We honor the richness of Black culture during SFPL’s Black History celebration called More Than a Month, where we recognize the importance of Black History beginning on Martin Luther King Jr. Day through February and all year round at the library. This year, in alignment with the national theme of Black History Month, African Americans and Labor, we take a broad perspective to recognize the work African Americans have contributed to shape the lives and history of Black people and the societies in which they live. We highlight the impact of this effort, whether that is in honoring the agricultural labor in our past, capturing the richness of Black culture through the arts, memorializing the fight for social justice and the work to help heal our communities and teach our children. Celebrate with us by participating in a wide selection of performances, hands-on activities, author readings, presentations, exhibits and much more for the whole family in recognition of our country’s abundant Black History heritage.
About the art
The artwork for this year’s More Than a Month celebration is from a painting by local artist Malik Seneferu whose work is featured in the exhibition Malik Seneferu: A Retrospective, on view at the Main Library from January 16 – April 20, 2025.
Presented by the 31st annual AfroSolo Arts Festival, the exhibition showcases a diverse body of work that is divided into thematic sections: explosions in color; legacy series – honoring our elders, sculptural works; an assemblage series; and reproductions of original artworks. As a whole, Seneferu’s canon demonstrates a masterly exploration of socially conscious images and reflections of the artist’s life.
Seneferu's series, From the Hill and Beyond, represents one aspect of his "retrospective" body of work that originated when he became the first artist to display at the renowned Bayview Opera House. The use of the mask in this series reflects on Seneferu's belief that all African-Americans wear a mask of some sort as an inheritance of the earth's originators. Malik uses hard edge painting and line design in the development of this artwork, which is at its core, abstract.
In the image above, From the Hill and Beyond #6, Seneferu pays homage to his grandmother and other female ancestors who were primarily farmers. It honors the lineage and spiritual presence of female elders and ancestors, those noble cultivators of life who worked the soil, wielding wisdom and grace passed down through the ages.
Visit the African American Center, located on the 3rd floor of the Main Library, to see Seneferu’s work.
About the Artist
Malik Seneferu has spent the last 35 years instructing and leading an array of artistic and cultural expressions throughout the Black diaspora in San Francisco and beyond. During this time, Seneferu has developed a multidisciplinary body of work stemming from his early, firsthand experiences dealing with prejudice and injustice, as witnessed in and around his community. In his continued pursuit to support underserved populations, he addresses these issues through his life and art, making a difference in the hearts and minds of many.
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Our librarians have curated must-read titles in honor of More Than a Month. A note from a member of our curation team: “While our history may have moments of darkness, Black love, to this Black Librarian, is always the deepest show of our resistance against the world that wants us to hate ourselves, our beauty, and our strength. Black love is power.”