St. Louis Public Library

Photo by John Koniak, St. Louis Public Library Title: St. Louis Public Library logo celebrating 150th anniversary
Source: John Koniak, St. Louis Public Library

ST. LOUIS PUBLIC LIBRARY'S JUNE AUTHORS @ YOUR LIBRARY SERIES LINEUP

The St. Louis Public Library is proud to present Jabari Asim, Cbabi Bayoc, Kevin Belford, Dr. Kenneth Johnson, and John Neiman as part of the June installment of its popular Authors @ Your Library series. The events are FREE and open to the public.

· Author, poet, and journalist Jabari Asim discusses and signs his debut novel, Only the Strong, in Central Library's Carnegie Room, 1301 Olive Street, on June 4 at 7 p.m.

Set against a backdrop of rapid social and political change in the 1970s, Only the Strong explores the challenges and rewards of love in a quintessential American community, where heartbreak and violence are seldom far away. Asim renders a compelling portrait of urban life during the years after the passage of the last major Civil Rights legislation.

Asim is also the author of the highly praised and controversial The N Word: Who Can Say It, Who Shouldn't, and Why.

He is the editor-in-chief of The Crisis magazine, a preeminent journal of politics, ideas, and culture published by the NAACP. He spent 11 years as Deputy Editor of the Washington Post's book review section.

Jabari Asim is a frequent public speaker and commentator who has appeared on programs including The Today Show, The Colbert Report, Hannity & Colmes, The Tavis Smiley Show, and The Diane Rehm Show.

Co-Sponsored by Left Bank Books.

Books available for purchase courtesy of Left Bank Books.

· Artist and author Cbabi Bayoc discusses his art project, "365 Days With Dad," and signs his book, When I Become Dad, in Central Library's Carnegie Room, 1301 Olive Street, on June 13 at 2 p.m.

In 2012, Bayoc set out to paint an images of black fathers and their children every day for one year. He called the project "365 Days With Dad," which shows positive images of black fathers and their interactions with their children.  His use of social media has created a large following.  [NOTE: Selected paintings from the collection will be on display in Central Library's Carnegie Room through June.]

Bayoc's artistic career working as a caricaturist at Six Flags led to designing album covers. His work attracted the attention of Coca-Cola, Anheuser-Busch, and SIDS Resource. His first illustration project was for poet Ruth Forman's book, Young Cornrows Calling Out the Moon.

Bayoc's book, When I Become Dad, features images and as Bayoc says, "words of encouragement for our youth to think about when that magical day comes that they become someone's daddy."

Books available for purchase courtesy of the author.

Co-Sponsored by Father Support Center and 100 Black Men of Metropolitan St. Louis.

· Kevin Belford, Dr. Kenneth Johnson, and John Neiman will discuss their books that cover nearly one hundred years of music in a city inspired by the Mighty Mississippi. The program takes place in Central Library's Carnegie Room, 1301 Olive Street, on June 23 at 7 p.m.  Each author will give a 20-minute presentation followed by Q&A and individual book signings.

· Kevin Belford is the author of Devil at the Confluence, which reveals the untold story of the profound connection between historical blues artists and their ties to St. Louis. He combines years of scholarly research and discovery with his well-known artwork to present a book that chronicles legendary talents that built the base for what is now called American popular music.

· Dr. Kenneth Johnson's newest book,  Moonlight Serenade to City Lights: Images From the Dance Hall Era in Missouri, chronicles the musicians and bands that entertained Americans during the 1940s and '50s. Filled with images previously stored or displayed in homes and businesses, Moonligh tpreserves a time when local dance halls were the main social outlet for countless rural families.

· John Neiman has compiled, if not encapsulated, the influence of rock music radio in St. Louis.  In Concert: KSHE and 40+ Years of Rock Music in St. Louis is one of the most engaging books ever assembled about a rock radio station. Neiman's obsession led him to cross paths with dozens of current and former KSHE employees, along with assorted rock stars and crazed rock fans like himself. He has also created a website boasting almost 800 photos, some that were included in the book, others that have never been published, as well as stories and audio clips from KSHE's past. It can all be found at www.stlbook.com.

Books available for purchase courtesy of the authors.

For more information, call 314.880.8759.

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