LibGuides: African American History: Black History Month

Celebrating Black History Month

81 New and Upcoming Books to Discover This Black History Month
From GoodReads, a 2022 list of new and upcoming titles

Black History Month Resources

Celebrating Black History Month

February was declared Black History Month in 1976 to honor the accomplishments and history of African Americans. Linked below are some resources about the history of the month and the history of blacks in the United States.

The History of Black History Month
An article from BlackPast.org
A Proclamation on National Black History Month, 2022
A 2022 article from the White House, Briefing Room
Here's the story behind Black History Month — and why it's celebrated in February
A 2022 article from National Public Radio (NPR)

African American/Black American Biographies

Biography in Context (Gale) This link opens in a new window
Full-text reference entries, magazine and journal articles, primary sources, videos, podcasts, and images covering a vast array of people from historically significant figures to present-day news makers.

How To BROWSE Gale Biography in Context:

FIRST, Click on the link below:

Biography in Context: Person Search
Use this link to discover individuals by gender, ethnicity, nationality, occupation, and more.

THEN...

OPTION #1:

In the Ethnicity drop-down box, choose African-American and then click Search

OPTION #2:

First, in the Ethnicity drop-down box, choose African-American
Then, in the Occupation drop-down box, type an occupation (example: politician)
Finally, click Search

Celebrating Black History Month

Organizations & Online Collections

Association for the Study of African American Life and History
Search for online articles, events, and more, on this website which aims to "promote, research, preserve, interpret and disseminate information about Black life, history and culture to the global community."
Black History & Culture
An interactive collection of materials from Google Arts and Culture
Black History: Moments in Time
Search on this interactive timeline from "The Root" to read short articles on specific people or events in history.
Black History Month
Find articles, videos, primary sources, and links to additional resources on this website - a "collaborative project of the Library of Congress and the National Endowment for the Humanities, National Gallery of Art," and more.
BlackPast.org
African American history project by UW Prof Quintard Taylor. Specializes in African American history of the West.
NAACP - National Association for the Advancement of Colored People
"The NAACP's mission is to ensure the political, educational, equality of minority group citizens of States and eliminate race prejudice."
National Museum of African American History and Culture
In partnership with the Smithsonian - "A place to explore history and culture through an
African American lens"
National Park Service: African American Heritage
Find articles and videos with info about "Places of Struggle, Community and Triumph" in African American US history
Smithsonian Education - Black History Month
From the Smithsonian website, find a collection of "learning lab" materials and related resources for "Black History Month"
Black History: National Archives
The Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History
"Through dozens of permanent and visiting exhibitions, over 150 learning and engagement programs, as well as education and research opportunities for adults, children, and visiting scholars, The Wright inspires visitors toward greater understanding, acceptance, and unity by reflecting on the triumphs and tragedies of African-American history."

Celebrating Black History Month

Featured Videos

Celebrate the Month by learning about some significant people and events in Black US History.

13th (film)
African-American Lives: Searching for Our Names "The challenge of genealogical research is even more evident as Henry Louis Gates Jr. continues back through the Colonial period of American history in this program. The film takes us on a journey to fill in the family trees of each of the series participants, through war service records and various records of property during slavery's apogee—including inventories, sales, or gifts of slaves."
Black Art: In The Absence of Light Streaming on Films on Demand
more...less...
"At the heart of this feature documentary is the groundbreaking Two Centuries of Black American Art exhibition curated by the late African American artist and scholar David Driskell in 1976. Held at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, this pioneering exhibit featured more than 200 works of art by 63 artists and cemented the essential contributions of Black artists in America in the 19th and 20th centuries. The exhibit would eventually travel to the Dallas Museum of Fine Arts, the High Museum of Art in Atlanta, and the Brooklyn Museum. The film shines a light on the exhibition’s extraordinary impact on generations of African American artists who have staked a claim on their rightful place within the 21st-century art world."
Black Renaissance: The Art and Soul of Our Stories | YouTube Originals A video from YouTube Originals
Crash Course: Black American History Series A series of educational and entertaining videos focusing on Black American History
From The Library of Black History: The Longest Struggle Streaming on Films on Demand "This film was released in 1984 on the 75th anniversary of the nation's oldest and largest civil rights organization. This historic saga chronicles the oppressive and violent era following Reconstruction, the birth of the NAACP, and its accomplishments in providing equal opportunity in housing, employment, education, and voter participation. In tracing the history of the NAACP, this original docudrama by Tony Brown Productions, Inc. follows the history of the struggle of Black Americans for full citizenship."
History of African-Americans An 11+ minute video from Past to Future
I Am Not Your Negro Stream online with GRC's access to Kanopy, or check out a physical DVD from the library's collection
The Black Church: This is Our Story, This is Our Song A two-part, 2021 series from PBS, streaming on FIlms on Demand
I Rise - PBS American Portrait series "Go inside the lives of people working to create an antiracist American future. They film themselves doing the work, confronting the obstacles and achieving the victories that could add up to real change in the movement for racial justice." Streaming on Films on Demand
Slavery by Another Name (Full Documentary) Watch the full PBS documentary on the American Experience Website
Tulsa 1921: An American Tragedy A 43+ minute CBS News Special looking at the 100 year anniversary of the Tulsa Race Massacre
Say It Loud - YouTube Channel
"Say It Loud is a PBS Digital Studios series that celebrates Black culture, context, and history. Hosts Evelyn from the Internets and Victor Jackson give you a comedic take on identity and pop culture, from Black pride movements to Black Twitter shenanigans. The show explores the complexity of Black experience and finds joy in the many ways Black folks have influenced American life."

Google Arts & Culture Collections

Linked below you will find more info on this interactive collection of resources - including images, primary source documents, and links to other online collections, such as virtual museum tours, videos, and more.

Black History & Culture
An interactive collection of materials from Google Arts and Culture

Celebrating Black History Month

Featured Podcasts

Celebrate the Month with a Podcast

Linked below are some great podcasts that can help you learn more and be entertained.

15 Minute History (podcast)
"This podcast series is devoted to short, accessible discussions of important topics in world history, United States history, and Texas history with the award winning faculty and graduate students at the University of Texas at Austin, and distinguished visitors to our campus. They are meant to be a resource for both teachers and students, and can be enjoyed by anyone with an interest in history."
ACLU: At Liberty - Black Women Take the Supreme Court
An 34-minute episode of the ACLU podcast called "At Liberty"
70 Million (podcast)
"Our Peabody-nominated 70 Million documentary podcast investigates how locals are addressing the role of jails in their backyards. Our reporters travel around the country and hear from people directly impacted by encounters with jails and adjacent policies, and from those committed to reversing the negative effects on people and communities."
1619 (New York Times Podcast)
"1619 is a New York Times audio series, hosted by Nikole Hannah-Jones, that examines the long shadow of American slavery. "
The Anti-Racism Daily Podcast
"The Anti-Racism Daily is a media platform that provides education and actions to dismantle white supremacy. "
Be Antiracist with Ibram X. Kendi (Podcast)
A podcast by Ibram X. Kendi - listen online or with Apple Podcasts
Black History in Two Minutes (or So) [podcast]
This pocast is "Black History delivered in short, lively, fact-packed stories accessible to people of all ages and education levels. It’s fast, accurate U.S. history available in free video podcast recordings describing major historical events and introducing less well-known experiences involving Black Americans"
more...less...
"Podcast topics range from recent events to the founding of the United States of America. Heroes of the Civil Rights movement are covered, as are some of the more obscure figures in the fight for equality."
Chasing Justice Podcast
Chasing Justice is a podcast about criminal justice reform. DA Boudin and Rachel Marshall bring a unique perspective to criminal justice issues as former public defenders now working as progressive prosecutors. Each episode explores a criminal justice topic through the lens of the progressive prosecution movement.
Dig: A History Podcast
"Dig: A History Podcast is a narrative-driven, open access, and accessible digital history project bridging the worlds of popular and academic history with an explicitly feminist perspective."
Momentum: A Race Forward Podcast
"Momentum: A Race Forward Podcast features movement voices, stories, and strategies for racial justice."
National Public Radio (NPR): Code Switch
Podcasts and News on race & culture
Pod Save the People (Podcast)
"On Pod Save the People, DeRay Mckesson explores news, culture, social justice, and politics with Sam Sinyangwe, Kaya Henderson and De’Ara Balenger. They offer a unique take on the news, with a special focus on overlooked stories and topics that often impact people of color."
Seeing White
Produced and hosted by John Biewen, Scene on Radio comes from the Center for Documentary Studies (CDS) at Duke University and is distributed by PRX
Seizing Freedom (podcast)
"The story of the end of the Civil War you've probably been taught is that the slaves were freed by Northern white men (and maybe a handful of famous Underground Railroad conductors). What's missing? The story of how Black Americans risked their lives to fight for their own visions of what freedom could be—struggling for their dignity in the face of horrific violence. Seizing Freedom tells the stories of these unsung American heroes."
Sounds Like Hate (podcast)
From the Southern Poverty Law Center, "Sounds Like Hate is an audio documentary series about the dangers and peril of everyday people who engage in extremism, and ways to disengage them from a life of hatred."
Whites For Racial Equity (podcast)
"Whites for Racial Equity is a group of white people who are committed to dismantling racism. We are taking responsibility for learning about systemic racism, our own internalized racism, white privilege, and ways to challenge it. "
Witness Black History
A podcast from the BBC World Service

Can you suggest a podcast?

Is there a podcast you listen to that talks about issues specifically facing African Americans, either in US History (such as 1619, listed above) or in modern times (such as Code Switch, listed above)? Please let us know! We're always hoping to share good resources! Click on the "Get Help" tab of this guide and shoot a quick email!

Holman Library

African American History

Green River's Black Student Union

Please Note:

Celebrating Black History Month

Black History Month Resources

Celebrating Black History Month

African American/Black American Biographies

How To BROWSE Gale Biography in Context:

Celebrating Black History Month

Organizations & Online Collections

Celebrating Black History Month

Featured Videos

Celebrate the Month by learning about some significant people and events in Black US History.

Google Arts & Culture Collections

Celebrating Black History Month

Featured Podcasts

Celebrate the Month with a Podcast

Can you suggest a podcast?