Logos Bookstore’s Recommendations

Besides being the month for Valentine’s Day, President’s Day, Mardi Gras/Carnival and the beginning of Lent, February has also been designated as African-American History Month for the last several years. It seems, though, that many people are not aware to the full extent of the participation of this ethnic group in the history of the United States, especially from the requests I have received over the years at Logos: slave girls who become free, Malcolm X, Martin Luther King.

Famous Firsts Of Black Americans by Sybil Hancock, illustrations by Shelton Miles, a very readable book for all ages is a very good place to start to learn that African-American History started before the 19^th century. In this book the reader will learn about Estevanico Dorantez who with some Indians scouted out lands to the north of Mexico City where they discovered Indian pueblos four stories high. These lands were the territories that became New Mexico and Arizona. Crispus Attucks was killed leading the colonists against the British in the Boston Massacre. Benjamin Banneker at the age of thirty invented the first striking clock in America. Years later, in 1791, President George Washington appointed Banneker to help with the planning of the city of Washington after Pierre L’Enfant walked off the job taking the city plans with him. Banneker knew the plans by memory, drew them up again, and completed the planning of Washington D.C.

Jean Baptiste Point Du Sable built a trading post in an unsettled area the Indians called Chikagou in 1772. He built a large house for his family, the first home in a new settlement that came to be called Chicago. The now well-known poet, Phillis Wheatley lived in the 18^th century. Famous Firsts Of Black Americans entries for the 19^th and 20^th centuries are also quite informative with chapters on: York, who was part of the Lewis and Clark expeditions, George Washington Carver, who found many uses for the peanut and the sweet potato, Matthew Henson, who accompanied Robert Peary on his discovery of the North Pole and Marian Anderson, the opera singer.

In the 21^st century, African-Americans continue to make substantial contributions to American society and culture. Photographer Jeanne Moutoussamy-Ashe’s the african flower, a moving black and white photographic meditation on life draws one into the daily events of life and focuses one on the contemplation of these events through the stillness, serenity and peace–like atmosphere of its photographs.

Transit: #4 #5 OR #6 Lexington Avenue Subway to 86^th St., M15 Bus (First & Second Aves.), M86 Bus (86^th St.), M79 Bus (79^th St,), M31 Bus (York Ave.).

Upcoming Events At Logos

Wednesday, February 6, 2002, 7 P.M., KYTV Reading Group will discuss The Wasteland by T.S. Eliot.

Wednesday, March 6, 2002, 7 P.M., KYTV Reading Group will discuss Les Miserables

by Victor Hugo.

Children’s Story time every Monday at 3:30 P.M.

Education Update, Inc., P.O. Box 20005, New York, NY 10001. Tel: (212) 481-5519. Fax: (212) 481-3919. Email: ednews1@aol.com.
All material is copyrighted and may not be printed without express consent of the publisher. © 2001.