Library Afro Revolution: A celebration of diversity, literacy, and self-love inspires community unity
Mychat Threets always envisioned having a Library Afro Revolution to unite individuals in honoring diversity within the local library.On Saturday in Fairfield, that's exactly what he got.The Solano County Library, in collaboration with influential …
Mychat Threets always envisioned having a Library Afro Revolution to unite individuals in honoring diversity within the local library.
On Saturday in Fairfield, that's exactly what he got.
The Solano County Library, in collaboration with influential social media figures Threets and Blair Imani, presented "The Library Afro Revolution: A Celebration of Hair and Beauty" at the Fairfield Civic Center Library. The free and open event celebrated hair appreciation, inclusivity, and community spirit.
The event included book giveaways, face paintings, photo booths and games. Accompanying the festivity were skilled barbers, hairdressers from Crowns Barber Shop, and the hosts themselves, renowned advocates for social justice and education.
Threets, who is stepping away from the Solano Library due to mental health reasons, promotes inclusivity and literacy and gained popularity from TikTok with over 700,000 followers.
"Right now I'm still not totally OK, but I'm getting closer to being OK," Threets said. "I'm doing very cool things with libraries across the nation with PBS Kids and the Children's Literacy Initiative. This event is a very cool way to celebrate hair, love, beauty, and just anyone who needs self-love."
Threets and Imani are notable online figures who promote literacy, social engagement, and empowerment. Threets, a librarian and notable social media personality, has been recognized recently by The Guardian and Rolling Stone magazine, while serving as a resident librarian for PBS Kids.
California currently has the lowest adult literacy in the nation, with 23.1 percent of adults lacking basic prose literacy skills, leaving the state with the lowest literacy rate, 76.9 percent.
"I'm very saddened by it, the low adult literacy, because there are not enough school librarians," sai Threets. "That's my mission, to ensure that a school librarian and every school have enough resources. We honestly need more, we need more funding."
Imani, creator of the popular web series "Smarter in Seconds" and besting author, also co-owns Fempower Beauty. She explores themes of intersectionality and United States history in her writings, including Making Out Way Home (2020) and Modern Herstory (2018).
"I think that right now these conversations that are happening, especially in Florida, around banning books are dangerous," Imani said. "We're celebrating the community or essentially the black community, but it's not just for us. Some people take reading for granted and it's something that could open doors and change somebody's trajectory in their life."
She has advocated for LGBTQ+ rights and religious freedom for Muslims. Together, they champion education, empowerment, and social change.
"Everybody in the world has something about them that doesn't fit into society's expectations," said Imani. "I try to be more focused on being around the people who love me for who I am not, as long as you're not hurting yourself, or anyone else, however you exist and express yourself is valid.
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