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
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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.
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.
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.
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
#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.
Biographies For Kids (26 items)
Read biographies of famous and historical African Americans.
Barack Obama: The Making of an American President (14 items)
Learn more about the life and achievement of President Obama.
African Americans Win the West (12 items)
Pioneering African Americans of the Old West.
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.
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 Celebrations (11 items)
Explore the rich cultural traditions that are an integral part of the African American experience.
Electronic Resources
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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.
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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.
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Black Life in America
This primary source collection offers an expansive window into centuries of African American history, culture and daily life—as well as the ways the dominant culture has portrayed and perceived people of African descent.
Available To: All Free Library locations and online with your library card.
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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 largest African American video oral history collection, with high-quality primary source content and fully searchable transcripts, featuring thousands of people from a broad range of backgrounds and experiences.
Available To: All Free Library locations and online with your library card.
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Philadelphia Tribune (1912-2010)
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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Upcoming Events
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Gardeners Without Borders
Gardeners Without Borders is a youth-centered, 6 week summer initiative by Black Girls With Green Thumbs designed to… more details
Tue, June 24, 2025 5:30 PM
Wynnefield Library
5325 Overbrook Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19131-1498
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Meet the Author! K.E. Lewis
Preparing for a plane trip might be hard enough, but what happens when you bring your pet rhinoceros with you? Chaos… more details
Sat, June 28, 2025 2:30 PM
Independence Library
18 South 7th Street
Philadelphia, PA 19106
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Juneteenth Cookbook Popup
Enjoy more delicious, fresh foods prepared by Chef Tonii with stories and poems all inspired by the people, the… more details
Mon, June 30, 2025 3:30 PM
Wynnefield Library
5325 Overbrook Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19131-1498
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Today We Are Possible Exhibit
Adult Young Adult School Age Senior
"Today We Are Possible" is an exploration of the connections between gender and wealth. Photographer… more details
Mon, June 30, 2025 5:00 PM
Joseph E. Coleman Northwest Regional Library
68 West Chelten Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19144-2795
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Blog Posts
Black and Queer: 10 Powerful Reads at the Crossroads of Identity
Being Black and LGBTQ+ means navigating multiple dimensions of identity, each with its own unique set of challenges and triumphs. For some, the intersection of the LGBTQ+ and Black communities is a rich legacy of resilience, culture,…
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Afrofuturism: Still Moving Black to the Future
Modern media can leave the impression that the African American experience, as depicted primarily in television and film, functions on a timeline illustrated as a backward-moving ray. Many of the stories are either contemporary,…
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Black Independent Comic Books and Philadelphia's Impact
Comic books and graphic novels are a dynamic and significant presence in the mainstream media. The number of films, television, and other media centered on and inspired by the illustrated pages and fantastic stories of comics…
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![The Dunbar Theatre historical placard [Credit: By Nick-philly - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=83579365]](https://libwww.freelibrary.org/images/blog/FLPBlog/orig/dunbar-theatre.jpg)
Philadelphia and the African American Stage
Theater plays a significant role in our society. Beyond entertaining us, it promotes education and literacy, and it promotes different perspectives on issues and historical events, as well as discussion, social change, and…
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Black Histories of Philadelphia: An Exhibition from Special Collections
The exhibition Black Histories of Philadelphia observes the stories of people and places that make up Philadelphia’s countless histories. Some stories are kept, some fade over time, and others are misrepresented or…
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Join the Entrepreneur Book Club
Most CEOs read four to five books a month — join their ranks! Every Fourth Saturday of the month, the Entrepreneur Book Club will discuss books focusing on starting, running, and enhancing business success,…
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Celebrating Black Authors From Around the Globe
The commonalities connecting our African heritage, which is our Blackness, our resistance, and our resilience are well represented in writers from around the world. Within the history of African-American descent, our familial,…
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Nothing Less Than What We’ve Earned: Black Voices in the Labor Movement
For centuries Black free labor was simply a guarantee. However, there was always an awareness that we were entitled to equity in the profits from the country we worked hard to create. 1850 ushered in the first attempt at a Black labor…
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Collection Spotlight: Highlights from the Negro Leagues
Baseball: for over a century, the game has been known as "America’s favorite pastime." During the early parts of the 20th century, tuning in to a baseball game on the radio after a long day at work became a…
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African American History in the Fleisher Collection
Lately, there has been a resurgence of interest in African Americans' contributions to the classical music genre. Boston Conservatory is set to have a Florence Price Birthday Celebration Concert ; the film Chevalier (released…
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Compelling Black Stories from the Free Library Podcast
The Free Library's podcast archive dates back more than 25 years and features scores of author talks to help you commemorate, celebrate, and reflect on Black History Month . Even in just this last year, we’ve hosted an…
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Mini Jawns: Black History in Philadelphia
In honor of Black History Month, the Free Library released another Mini Jawns series exploring important moments in Philadelphia's Black History. Check out more Mini Jawns episodes on the Audioboom platform, including an…
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Collection Spotlight: A Visual History of Reconstruction
In celebration of Black History Month, the Free Library's Social Science and History Department is displaying books from the collection that tell a visual history of Reconstruction — the period from 1865 to 1877 that saw some…
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Pam's Picks: Favorite Books of Legendary Actress Pam Grier
It’s the 50 Anniversary of the blaxploitation film Foxy Brown starring Pam Grier . The film is credited for revolutionizing the way women were portrayed in cinema. To celebrate this milestone, the legendary actress did a special…
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The Year of James Baldwin: Kick-Off Event and Programming
Join the Education, Philosophy, and Religion Department on Saturday, February 17 at 11 a.m. for Inaugurating the Year of James Baldwin: God’s Revolutionary Voice . The event will take place in the Skyline Room on the Fourth…
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Black History Month at the Business Resource and Innovation Center
This month, the Business Resource and Innovation Center (BRIC) is celebrating and uplifting Black entrepreneurs and their groundbreaking achievements. Join us for one or both of our Black History Month programs in person on the Ground…
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Advancing African-American Education: The Helen Adele Whiting Collection
Helen Adele Johnson Whiting (1885 – 1959) was a trailblazer in the education of African-American students, particularly those in rural areas of the South. Her education from Columbia University, Howard University, and several…
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James E. Dupree: Stolen Dreams Exhibit and Film Screening
Join the Art Department on Saturday, February 3 at 2 p.m. , for a free screening of the documentary film Broken Dreams . The feature documentary Broken Dreams highlights artist James E. Dupree, his massive art studio in West…
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6 New Children's Books Celebrating Juneteenth!
We have some new books about Juneteenth to recommend! Last year our similar blog post suggested new titles that had been published and added to our collection. Here are some more to add to your reading list! A Flag for…
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Honoring Juneteenth at the Free Library
Honor Juneteenth with the Free Library of Philadelphia! This year, we celebrate Juneteenth for the third time as a federal holiday, but it has been an important celebration for nearly 200 years! Juneteenth is the oldest known…
