By Tihut Tamrat, Contributing Writer
The Friends of the Oak Park Library hosted a Black History Month celebration on February 21, 2026, bringing together community members for an afternoon of storytelling, reflection, and cultural pride. The event featured speakers Jennie Hamilton, Dr. Patricia Williams, and JJ Anderson, each sharing personal journeys rooted in resilience and service.
Jennie Hamilton, a producer and director with Community Actors Theater, highlighted her play about gospel legend Mahalia Jackson. “I wrote the play The Main Line because I’ve always loved Mahalia’s singing. She was really a community person and did everything out of the love for her community,” Hamilton said, emphasizing Jackson’s commitment to uplifting others.
Dr. Patricia Williams, an educator and author of eight books, shared her personal story of survival and advocacy. “This book was birthed out of me being homeless for 10 years in San Diego,” she continues, “It’s not just my story in here, it’s a lot of people’s story that I chose to interview on the streets. This book was written so people would have empathy when they think about this pandemic that I call homelessness.”
She credited Voices of Our City Choir with helping her rebuild her life, stating, “Voices of our city choir was the reason I was able to come out of homelessness,” a non-profit San Diego organization that was on America’s Got Talent and earned the golden buzzer.
JJ Anderson, director of Sacred Soil: The Piney Woods School Story, spoke about preserving Black educational history through film. The documentary explores the legacy of the Piney Woods School, one of the last remaining Black boarding schools in the nation. “I have done talks and screenings everywhere but I can say from the bottom of my heart this has been the best and most fun experience,” Anderson said.
She continues, “Black boarding schools were founded during the Jim Crow era, as a way to educate descendants of a former living slave, there’s one left in New York, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and then, of course, you have Piney Woods in Mississippi. Piney Woods is the largest. The reason I was attracted to it was because it pushes this agricultural component that we don’t quite see in schools anymore, the youth don’t want to be involved because of the shame that they’re internalizing around agriculture as it relates to slavery.”
She also reflected on her family’s local impact, including her grandfather, Leon Williams, the city’s first Black councilman and county supervisor.
Following the speakers, a video message from Secretary of State, Dr. Shirley Weber, longtime and current resident of Oak Park herself, congratulated the community and student essay contest winners, recognizing the importance of preserving Black history. The celebration concluded with African drumming, dance, soul food, and fellowship, reflecting Oak Park’s enduring spirit and commitment to honoring its cultural heritage.
Past and upcoming shows at the Community Actor’s Theatre, including The Main Line, can be found at www.communityactorstheatre.com. Dr. Patricia Williams book, Out in Dem Streets: The Homelessness Pandemic Documentary and Personal Accountcan be found online at www.pushthewordout.com. And, JJ Anderson’s film, Sacred Soil: a Piney Woods School Storyis on Hulu.
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