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Duke Ellington in the 1971 film "Jazz Odyssey." Creative Commons-licensed image by Louis Panassié.

Here’s a look at upcoming Black History Month events at St. Paul libraries:

• Saturday, February 20. 1-3 p.m.
  “My People”
  Central Library (90 W. Fourth St., Saint Paul. 651-266-7000)
  Tony Garrett will present “My People”, a genealogical journey about his family and the importance of preserving family history. Program immediately followed at 3 p.m. by a Genealogy Workshop by Saint Paul Public Librarian James Moriarty to teach program attendees how to use the ancestry library.
• Saturday, February 20. 10-11 a.m.
  “Stories of Hope”
  by Isabell Monk O’Connor
  Merriam Park Branch Library (1831 Marshall Ave., Saint Paul. 651-642-0385)
  Acclaimed actress, author and educator Isabell Monk O’Connor will read stories from our national past that are heavily influenced by the African-American journey.
• Sunday, February 21. 2-4 p.m.
  “Take the A Train to the Library for a Tribute to Duke Ellington”
  Central Library-Magazine Room
  Vocalist Debbie Duncan and saxophonist Dean Brewington will perform with a stellar quartet in this tribute to the late and very great Duke Ellington.
• Monday, February 22. 7 p.m.
  “A Face of Courage”
  Sun Ray Branch Library (2105 Wilson Ave., Saint Paul. 651-501-6300)
  Tommy Watson is an elementary school principal and example to others of how one man came from a poverty and crime-ridden neighborhood, to achieve personal success and inspire others. He is the author of A Face of Courage: The Tommy Watson Story- How Did He Survive?
• Wednesday, February 24. 7 p.m.
  “A Literary Evening with Alexs Pate”
  Hamline Midway Branch Library (1558 W. Minnehaha Ave., Saint Paul. 651-642-0293)
  Alexs Pate, best-selling author, hosts a fireside gathering to discuss his varied literary career an thoughts about being an African-American writer today.
• Saturday, February 27. 10-11 a.m.
  “Stories of Hope”
  Highland Park Branch Library (1974 Ford Pkwy., Saint Paul. 651-695-3700)
  Storytelling by Isabell Monk O’Connor
• Sunday, February 28. 2-4 p.m.
  “Warm Up on a Cold Day to Super Cool Miles Davis”
  Rondo Community Outreach Library (461 N. Dale St., Saint Paul. 651-266-7400)
  The Dean Brewington Quartet will perform with vocalist extraordinaire Lila Ammons.
• Sunday, February 28. 2 p.m.
  “Dreamgirls”
  Central Library- 4th floor Meeting Room
  Watch “Dreamgirls,” the film adaptation of a 1981 Broadway musical that tells a story of R&B and Motown funk, based loosely on the lives and career of The Supremes.

Admission is free for all events. This programming is funded in part with money from the vote of the people of Minnesota on November 4, 2008, which dedicated funding to preserve Minnesota’s arts and cultural heritage.