From King to Obama–DuBois and Back Again: Reflections on Race, Nation and African American Internationalism
Art Exhibit
Thursday, January 5, 2012—Saturday, March 31, 2012
The Auburn Avenue Research Library will host From King to Obama – DuBois and Back Again: Reflections on Race, Nation and African American Internationalism, an art exhibition by J.R. Phillips. This exhibition envisions the collisions of art and politics, unpacking the racial and socio-historical politics, by focusing on the artistic interactions between the African Diaspora and mainland China in the 20th and 21st centuries.

 
The Southern Way: Grits, Gals, and Glory
Art Exhibit
Thursday, January 23, 2012—Friday, March 23, 2012
The Auburn Avenue Research Library will host The Southern Way: Grits, Gals, and Glory, a fine art exhibition of vibrant paintings utilizing multiple mediums, developed by renowned artist Shanequa Gay.  The paintings celebrate the love, traditions, hospitality, and tranquility of Southern women through themes of spirituality, family, and music.

The Dream Art Contest
Art Exhibit
Friday, February 17. — Wednesday, February 29.
Presented by Atlanta Public Schools and Karz Productions, the Auburn
Avenue Research Library will host a special exhibit featuring artwork from participants that qualified for the semi-final round of The Dream Art Contest.  The competition focused on generating an appreciation for the relevance of history and to demonstrate the vital importance of the arts in education and in daily life. 

African Spirituality in Black Women’s Fiction: Threaded Visions of Memory, Community, Nature, and Being
Author’s Discussion and Book Signing
Wednesday, February 22. 6:00 p.m.
In collaboration with Georgia State University, the Auburn Avenue Research Library will host Georgia State University professor and renowned author, Elizabeth J. West, who will discuss her latest publication African Spirituality in Black Women’s Fiction.  The book examines New World African spirituality as a syncretic dynamic of spiritual retentions and transformations that have played prominently in the literary imagination of black women writers.

 
The “Kitchen” Doesn’t Lie: Kemetic Roots and African American Hair
Historical Lecture
Sunday, February 26. 4:00 p.m.
In collaboration with the Atlanta Chapter of the Links, Incorporated, the Auburn Avenue Research Library will host The “Kitchen” Doesn’t Lie: Kemetic Roots and African American Hair. Facilitated by Dr. Nefertari Patricia Hilliard-Nunn of the University of Florida, this presentation will address the history of ancient Kemet/Egypt and explore African hairstyles and their relationship to the styles in the African American context.

Evening with an Icon: A Conversation with the Reverend C.T. Vivian
Community Discussion
Monday, February 27. 6:00 p.m.
In collaboration with the Howard University Alumni Club of Atlanta, the Auburn Avenue Research Library will host, Evening with an Icon: A Conversation with the Reverend C.T. Vivian. This discussion will be facilitated by Vincent Howard, the Chairman of Community Events for the Howard University Alumni Club of Atlanta.

 
Democracy or Hypocrisy? US/NATO Imperialist Intervention In Africa
Community Lecture
Wednesday, February 29. 6:00 p.m.
In collaboration with the Atlanta Front against Imperialism in Africa, the Auburn Avenue Research Library will host, Democracy or Hypocrisy? US/NATO Imperialist Intervention In Africa, a community lecture that seeks to foster a sense of unity and purpose in the midst of Africa while harnessing the collective intelligence, social collaboration and community involvement to help shape  a collective consciousness of Africa. This lecture will be facilitated by the founder of the African Diplomacy website, Dr. Gnaka Lagoke.

 
Time to Heal: The Art of LeiSha Starchia
Art Exhibit
Thursday, March 1, 2012 – Sunday, April 29, 2012
In recognition of Women’s History Month, the Auburn Avenue Research Library will host the exhibit, Time to Heal by renowned artist LeiSha Starchia.  Time to Heal is Starchia’s artistic autobiography chronicling an eighteen month period with a diagnosed schizophrenic and her inner transformation. LeiSha Starchia will facilitate an Artist’s Talk at the opening event for this exhibit on Thursday, March 1, 2012 at 4:00 p.m.

She Reads, She Writes
Photographic Exhibit
Thursday, March 1. – Sunday, April 29.
In recognition of Women’s History Month, the Auburn Avenue Research Library will host the exhibit, She Reads, by renowned photographer Sue Ross. This exhibit will feature photographic portraits of some of the most compelling and inspiring African American female authors across various genres.  Ross is an artist and cultural worker using the medium of photography to document the social, political and cultural experiences of the African American community.

The Goat Woman of Largo Bay by Gillian Royes
Author’s Discussion and Book Signing
Sunday, March 4. 3:00 p.m.
In collaboration with the NBAF (presenters of the National Black Arts Festival), the Auburn Avenue Research Library will host renowned author, Gillian Royes, who will discuss her latest publication, The Goat Woman of Largo Bay.  This novel is a wonderful blend of suspense and soul that chronicles the adventures of local problem-solver, Shad, and his right hand man, Eric, as they uncover a mysterious happening on the island.

Geographies of the Haitian Diaspora (Editor) Dr. Regine O. Jackson
Discussion and Book Signing
Thursday, March 08. 7:00 p.m.
In recognition of Women’s History Month and in collaboration with Emory University, the Auburn Avenue Research Library will host Regine O. Jackson, who will discuss her latest publication Geographies of the Haitian Diaspora.  This work is an innovative scholarly account on global non-geographic sites of Haitian community building and the Haitian experience in the Diaspora.

Time, Space, Culture and History
Community Lecture Series
Saturday, March 10. 3:00 p.m.
Wanique Shabazz, Director of Operations at WRFG 89.3 FM and recognized Ambassador for Peace, will facilitate a series of community workshops on the historical and contemporary relationship between Africana cultural and the branch of philosophy traditionally known as Metaphysics, which examines the fundamental ways individuals interpret and function in the world. These workshops will focus on core Metaphysical concepts related to the nature of existence through a distinct Africana historical and cultural lens, including Olmec/Mayan and Khemitic historical references.

Women of Color Arts and Film Festival
Film Festival
Thursday, March 15, 2012 – Sunday, March 17, 2012
In recognition of Women’s History Month and in collaboration with Iyalode Productions the Auburn Avenue Research Library will host the 2012 Women of Color Art and Film Festival (WOCAF). Now in its seventh year, the WOCAF exclusively celebrates the artistic talents of women of color as filmmakers and visual artists.

Do I Dare Disturb the Universe? From the Projects to Prep School by Charlise Lyles
Author’s Discussion and Book Signing
Thursday, March 22, 2012. 7:00 p.m.
In recognition of Women’s History Month, the Auburn Avenue Research Library will host author, Charlise Lyles, who will discuss her latest publication, Do I Dare Disturb the Universe?: From the Projects to Prep School. This work is a poignant memoir that chronicles Lyles’ experiences with neighborhood violence, race riots, and transitioning from a special needs class at an urban school, located in East Cleveland, to receiving a scholarship to attend a preparatory school in the affluent community of Gates Mill, a suburb of Cleveland, Ohio.

Life on Canvas: The Contemporary African American Female Artist
Community Forum
Friday, March 23, 2012. 6:00 p.m.
The Auburn Avenue Research Library will host Life on Canvas: The Contemporary African American Female Artist, a community forum that will discuss the impact African-American women artists have had on culture, feminism, and art history.  Panelists for this discussion include Georgia State University graduate, LeiSha Starchia; Stanford University graduate Ré Phillips; and Art Institute of Atlanta graduate, Shanequa Gay.  This discussion will be facilitated by Morehouse College Professor, Dr. Stephane Dunn.

 
A Day with La Baker: Film Screenings of Josephine Baker Classics
Film Screening
Saturday, March 24, 2012. 12:00 p.m.
The Auburn Avenue Research Library will host A Day with La Baker, which will feature complete screenings of the rarely seen classic silent film, Siren of the Tropics (1927, French), with orchestra score; sound film, Zou Zou (1934, French with subtitles) and legendary sound film, Princess Tam Tam (1934, French with subtitles).

Georgia Legislative Black Caucus: Remembering Our Legends and Honoring Our Torchbearers
Historical Exhibit
Exhibit Dates: Thursday, March 29. 2012 – Sunday, May 13. 2012
In collaboration with the Azalea City Chapter of The Links, the Auburn Avenue Research Library will host the exhibit, Georgia Legislative Black Caucus. This exhibit celebrates the history of the African American State Representatives and Senators, who served in the Georgia General Assembly. The opening event for this exhibit will be held on Sunday, April 15, 2012 at 4:00 p.m. This exhibit and event is funded via a Georgia Humanities Council Grant secured by Dr. Lucretia R. Payton-Stewart.

 
Time Served: My Days and Nights on Death Row Records
Author’s Discussion and Book Signing
Thursday, March 29. 7:00 p.m.
In recognition of Women’s History Month, the Auburn Avenue Research Library will host renowned photographer, Simone Greene, who will discuss her latest publication, Time Served: My Days and Nights on Death Row Records. A brutally honest memoir, the book chronicles Simone Greene’s experience as the Chief of Photographer for Death Row Records, one of music's most infamous record labels. Time Served is an intimate behind-the-scenes look at iconic Hip-Hop superstars, such as Dr. Dre, Nate Dogg, Warren G, Suge Knight, and Tupac.

Black Girl in Moscow: Seven Weeks in Soviet Union
Community Discussion
Saturday, March 31, 2012. 4:00 p.m.
The Auburn Avenue Research Library will host playwright and professional model, Jacqueline Clay Chester, who will discuss her pioneering role in the American fashion industry of the 1960’s. This presentation will focus on Chester’s experience as one of three African American fashion models in the socially and politically controversial 1959 American Fashion exhibition in Moscow, Russia during the Cold War.