"Art and Truth" Explored at Progressive Emporium

by Veronica L. Banks

February 22, 2014

Home grown historian Dr. Worth Kamili Hayes and celebrated local author Ruth Miriam Garnett weave a tapestry of Art and Truth at Progressive Emporium & Education Center to celebrate Black History Month on Saturday, Feb 22 from 12 noon to 6 p.m. Progressive Emporium and Education Center is located at 1108 N. Sarah, Saint Louis, MO, 63113.

Dr. Hayes, originally from St. Louis is an Assistant Professor of History at Tuskegee University in Alabama. His research areas include civil rights and black power movements, urban education, and African American educational history. He will share his research, experiences and unique methods in discovering Black history from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Progressive next Saturday.

Bringing her artistic flavor, Ms. Garnett, a local poet, novelist and essayist will speak at the Black History Program. She is the author of several works including “A Move Further South,” “Concerning Violence” and her new novel “Laelia”. She will talk about the history of Black writers, her numerous published works and sign autographs from 12 noon to 2 p.m.

Wear Red, Black AND Green at the Black History Program to receive a special discount off all purchases. It can be a pin or an entire outfit, use your Kuumba (Creativity).

Progressive Emporium & Education Center is more than a bookshop selling African-American books -- it is an educational center which offers food for the soul. PEEC hosts cultural education activities, classes, skill-building workshops, cultural celebrations, author book signings, cultural displays and literacy based activities for children and families. In addition to books, the center sells afrikan imports, health items, tee shirts, essential oils, artifacts, handcrafted items, art, specialty foods, incense, personal grooming items, spiritual oils, tools and books.

Progressive aims to create a place where the community may come to learn, read, study, research and yes, even dialogue about current issues affecting African Americans while participating in a process of social change.