On June 7, 1979, President Jimmy Carter designated the month of June to honor the musical contributions of African Americans, known as Black Music Month. In 2016, President Barack Obama gave a presidential proclamation and formally named June African-American Music Appreciation Month. President Obama said, "Let us recognize the performers… continue reading African-American Music Appreciation Month: 3 New Albums to Check Out

By written by Camille T.    June 27, 2017   

• Music
• African American
• Recommendations

The Art Department of the Free Library of Philadelphia maintains a collection of artist files going back to the 19th century. Our artist files are folders that include article clippings, gallery announcements, artist statements, exhibition catalogs, and other ephemera related to artists and art subjects with a focus on the Philadelphia area.… continue reading Art Department Celebrates Black History Month with African American Artists from Philadelphia

By written by Alina J.    February 23, 2017   

• African American
• Black History Month

Mark Zuckerberg, Bill Gates, and other tech billionaire/philanthropists may have set new standards in giving, but philanthropy is an old Philadelphia tradition with two of our earliest millionaire/philanthropists being African Americans. James Forten was born in Philadelphia in 1766, a free African American and the grandson of slaves . At age… continue reading African American Philanthropists in Early Philadelphia

By written by Sally F.    February 22, 2017    8  

• African American
• History
• A History Minute

Our libraries have a full lineup of programs and activities this February to celebrate the rich intellectual and cultural contributions made by the African American community. We have everything from performances and special guests to dance workshops and cooking programs scheduled for this year's Black History Month celebration!… continue reading How Will You Celebrate Black History Month?

By written by Jennifer W.    January 24, 2017    3  

• African American
• Black History Month

I love a graphic novel—and even better I love a graphic novel memoir . There is something so much more intimate about reading the words AND pictures when someone shares her story. Or maybe I’m just a slower reader when it comes to nonfiction … who is to say? Either way, there have been a TON of amazing graphic novels that… continue reading Graphic Novel Memoirs

By written by Rachel F.    August 24, 2016   

• Reviews
• LGBTQ
• Teens
• African American
• YA literature
• Comics and Graphic Novels
• Social Justice

Jerry Pinkney is a rock star. His fans tend to be of the toddler-variety, but he has legions of older die-hard devotees of his work as well—mostly parents, nannies, and a lot of librarians. This week, a new fan is joining the ranks of the Pinkney-heads. (Hmmmm, we may need to work on that name. The… continue reading Jerry Pinkney Day

By written by Chris B.    July 19, 2016   

• ALA
• Awards
• African American
• Childrens Books
• Jerry Pinkney

One Book, One Philadelphia is known for inspiring great conversations across the Philadelphia region. Last week, it also inspired some new stories altogether—as a panel of professional storytellers shared stories inspired by the setting and characters of One Book featured selection Cold Mountain . The storytelling tradition is deeply… continue reading #OneBookWednesday: Storytelling Inspired by One Book

By written by Julie B.    March 9, 2016   

• One Book, One Philadelphia
• African American
• Black History Month

This recipe is from the  A Taste of African Heritage series, a free six-lesson nutrition and cooking program presented by Oldways that we host at the Culinary Literacy Center. The series brings the savory tradition of eating a delicious, plant-based diet that was high in flavor and naturally low in cholesterol, sugars, and excess sodium… continue reading Cook This Now: Oldways Jollof Rice

By written by Michele T.    February 8, 2016   

• African American
• Culinary Literacy
• Recipes

Last weekend in Chicago, a room full of children's and teen librarians erupted in cheers, gasps, and wild applause for the newest batch of books chosen for the Youth Media Awards, administered by the American Library Association's Association for Library Service to Children and Young Adult Library Services Association. This yearly event… continue reading Caldecott, Newbery, Belpre, Oh My!

By written by Sarah S.    February 6, 2015   

• Awards
• LGBTQ
• Reading
• African American
• Childrens Books
• Pre K
• Recommendations
• Early Literacy
• YA literature

Get ready to rock, roll, dance, and dream this summer as our Sundays on Stage FREE performance series returns this weekend! This series of free performances for children, families, and adults is made possible by funding from the Philadelphia City Institute Board of Managers. January 25 - Cat’s Pajamas The Cats put on more than a… continue reading Sundays on Stage Winter/Spring Calendar of events!

By written by Rachel F.    January 23, 2015    1  

• Events at the Library
• Childrens Programs
• Community Events
• Family Programs
• Parkway Central
• Sundays on Stage
• African American
• Childrens Books

Input  was a Philadelphia panel discussion program hosted by John S. Stokes, Jr. that aired Sunday mornings on WCAU-TV10 from 1968 through early 1971. The program is a window in to the people and ideas that shaped that tumultuous time in Philadelphia. You'll find Input listed among the Streaming Video resources on our Digital Media… continue reading Streaming Philadelphia History - Introducing Input with Marion Stokes & John S. Stokes, Jr

By written by Jamie W.    May 5, 2014   

• African American
• Television
• History
• Digital Media

Looking for some great books for your children? Our children's librarians are excited to share their expert reviews with you. For this month, we focus on African American history for children. Ever heard of Charlie Parker? Read on, and then click on the book title to see if your Free Library of Philadelphia location has a copy for you.… continue reading Charlie Parker Played Be Bop by Chris Raschka: A great introduction to African American history for the youngest readers

By written by Sarah S.    February 4, 2014   

• African American
• Childrens Books

Earlier this year I read the autobiography Twelve Years a Slave by Solomon Northup and was blown away. While reading the book I often thought about what I learned about slavery in school and the various films I've seen on the subject. Most notably, the television mini-series Roots , which I believe was probably most people's first… continue reading 12 Years A Slave and Slave Narratives

By written by Camille T.    November 13, 2013    3  

• African American
• History

"Be not inhospitable to strangers, lest they be angels in disguise."   So reads the memorable inscription above the door of Shakespeare & Company , one of my favorite bookstores. This quaint Parisian bookstore welcomes strangers with quiet mystery, magical selections on the bookshelves, and the occasional French cheese hidden… continue reading Summer in the City

By written by Nani M.    April 3, 2013   

• Childrens Programs
• African American
• Childrens Books

Today marks what would have been the 84th birthday of Nobel Prize winning activist and Civil Rights Leader Dr.Martin Luther King, Jr. The DREAM@50 is a tribute series that was held throughout 2012 and continues into 2013, commemorating the 50th anniversary of Martin Luther King, Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech. The series included a… continue reading LEAP's DREAM@50 Contest Winners

By written by Peter SM    January 15, 2013    3  

• Exhibitions
• Art
• Awards
• Childrens Programs
• Parkway Central
• African American

Columbia Professor Manning Marable recently passed away April 1, 2011, three days before the publication of his new biography of Malcolm X, Malcolm X: A Life of Reinvention . Professor Marable has spent his career studying African-American history and writing on the legendary life of activist Malcolm X and his new book is touted as the… continue reading Malcolm X Review

By written by Camille T.    April 6, 2011    1  

• African American
• Recommendations

Two extraordinary writers have recently released new novels, years after their earlier books established their literary reputations. It's been fifteen years since Fae Myenne Ng's debut, Bone , and eager fans have been devouring her new novel, Steer Toward Rock , since it came out earlier this year. Fans of Paul Beatty's 2001 release, The White… continue reading What I'm Reading Now

By written by Anne L.    September 26, 2008    30  

• Reviews
• African American

An exciting addition to our reference collection is making its way onto shelves around the city: the multi-volume African American National Biography , published by Oxford University Press and edited by Henry Louis Gates and Evelyn Brooks Higginbotham.  This is the largest research project in African American Studies to be completed… continue reading African American National Biography

By written by Anne L.    August 21, 2008    16  

• Reviews
• African American

When I attended the Harlem Book Fair recently, I spoke with local Philly author, Karen E. Quinones Miller, who has started her own publishing company.  The Free Library of Philadelphia has ordered these new titles (click on the link to reserve): The Guide to Becoming the Sensuous Black Woman (And Drive Your Man Wild In and Out of… continue reading Harlem Book Fair News!

By written by Music Department    August 18, 2008    10  

• Reviews
• African American