At a moment of growing awareness around the importance of representation and diversity in children’s books , the African American Children’s Book Fair continues the effort it has been devoted to for nearly three decades: bringing the books of award-winning Black authors and illustrators to the families, communities, and young… continue reading Kick-Off Black History Month with Philadelphia’s African American Children’s Book Fair

By written by Emily S.    January 27, 2020    2  

• Childrens Programs
• Community Events
• Teens
• African American
• Childrens Books
• Black History Month

Martin Luther King Jr. Day is a strongly celebrated day in Philadelphia. People of all ages come together to support their communities and uplift the values of MLK’s civil rights leadership during this nationally recognized Day of Service. To celebrate, volunteer, sign up for a project, or step into a workshop that promotes long-term… continue reading MLK Day of Service | When the Youth Lead

By written by Gennifer R.    January 15, 2020   

• Holidays
• Teens
• African American
• Childrens Books
• Volunteers
• Black History Month
• Black Lives Matter
• Politics
• Black Authors

Around this time of year, all the stories concerning film seem to be about the Academy Awards: Who will host ? What films were snubbed ? Who will actually take home an Oscar ? It's no secret there are a lot of things wrong with the Academy Awards . Genre films, especially horror movies, are hardly ever recognized, except maybe occasionally… continue reading The History of Black Horror Movies

By written by Peter SM    February 22, 2019    1  

• Film
• Black History Month
• Pop Culture

The last decade has produced a number of amazing, award-winning, and celebratory graphic novels featuring figures from African American history. Here are a few of my favorites that I would love to suggest would make for great reads during Black History Month, or really any time! March Trilogy by Congressman John Lewis, Andrew Aydin, and… continue reading Graphic Novels about Black History

By written by Rachel F.    February 20, 2019   

• Recommendations
• Comics and Graphic Novels
• Black History Month

The last decades of the 19th century produced a backlash that diminished much of the progress made by blacks in the south after emancipation and led large numbers to travel to the manufacturing centers of the north in search of a better life. Like thousands of European immigrants, many headed for Philadelphia, but they were not… continue reading A History Minute | The Armstrong Association and The Berean Enterprise

By written by Sally F.    February 12, 2019    2  

• A History Minute
• Black History Month

February is Black History Month – an annual commemoration that recognizes and celebrates the heritage, culture, contributions and achievements of African Americans to American history and life. Join us (and our younger readers!) as we highlight recent picture books written and/or illustrated by African American authors and artists. In… continue reading #ownvoices: Celebrating Black History Month and Picture Books

By written by Monica C.    February 6, 2019   

• African American
• Childrens Books
• Recommendations
• Black History Month

Long before Comic-Con , long before the Hugo and Nebula awards, long before the sci-fi superhero film Black Panther made $1.3 billion dollars globally and became one of the highest grossing movies of all time , a Harlem man named Warren Fitzgerald invited some similarly future-minded pals over to the home he shared with his wife Gertrude… continue reading Black to the Future: African-American Voices in Science Fiction

By written by Violet L.    February 5, 2019    1  

• Sci Fi
• Black History Month

Teens at the  Philadelphia City Institute (PCI) Library are diving deep into big issues this month through the Teen Reading Lounge (TRL) program . Program participants are reading and talking about this year's One Book, One Philadelphia selection for young people, Ghost Boys by Jewell Parker Rhodes,… continue reading Teen Reading Lounge at PCI Library Tackles Big Social Issues Through Book Discussions

By written by Erin H.    February 4, 2019   

• Teens
• Black History Month
• Neighborhood Libraries
• Women's History Month

The Free Library of Philadelphia is proud to celebrate Black History Month throughout the month of February, with extensive programming set to take place in neighborhood libraries across the city including craft workshops, performances, film screenings, discussions, and so much more! Many of these important programs will be offered in tandem… continue reading The Free Library Celebrates Black History Month!

By written by Kate C.    January 29, 2019    5  

• Film Screenings
• Music
• Author Events
• Black History Month

We are excited to share the news that the Free Library will be at the African American Children's Book Fair again this year! Founded and organized by Vanesse Lloyd-Sgambati, the African American Children’s Book Fair is celebrating its 27th year. It will take place Saturday, February 2, at the Community College of Philadelphia and run… continue reading Free Library Participating in 27th Annual African American Children's Book Fair

By written by Molly B.    January 25, 2019   

• Community Events
• African American
• Childrens Books
• Literacy
• Black History Month

Throughout 2019, the Free Library’s School Partnerships team is continuing to think big about strenghtening and sustaining partnerships between schools and libraries across the city. We want to ensure that every educator has access to all of the fantastic resources and support that can add value to their work with… continue reading Are you planning for Black History Month in Your Classroom? Join the Free Library for a Teacher Café!

By written by Molly B.    January 15, 2019   

• Parkway Central
• School
• Black History Month
• Teachers

The late and great Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell once sang, "Ain’t nothing like the real thing baby." These words hold true for how to best experience our material culture. People who have visited the Rare Book Department will often describe the exhilaration they feel when seeing the writing of authors in the library’s… continue reading Take History in the Palm of Your Hand with this New Series from the Free Library's Special Collections

By written by Joe S.    January 7, 2019    1  

• Exhibitions
• Events at the Library
• Family Programs
• Parkway Central
• Rare Book Department
• Children's Literature Research Collection
• Literacy
• History
• Rosenbach
• Black History Month
• Special Collections
• Literary History

For Baby Boomers, the words “Land Shark”, “Samurai Delicatessen”, “Coneheads”, and “The Blues Brothers” conjures up adventures on the wild frontier of comedy, when Saturday Night Live defined the ultimate in pointed, no-holds-barred laughs that weaved back and forth on the tightrope between… continue reading Brought To You In Living Color

By written by Violet L.    August 23, 2018   

• African American
• Television
• Comedians
• Black History Month
• Black Lives Matter
• Pop Culture

This February kids at Eastwick Library had lots of fun celebrating Black History Month , as black history took center stage. Children and parents browsed through our book displays and biographies section to find many great books on African Americans! Our outstanding LEAP team helped a lot of students with computer research, posters, and school… continue reading Reflecting on Black History Month at Eastwick Library

By written by Amy H.    March 12, 2018   

• Black History Month

It may not have seemed remarkable. In 1895, at a college in Ohio, during a memorial service, students and faculty paid tribute to a man they held in high esteem. They recited the Lord’s Prayer, they heard hymns—perhaps spirituals that the man being honored would have remembered, were he still living among them. University… continue reading Wisdom, Bravery, Trueness: Frederick Douglass and W.E.B. Du Bois

By written by Kalela W.    February 23, 2018    2  

• Black History Month

How do we dream ourselves out of this? It’s 1968, 50 years ago. This is what August, a young girl freshly uprooted from her rural Tennessee home, now living in the Bushwick section of Brooklyn, asks herself as she stares at the cover of Life magazine. Wide eyes in the hunger-hollowed faces of two other black children look back at her.… continue reading #OneBookWednesday: Black History, Our Philadelphia

By written by Kalela W.    February 14, 2018   

• One Book, One Philadelphia
• Black History Month

So we’ve all seen the trailer for the Black Panther film right? And we are all super-duper excited for it, yes? I know I am beyond hype and come February 16th (ish), my popcorn and I will be front and center for this one! In the meantime, here is your chance to catch up on all things T’Challa and Wakanda via some of our amazing… continue reading Black Panther: Hero. Legend. King.

By written by Rachel F.    February 12, 2018   

• Recommendations
• Film
• Comics and Graphic Novels
• Black History Month
• Adaptations

As Head Designer of Horace Trumbauer’s architecture firm, Julian Abele designed the Free Library and the Philadelphia Art Museum and set the tone for the entire parkway. He designed buildings and palatial estates throughout the Philadelphia region as well as in New York City, Boston, and Newport, R.I.  But there was more to this… continue reading A History Minute: 11 Things You Didn't Know About Julian Abele, Architect of the Parkway

By written by Sally F.    February 7, 2018    9  

• Parkway Central
• A History Minute
• Black History Month

Back in September, the city of Philadelphia unveiled the first new statue at City Hall since 1923 and the first of an African American on any city-owned public property – that of 19th-century civil rights activist, scholar, athlete, and community leader Octavius V. Catto . I attended the unveiling that day and recorded a live video for… continue reading #BlackHistoryMonth: Celebrating The Life Of Octavius Catto

By written by Kate C.    February 5, 2018    2  

• Film Screenings
• History
• Black History Month

Black History Month begins this week, and we have a packed February full of programming for all ages here at the Free Library.  Neighborhood libraries across the city are hosting everything from craft workshops and quizzos to performances, film screenings, and discussions highlighting the struggles, successes, and contributions of African… continue reading Black History Month at the Free Library

By written by Julie B.    January 30, 2018    1  

• Black History Month