CHARLOTTE, N.C. — As part of Black History Month, the South Park branch of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library welcomed several African-American authors, writers, and illustrators. They served as a light to motivate the community on the impact and the power that comes from a pen.
“The library is a big staple of our community that we always are going to support as much as we can here in our community,” Ashley Evans, one of the event's organizers, said.
Several community members gathered for the event and showed their engagement. The event highlights the amount of literature resources geared to help Charlotte’s diverse community and set many up for success.
“It just shows that we continue to do the things that push our community forward," Lillian Blanche, one of the organizers, said.
“The main message is literacy and the different stories that people are able to tell and share and, and things that will hopefully inspire other people,” Malika Stevely, a Charlotte author, said.
The hope is that the panel discussions can lead to a bright future for Charlotte’s community.
"I also hope that this is something that will inspire others who have either come or who will later see this or learn about what happened here today. And I also hope with other cultures, I hope that they're able to do something like this," Stevely said.