Mayor kicks off Chicago Public Library’s celebration of Black History Month with ‘Live from the library’

Mayor Lori Lightfoot helped kick off Black History Month Wednesday with a live storybook reading for the Chicago Public Library.

The mayor’s selection was “Your Hair is Your Crown!” a children’s book written by Chicagoan Tamekia Swint. The library’s theme for the month is “exploring the beauty and significance of Black hair.”

“Even with COVID-19’s safety restrictions, one of the things we’ve still been able to do is check out a book from the library and get lost in a good story,” Lightfoot said.

Live from the Library began in April in response to children being out of school during the pandemic. The library invites celebrities and others with connections to the city to read a story live on Facebook.

Participants have included former President Barack Obama, Michelle Obama and Oprah Winfrey. Readers can take suggestions from the library or choose a personal favorite to read.

To learn more about the library’s complete Black History Month offerings, go to chipublib.org/events. To see past Live from the Library readings, go to Facebook.com/chipublib/live.