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Founded by Dr. Carter G. Woodson in February 1926, Black History Month is a month-long celebration of African American life, History, and Culture, annually celebrated in February.

What began as a week-long celebration transformed into a month-long way to promote, research, preserve, interpret, and disseminate information about Black life, History, and culture to the global community.

You can read more about the origins and history of Black History Month through the Association for the Study of African American Life and History, the founders of Black History Month, and through the Official Governmental Site for Black History Month.

Below are some ways to get started exploring and celebrating Black History Month.

Looking for more suggestions? Stop by our 2nd, 3rd, or 4th floors and ask a Librarian or email us at help@dppl.org.

ADULT NON-FICTION

Four Hundred Souls: a Community History of African America, 1619-2019

Edited by Ibram X. Kendi

"A "choral history" of African Americans covering 400 years of history in the voices of 80 writers, edited by the bestselling, National Book Award-winning historian Ibram X. Kendi and Keisha N. Blain. Last year marked the four hundredth anniversary of the first African presence in the Americas--and also launched the Four Hundred Souls project, spearheaded by Ibram X. Kendi, director of the Antiracism Institute of American University, and Keisha Blain, editor of The North Star. They've gathered together eighty Black writers from all disciplines--historians and artists, journalists and novelists--each of whom has contributed an entry about one five-year period to create a dynamic multivoiced single-volume history of Black people in America"

ADULT NON-FICTION

Black AF history : the un-whitewashed story of America

By Michael Harriot

Columnist and political commentator Michael Harriot presents a more accurate version of American history. Combining unapologetically provocative storytelling with meticulous research based on primary sources as well as the work of pioneering Black historians, scholars, and journalists, Harriot removes the white sugarcoating from the American story, placing Black people squarely at the center.

ADULT NON-FICTION

Vegan Africa : plant-based recipes from Ethiopia to Senegal

By Marie Kacouchia

An authentically African and naturally vegan culinary journey across the continent
 
Drawing from the cultures and traditions of more than 15 countries, years of cooking expertise, and cherished memories from her own childhood on the Ivory Coast, Marie Kacouchia takes us on a tour of flavorful, healthy, naturally plant-based African dishes. Whether you’re a newcomer to African cuisine or looking to make familiar favorites, Vegan Africa will help you bring healthful, delicious dishes to your kitchen.

CHILDREN

The ABCs of Black History

By Rio Cortez

Letter by letter, The ABCs of Black History celebrates a story that spans continents and centuries, triumph and heartbreak, creativity and joy. It's a story of big ideas--P is for Power, S is for Science and Soul. Of significant moments--G is for Great Migration. Of iconic figures--H is for Zora Neale Hurston, X is for Malcom X. It's an ABC book like no other, and a story of hope and love. In addition to rhyming text, the book includes back matter with information on the events, places, and people mentioned in the poem, from Mae Jemison to W. E. B. Du Bois, Fannie Lou Hamer to Sam Cooke, and the Little Rock Nine to DJ Kool Herc.

CHILDREN

A child's introduction to African American history : the experiences, people, and events that shaped our country

By Jabari Asim

Chronicles the story of African Americans from the slave trader through the American Revolution and the Civil War to the Tuskegee experiments, the Civil Rights movement, the election of Barack Obama. Sections throughout highlight the contribution of African Americans to the arts, music, literature, culture, sports and more. Lives of inspiring African American artists, inventors, and politicians including Harriet Tubman, Langston Hughes, Oprah Winfrey, Louis Armstrong, Serena Williams, are featured as well.

Other Resources:

 

Hoopla Black History Month Collection

 

Kanopy Black History Month Collection