2020
When the pandemic hit in 2020, we quickly pivoted to virtual programming. Below, you will find some of the many programs we held in 2020, with viewing links available wherever possible. We invite you to take some time to scroll through and get to know our work, to watch some of our these programs, and to engage with the ideas and experiences shared by our guests!
April 28, 2020 - Book Discussion: What If I Say The Wrong Thing? - Book Discussion. PGCMLS COO Michelle Hamiel and Kyla Hanington, with the Office of Human Rights, talk through "What if I Say the Wrong Thing". This book discussion led to the series The Elephant We Don't See Diversity Dialogue, a three-year long partnership series between the Office of Human Rights and the library system.
May 14, 2020 - Author Discussion: Christin Marie Taylor - Labor Pains Dr. Christin Marie Taylor joined the Office of Human Rights and the Prince George's County Memorial Library System in conversation about her award-winning study, "Labor Pains: New Deal Fictions of Race, Work, and Sex in the South".
June 30, 2020 - The Elephant We Don't See Diversity Dialogue - How To Be An Anti-racist - Our new series with PGCMLS debuted in conversation about Ibram X. Kendi's "How to Be an Anti-Racist" Watch here.
July 20, 2020 - Author Event - Ibram X. Kendi - How To Be An Antiracist - Dr. Ibram X. Kendi joined the Office of Human Rights (then known as the Human Relations Commission), the Prince George's County Memorial Library System, and Joe's Movement Emporium for a timely discussion about the work of dismantling systems of oppression. This virtual event, rescheduled from a planned in-person that had been scheduled for April of 2020, attracted over 300,000 viewers - really! - from around the globe.
July 28, 2020 - The Elephant We Don't See Diversity Dialogue - What IF? Short Stories to Spark Diversity Dialogue - Our new series with PGCMLS continued with a conversation about Steve L. Robbins' "What If? Short Stories to Spark Diversity Dialogue".
August 20, 2020 - Author Event: Calvin Baker on "A More Perfect Reunion" Author Calvin Baker joined us and PGCMLS in conversation about "A More Perfect Reunion: Race, Integration, and the Future of America".
August 25, 2020 - The Elephant We Don't See Diversity Dialogue - Blind Spot: The Hidden Biases of Good People. The Elephant We Don't See series continued with Michelle Hamiel from the Prince George's County Memorial Library System and Kyla Hanington with the Office of Human Rights (then called the Human Relations Commission) in conversation about "Blind Spot: The Hidden Biases of Good People."
August 31, 2020 - Voting: Democracy in Action - Guests Dr. Richard Bell, from the University of Maryland, and Daneen Banks from the Prince George's County Board of Elections, joined us to talk about the importance of exercising one's right and responsibility to vote, how to be engaged in civic matters if not eligible to vote, and how to ensure one is registered to vote and knows the process.
September 1, 2020 - Author Event: Jason Reynolds - We joined PGCMLS in Conversation with Jason Reynolds.
September 23, 2020 - Does Your Zip Code Impact Your Whole Life? - We debuted a new series with PGCMLS Does Your Zip Code Impact Your Whole Life
September 29, 2020 - The Elephant We Don't See Diversity Dialogue - White Fragility The Elephant We Don't See Diversity Dialogue continued with a conversation about Robin DiAngelo's "White Fragility."
October 6, 2020 - Voting: Democracy in Action - We held our second Voting - Democracy in Action event with PGCMLS, featuring special guests: Dr. Joshua Davis from the University of Baltimore, Office of Human Rights' Investigator Langston Clay, and Daneen Banks from the Prince George's County Board of Elections.
October 7, 2020 - Author Event: Eddie S. Glaude, Jr. on "Begin Again" - We welcomed special guest Eddie S. Glaude, Jr. in conversation about "Begin Again: James Baldwin's America and Its Urgent Lesson for our Own", with PGCMLS and the Black Caucus of the American Library Association.
October 8, 2020 - Author Event: Carter Sickels on "The Prettiest Star" Author Carter Sickels joined the Prince George's County Memorial Library System and our office in conversation about his new book, "The Prettiest Star".
October 14, 2020 - Women in Faith: Diverse Voices Speak - Originally scheduled as an in-person program in the Spring of 2020, we pivoted to a virtual discussion that birthed the series! Women in Faith Diverse Voices Speak debuted at this program and, as of 2026, still continues! - A partnership event with PGCMLS.
October 20,2020 - Community Discussion - One Maryland One Book - We partnered with PGCMLS, Maryland Humanities, and Maryland Libraries Together to host a Community Discussion of Lisa See's The Island Of Sea Women, this year's One Maryland One Book selection.
October 22, 2020 - The Sounds of Voter Suppression - The Sounds of Voter Suppression featuring special guests: Professor Amy Gerber-Stroh, Hollins University and Professor Heidi Gerber-Salins, Howard University. Co-hosted by PGCMLS and Joe's Movement Emporium.
October 27, 2020 - The Elephant We Don't See Diversity Dialogue - "Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria" - The Elephant We Don't See - Diversity Dialogue continued in conversation about this seminal work.
November 1, 2020 - Writer Event: Poet Richard Blanco - We joined PGCMLS in Conversation with Obama Inaugural Poet, Richard Blanco
November 5, 2020 - Author Event: Kendra Allen on "When You Learn the Alphabet" - Writer Kendra Allen joined us to talk about her award-winning debut "When You Learn the Alphabet". A partnership event with PGCMLS and the Black Caucus of the American Library Association.
November 9, 2020 - Author Event: Michael Farris Smith on "Blackwood" - Author Michael Farris Smith joined us and event partners PGCMLS in conversation about his new book, "Blackwood".
November 10, 2020 - Veterans Recognition - We co-hosted Prince George's County Veterans Recognition with the Office of Veteran's Affairs and PGCMLS.
November 18, 2020 - Author Event: Randall Horton - NEA Literature Fellow, Randall Horton, joined us in conversation with PGCMLS and the Black Caucus of the American Library Association.
November 19, 2020 - Author Event: Natasha Trethewey- Former US Poet Laureate, Natasha Trethewey, joined us in conversation about her new book "Memorial Drive", in partnership with PGCMLS and the Black Caucus of the American Library Association.
December 2, 2020 - Author Event: Hope Michelle Ayers on "Gabriel's Balloon" Hope Michelle Ayers joined us in conversation about her book "Gabriel's Balloon" - a partnership event with PGCMLS.
December 8, 2020 - Authors for Truth: Dr. William G. Thomas III on "A Question of Freedom" - We joined PGCMLS in conversation with William G Thomas III on his study "A Question of Freedom", with Joe's Movement Emporium. This conversation led to the Freedom Stories collaboration between PGCMLS, Joe's Movement Emporium, and the Office of Human Rights (then known as the Human Relations Commission), a multiyear series that included panel discussions, book talks, and the play "Out of the Vineyard."
December 10, 2020 - Author Event: Jennifer De Leon on "Don't Ask Me Where I'm From" - Jennifer De Leon joined us to talk about her new book "Don't Ask Me Where I'm From", with PGCMLS.
December 10, 2020 - Human Rights Day Celebration - We joined Maryland Coalition Opposed to Violence and Extremism (COVE) for a virtual Human Rights Day Celebration
December 14, 2020 - Author Event: Zack Smedley on "Deposing Nathan" - Zack Smedley joined PGCMLS and our office in conversation about "Deposing Nathan".