A Story, A Story: Ananse Tales to Live By with Dr. Akua Duku Anokye

Mesa Public Library - Main Branch 64 E. 1st Street, Mesa, United States

Ananse the Spider, a trickster hero of Ghana, is one of the most important characters of West African and Caribbean folklore. Ananse’s tales are told to not only explain the origins of the Akan people, but used to reinforce the belief system that enriches their society. Not just found in Ghana, these stories are likened […]

FREE

Chiles & Chocolate: Sweet and Spicy Foods in the American West with Christine Glenn and Sandy Sunseri

Mesa Public Library - Main Branch 64 E. 1st Street, Mesa, United States

Come have a taste of the rich and savory history of these food favorites, explore how early peoples used them, and how they have evolved and spread to all corners of the world. Food is a portal into culture and can convey a range of cultural meaning including occasion, social status, ethnicity, and wealth depending […]

FREE

From “Chief” to Code Talker: Four Profiles of the Navajo Code Talkers with Dr. Laura Tohe

Mesa Public Library - Main Branch 64 E. 1st Street, Mesa, United States

During WWII a group of young Navajo men enlisted in the Marines without knowing that they would be called on to develop a secret code against the Japanese military. This select group of Code Talkers devised a Navajo language code that was accurate, quick, never broken, and saved many American lives. This talk profiles four […]

FREE

A Story, A Story: Ananse tales to Live By with Dr. Akua Duku Anokye

Mesa Public Library - Main Branch 64 E. 1st Street, Mesa, United States

Ananse the Spider, a trickster hero of Ghana, is one of the most important characters of West African and Caribbean folklore. Ananse’s tales are told to not only explain the origins of the Akan people, but used to reinforce the belief system that enriches their society. Not just found in Ghana, these stories are likened […]

FREE

Paper Sons: Tales of Chain Migration in Tucson with Dr. Li Yang

AZ, United States

A “paper son” is a term used for young Chinese immigrants coming to the United States prior to 1943 who claimed to be a son of a citizen but were, in fact, sons on paper only. In 1882, the Chinese Exclusion Act was passed to curb Chinese immigration to the U.S. The passage of this […]

FREE

Deconstructing the Taco: The History and Lore of a Beloved Food with Gregory McNamee

Mesa Public Libraries - Main Branch - Saguaro Room --- 64 E. 1st St., Mesa, AZ, 85201 64 E. 1st Street, Mesa, AZ, United States

The foods of Arizona speak to the many cultures, native and newcomer, that make up our state. Consider the taco, that favorite treat, a staple of Mexican and Mexican American cooking and an old standby on an Arizonan’s plate. The corn in the tortilla comes from Mexico, the cheese from the Sahara, the lettuce from […]

FREE

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