Hats part of Black History Month highlights in New London

"Hat's Off," an exhibit honoring black history, is on view at New London Public Library during February.

The exhibition was the brainchild of Debbie Phillips, a retired mother of three and grandmother of one. She is a New London resident concerned over racial tensions in the city. She felt this type of exhibit would "help motivate, educate, inspire, and encourage the needed changes within her city. The art world tends to embrace others (different races) and demonstrates more tolerance and acceptance, as a platform for freedom of expression and creativity ..."

Inspiration for "Hat's Off" came from her admiration of the exquisite hats many women wear to church on Sundays.

With a few volunteers, designer Annita Harris went to work, as did hat connoisseur Jane Bernoudy.

Due to the volume of contributions from hat lovers, the "Hat's Off" exhibit will change to a new display of hats every Friday during Black History Month..

Books pertaining to African-American history will be highlighted around the men's exhibits (on the second floor) and women's exhibits (on the first floor) at New London Public Library, 63 Huntington Street.

In addition to the exhibits, other events, held in the Community Room on the first floor, include:

• Film, "A Lesson Before Dying," 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 10

• Film, "Movies of Color: Black Southern Cinema," 7 p.m. Feb. 17

• Join in the Community Drum Circle with Dancers, 6 p.m. Feb. 23

• Film, "Thurgood," 7 p.m. Feb. 24

• Community workshop on the book "A View from the Sixties: The Black Experience in Southeastern Connecticut" a memoir written by Linwood Bland, 1 p.m. Feb. 25

• Meet the Author: William Foster III, who wrote "Dreaming of a Face Like Ours: Essays on Black Comics," 7 p.m. Feb. 28.

Black History Month events are free and open to the public. For more information, call (860) 447-1411 or visit nlpl@lioninc.org