screening and discussion of "Who We Are: A Chronicle of Racism in America," an award-winning documentary written by Jeffery Robinson, former ACLU Deputy Legal Director.
For ages 13+
Who We Are: A Chronicle of Racism in America, is an award-winning documentary written by Jeffery Robinson, former ACLU Deputy Legal Director. “After many years as a practicing lawyer, Robinson started looking at our Nation’s history and was shocked by how deeply encoded white supremacy and the oppression of Black Americans is in that history. For more than 10 years, Robinson has been sharing what he has learned with audiences all across America. In this film, which uses historical and present-day archival footage, and personal stories, Robinson challenges all of us “to examine who we are, where we come from, and who we want to be,” while accepting the shared responsibility to overcome the legacy of white supremacy and to create a better country in our lifetimes. Discussion and Q & A to follow the screening.
This event is co-sponsored with Friends of A C Bilbrew and Woodcrest Libraries & LA South Chamber of Commerce/LA South HOPE Foundation.
Attendance is limited, and advance registration is suggested. Please register every patron who will be attending. This will be used to save their spots in the program. We cannot guarantee availability for any unregistered patron.
This event is held in-person. LA County Public Health strongly encourages masks and physical distancing indoors regardless of vaccination status. Masks will continue to be available for customers upon request. Please see the Guidelines for Attendees during the registration process for more information.
Located in a shopping center from 1964 to 1974, the North Enterprise Branch became the A C Bilbrew Library with the opening of the present building on November 2, 1974. Los Angeles County Supervisor Kenneth Hahn was instrumental in the library obtaining funding through a Model Neighborhood Development Program to build a 21,000 square foot library with a capacity to house 100,000 books. The library was designed by Vincent Proby, an African-American architect and is named for Madame A C Bilbrew, a community leader and former deputy for Supervisor Hahn who was also a musician and poet.
In 1933, Mrs. Bilbrew was the first black soloist to appear on radio, and in 1928, she produced the first Negro chorus that was featured in Hollywood's first Negro talkie, titled "Hearts in Dixie." She was the first black person to have a radio show. Mrs. Bilbrew was also a producer of pageants and dramas, an outstanding dramatic reader, and choral director.
A C Bilbrew Library houses the Black Resource Center which supports research and study on social, historical, musical, and cultural aspects unique to the "Black Experience" such as Juneteenth and Kwanzaa. From 1980-2008, A C Bilbrew Library has hosted the County Library's African American History Month Celebration. The "Living Black History Tribute" first honoree was Eubie Blake. This became the "African-American Living Legend" Series. Past Honorees have included Cab Calloway, Count Basie, Rosa Parks, James Baldwin, Coretta Scott King, and Ray Charles. An interactive Living Legends digital display is featured in the main lobby. The library is located in an unincorporated area west of the City of Compton.
