To commemorate Black History Month, @visitphilly launched Little Free(dom) Library, an initiative encouraging visitors and residents to explore Black history and narratives. Little Free(dom) Library is the third installment of Visit Philadelphia’s In Pursuit of A More Perfect Union series, a fresh take on how Philadelphia commemorates heritage months.
According to Penn America, more than 30 states have banned certain books by Black authors – both fiction and non-fiction – or otherwise deemed them inappropriate. In response, the Little Free(dom) Library initiative demonstrates Philadelphia’s commitment, as the birthplace of the nation, to making these stories accessible and available to both visitors and residents.
“Philadelphia strives to be a welcoming destination where every person can feel a sense of belonging,” said Angela Val, president and CEO, Visit Philadelphia. “We take pride in celebrating Philadelphia as the cradle of liberty, while also recognizing the complexity of its history. We want travelers and residents to know that in Philadelphia, Black history is American history, and Black stories are worth telling and sharing.”
The Little Free(dom) Library trail includes the following locations:
Betsy Ross House, 239 Arch Street
Columbia North YMCA, 1400 N. Broad Street
Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site, 2027 Fairmount Avenue
Faheem’s Hands of Precision, 2100 S. 20th Street
Frankford Community Development Corporation, 4667 Paul Street
Franklin Square, 200 N. 6th Street
Historic Germantown, 5501 Germantown Avenue
Johnson House Historic Site, 6306 Germantown Avenue
Mother Bethel A.M.E. Church, 419 S. 6th Street
Philadelphia Museum of Art, 2600 Benjamin Franklin Parkway
The Independence Visitor Center, 599 Market Street
The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, 300 S. Broad Street
South Street Street Off Center, 407 South Street
SOURCE: IG @wooder_ice
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