Black History Month

In celebration of Black History Month and African American History as a whole, explore our history and culture resources including famous African Americans from Philadelphia, essential reading lists, information about the Harlem Renaissance, the Tuskegee Airmen, famous Black scientists and inventors, politics, historically Black colleges and universities, and Black History Month events happening throughout the Philadelphia area.

Links

38 Black Scientists Who Made History
Learn more about some of the many African American scientists and engineers who have made important contributions to science history.
A Guide to Black History Month in Philadelphia
Celebrate with performances, exhibitions, special menus, historical tours, and more.
African American History: Major Speeches
Speeches from outstanding African American orators
African American Museum in Philadelphia
This is the official website of the African American Museum, dedicated to collecting, preserving, and interpreting the culture of African Americans in Philadelphia and beyond.
Behind The Veil - Documenting African American Life in the Jim Crow South
This selection of 100 recorded oral history interviews chronicles African-American life during the age of legal segregation in the American South, from the 1890s to the 1950s.
Black Civil War Soldiers and Sailors Database
This database serves as a starting point for relatives or researchers as they piece together the individual experiences of Black soldiers and sailors in the Civil War.
Black History Milestones
Black history in the United States is a rich and varied chronicle of slavery and liberty, oppression and progress, segregation and achievement. This timeline explores the milestones that got us where we are today.
Major African-American Office Holders Since 1641
This list represents the most significant of the thousands of African American elected officials from 1641 until today.
NAACP Resources
Access crucial resources from the NAACP that will help you understand your rights, fight for justice, start and strengthen your branch, and secure a better future for Black people in America.
Notable African Americans
Short biographies of prominent African Americans from all walks of life
Talking About Race
The Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture today launched Talking About Race, a new online portal designed to help individuals, families, and communities talk about racism, racial identity and the way these forces shape every aspect of society, from the economy and politics to the broader American culture.
Teaching Your Child About Black History
Instead of shying away from hard truths, parents can explain that a long time ago, people were separated by the color of their skin. Some people did not think that was fair, and men and women of all races united to make a change. This is a straightforward example that teaches empathy, cooperation, and the commonality of a shared goal. It is also a way to teach children how to connect their personal experiences with the larger world.
The 1619 Project
The 1619 Project is an ongoing initiative from The New York Times Magazine that began in August 2019, the 400th anniversary of the beginning of American slavery. It aims to reframe the country’s history by placing the consequences of slavery and the contributions of Black Americans at the very center of our national narrative.
The Authorship and Activism of Alice Dunbar Nelson – I Am An American!
The Rosenbach’s exhibition, “I Am an American!” The Authorship and Activism of Alice Dunbar-Nelson, explores these questions through the lens of an under-studied local author, teacher, and advocate for social justice who changed American society—starting more than one hundred years ago.
The Hundred-Seven: Promoting the Nation's Historically Black Colleges and Universities
Featuring the first and only searchable database of all academic programs offered by HBCUs
The Philly Black History Syllabus: 13 Must-Read Books to Understand Our City
Experts share what books spotlighting Philadelphia you should be reading during Black History Month.
The Triumph and Tragedy of Octavius V. Catto
Octavius V. Catto (1839 – 1871) was an American educator, intellectual, and civil rights activist who was tragically killed during election day violence in Philadelphia.

Independent Black Comic Books and Graphic Novels by explore

Black independent comic books are crucial in ensuring that the comic book industry reflects the diversity of its audience. They provide a platform for authentic, innovative, and impactful stories that celebrate Black culture and offer new perspectives. Through creativity, entrepreneurship, and activism, Black independent comics not only enrich the medium but also contribute to broader societal conversations about race, identity, and representation.

Yummy : the last days of a Southside Shorty cover

Robert Smalls : tales of the talented tenth cover

View the full list

African American Theater by explore

From Shuffling Along to A Strange Loop, African American theater has not only shaped the arts but has also served as a critical tool for social change. Its impact is far-reaching, offering powerful narratives that reflect the African American experience, engaging with national and global struggles, and transforming American theater into a more inclusive and diverse art form.

Footnotes : the Black artists who rewrote the rules of the Great White Way cover

When Broadway was Black : the triumphant story of the all-Black musical that changed the world cover

black broadway :african americans on the great white way cover

Black theater in America

The development of black…

resistance, parody, and double consciousness in african american theatre, 1895-1910 cover

View the full list

Culturally Affirming Books for Black Children (21 items)

Not only do Free Library staff work diligently to ensure libraries are welcoming and inclusive spaces, but they create visual displays, public art exhibitions, and book displays based on the interests of patrons. This year we would like to highlight the selections and recommendations of the Free Library Staff. Sean H. is a Library Assistant at Queen Memorial Library. He’s so graciously compiled lists of empowering and culturally affirming books for children.

Black LGBTQ+ Culture (24 items)

From the early 20th century today, leaders, artists, civil rights activists, and everyday people have all played a part in this cultural history. This list includes powerful memoirs, influential novels, personal recollections of ballroom culture and the origins of the vogue dance style, and critical essays and biographies. Here is a comprehensive look at the intersection of Black and LGBTQ+ identities through the various lenses of literature, music, and film. How will it inform the future?

Rebels, Renegades, and Revolutionaries - BHM 2025 for Teens (18 items)

When the world sees your personhood as a political statement, it seems like everyone has an opinion on who you are (or who you should be)! These stories feature young Black protagonists who find ways to stand tall in who they are despite the expectations placed upon them by their peers, the adults around them, the system at large, or even greater influences.

Black Writers of Philadelphia (21 items)

Andrea L. compiled a list of contemporary Black authors from the area and their published works of poetry and fiction.

Black History Books for Teens (74 items)

Fiction and nonfiction picks to honor Black History Month and to celebrate the lives, struggles, and achievements of Black Americans all year long.

Lyrics of sunshine and shadow : the tragic courtship and marriage of Paul Laurence Dunbar and Alice Ruth Moore : a history of love and violence among the African American elite cover

Alice Dunbar-Nelson (27 items)

Free Library resources in support of the Rosenbach's Digital Exhibition: "I Am an American!" The Authorship and Activism of Alice Dunbar-Nelson

Celebrating Everyday Experiences of Black Children and Families (204 items)

#Ownvoices: Celebrating Black History Month and Picture Books (75 items)

February is Black History Month -- Join us (and our younger readers!) as we recent highlight picture books written and/or illustrated by African-Americans authors and artists.

A man for all seasons : the life of George Washington Carver cover

Biographies For Kids (26 items)

Read biographies of famous and historical African Americans.

The Black history of the White House cover

Barack Obama: The Making of an American President (14 items)

Learn more about the life and achievement of President Obama.

African American women of the Old West cover

African Americans Win the West (12 items)

Pioneering African Americans of the Old West.

African Americans in film and television cover

African Americans in the Cinema (9 items)

Lights, Camera, Action! Dig into the world of Black filmmakers, actors and actresses.

Memoirs and Reminiscences by African American Authors (14 items)

Autobiographical selections.

Award-Winning African American Authors (14 items)

Books by prize-winning writers.

A gentleman of color : the life of James Forten cover

African American Revolutionaries and Inventors from Philadelphia (6 items)

Inspiring stories and historical perspective of African American Revolutionaries and Inventors from Philadelphia through the years.

African American Quilts (8 items)

Discover the beauty of these treasures of American folk art.

African American holiday celebrations and traditions : celebrating with passion, style, and grace cover

African American Celebrations (11 items)

Explore the rich cultural traditions that are an integral part of the African American experience.

African American Books for Early Readers (20 items)

Books starring African Americans for Early Readers.

Electronic Resources

American State Papers, 1789-1838
The essential record of the first decade of the United States. Browse legislative and executive documents of the first 14 U.S. Congresses and find information on the major events that shaped the Early Republic.
Available To: All Free Library locations and online with your library card.

Related Tags
- African American
- Adults
- Teens
- History
America's Historical Imprints
Explore centuries of history through books, pamphlets, & other material on culture and daily life. Includes: American Broadsides and Ephemera and Early American Imprints, Series I: Evans & Series II: Shaw-Shoemaker.
Available To: All Free Library locations and online with your library card.

Related Tags
- African American
- Literature
- Adults
- Teens
- History
Historical Newspapers - Black Newspapers
Primary source material from ten historic Black newspapers, including the Chicago Defender, The Baltimore Afro-American, New York Amsterdam News, Pittsburgh Courier, Los Angeles Sentinel, Atlanta Daily World, and the Cleveland Call and Post
Available To: All Free Library locations and online with your library card.

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HistoryMakers Digital Archive
HistoryMakers Digital Archive is the nation's largest African American video oral history collection with high-quality primary source content, with fully searchable transcripts, from thousands of people from a broad range of backgrounds and experiences
Available To: All Free Library locations. Please visit one of our locations for access.

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Philadelphia Tribune (1912-2001)
Full access to the oldest continuously published daily Black newspaper in the United States.
Available To: All Free Library locations and online with your library card.

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Slavery in America and the World: History, Culture, and Law
This HeinOnline collection brings together essential legal materials on slavery in the U.S. and the English-speaking world. It includes nearly 2,000 titles with every statute and case on slavery, and hundreds of historic texts and modern histories.
Available To: All Free Library locations.

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