Despite ongoing battles over how Black history is taught in Florida schools, Broward County’s African American Research Library and Cultural Center (AARLCC) is doubling down on education with the return of its CommuniVersity Series, Black History Saturday School.
The free intergenerational program kicks off its third year on October 4, 2025, and will continue monthly through April 2026 at AARLCC in Fort Lauderdale’s historic Sistrunk corridor. Sessions run from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. and bring in professors, museum professionals, and cultural leaders to explore topics ranging from the economics of slavery to Afrofuturism and Caribbean culture. Lunch and refreshments are provided.
This year’s Saturday School is designed for “ages 8 to 80.” Children (ages 8–12) will join storytime and activities in the Youth Services Department, while teens and adults (13+) engage in interactive lectures and discussions.
Dr. Tameka Hobbs — historian, author, activist, and Regional Library Manager at Broward County Library — will lead the opening session titled “Liberation Through Literacy: Black Education, Resistance, and the Freedom to Read.” Hobbs, a strong advocate for intergenerational learning, said the program fills a critical gap in public education at a time when state policies are reshaping Black history instruction.
“We’ve witnessed powerful moments when parents and children learn side by side,” Hobbs said in a press release. “This work is not just about history — it’s about identity, critical thinking, and reclaiming our narrative.”
The Saturday School was first launched in response to Florida’s rejection of the AP African American Studies course and broader efforts to censor Black history nationwide. Hobbs says the program offers a fact-based, community-centered alternative.
“As Dr. Carter G. Woodson said, ‘Everyone receives two educations, one given to them, and one they seek for themselves,’” Hobbs noted. “We’re here to support that second education.”
Founded in 2002, AARLCC is one of only three institutions of its kind in the U.S. Its mission is to preserve and celebrate the history and culture of people of African descent while serving a community still facing inequities in literacy and economic opportunity.
Black History Saturday School sessions are free, but registration is required. Sign up here.
This is a Hy-Lo News Staff Report.
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