INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S MONTH AT THE MALCOLM X LIBRARY “AIN’T I A WOMAN?”

Once again, Black women that have contributed greatly to the financial growth and knowledge in the San Diego community are being recognized and honored.

On Saturday, March 25th, The Friends of the Malcolm X/ Valencia Park Public Library celebrated some of the women who have sacrificed their time and talents.

On Saturday, March 25, 2023 from 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM, the Friends of the Malcolm X Library held an International Women’s Day & Women’s History Month Celebration. The event was held at the Malcolm X/Valencia Park Public Library location on Market Street in Southeast San Diego.

This year’s International Women’s Day theme was #EmbraceEquality. Our theme is “Aint I a Woman?”. Sojourner Truth, who famously stated the phrase in a rousing speech to the Women’s Rights Convention in 1851, was our Historical Profile and Kamala Harris, the first Black Vice-President, was our Current Profile.

Black females were speaking out and giving an overview of their professions and sharing challenges they faced as a Black Woman in their respective fields, including suggestions on how equality can be embraced. There was a Q&A Panel Discussion, prizes and music, poetry, and dance. One of the dancers was 11 year old “Kiwi” Price, who is also an aspiring poet. Our Featured Poet was from Los Angeles. We were delighted that Marquitta Lloyd carries the stage name, Poetess P.R.Y.D.E., as an acronym for “Powerful, Resilient, Young, Determined,

Educated”. She wanted to use the word “pride” to describe herself in a positive way, hence the purposeful misspelling of the word “pryde” as her poetic description. She has been performing spoken word throughout L.A. County for the last ten years. In 2017 she was the winner of the Women’s Poetry Slam. She agreed to donate her time for this performance at this important celebration of listening to Black Women.

Sylvia Cameron Telafaro, Co-Host, also performed poetry on social issues and also a poem she wrote for the Vice President, Kamala Harris. Beautiful songs rang out throughout the day from the renown local singer, “Ms. Toot”. The Pat Murphy Line Dance Team ended the event with a smash.

Purple balloons floated above the tables, with ribbons tied to books about famous women in history. We have so many to celebrate, who have been overlooked.

A scrumptious lunch of specialty sandwiches, cookie and chips made for a great brunch for the guest speakers and those who volunteered with this event.

Our volunteers were the finest students from the local secondary schools, Samuel F. B. Morse High School and Abraham Lincoln High School. Our youth are showing a willingness to join community agencies when they are shown what is needed to be done and that they are being respected for their efforts. By contacting the teacher supervising the Associated Student Body, volunteers can be easily recruited for many community activities. The High School vendors were from O’Farrell Charter School’s Black Student Union. They showcased their arts & crafts.

Friends of the Library worked as a team to plan the scope and sequence of the afternoon’s program of dance, speeches, poetry, venders, food and music.

The Friends of the Malcolm X/Valencia Park Public Library work to encourage use of the computer services, and many other library-related offerings. Book sales are also an integral source of our funding.

The guiding force for Saturday’s event was Sylvia Telafora, Friend’s Membership Officer, the host and positive influence for the entire event.

All of the Malcolm X Staff welcomes the community and urges everyone to get their membership for the Friends of the Malcolm X/Valencia Park Public Library.