Black History Month
Black Is... Booklist
The Black Is... booklist highlights recent books that reflect the African American experience.
First published in 1973, the booklist is released each February in observance of Black History Month.
Check out a book from the current Black Is... booklist via the library's catalog here!
Gale Literature: Dictionary of Literary Biography
Biographical and critical essays on the lives, works, and careers of the world's most influential literary figures.
The HistoryMakers (temporarily unavailable)
Over 148,163 stories are assembled here from life oral history interviews with 2,691 historically significant African Americans as of 7/21.
Black Drama, Second Edition
1,462 plays by 233 African American playwrights, with searchable info on related productions, theaters, production companies, and more.
Gale Literature: Dictionary of Literary Biography
Biographical and critical essays on the lives, works, and careers of the world's most influential literary figures.
The HistoryMakers (temporarily unavailable)
Over 148,163 stories are assembled here from life oral history interviews with 2,691 historically significant African Americans as of 7/21.
Black Drama, Second Edition
1,462 plays by 233 African American playwrights, with searchable info on related productions, theaters, production companies, and more.
Black Freedom Struggle in the United States
This resource features select primary source documents related to critical people and events in African American history.
Civil Rights and Social Justice
Explore the ways our civil rights have been strengthened and expanded over time.
American Civil Liberties Union Papers
The American Civil Liberties Union has consistently stood at the center of controversies involving the rights of Americans.
Black Freedom Struggle in the United States
This resource features select primary source documents related to critical people and events in African American history.
Civil Rights and Social Justice
Explore the ways our civil rights have been strengthened and expanded over time.
American Civil Liberties Union Papers
The American Civil Liberties Union has consistently stood at the center of controversies involving the rights of Americans.
Read, Watch, and Listen
Booklists
Black Is... 2026: 75 Books for Children, Teens, & Adults
This list is published every February as part of the Boston Public Library's observance of Black History Month.
National Black Business Month
August is National Black Business Month! Find some amazing books by, for, and about black entrepreneurs!
Black Histories, Black Futures
Learn about Black American contributions in entrepreneurship, labor, money, and technology.
Black Women in the Workplace
Check out these books by, for, and about Black women in the labor economy.
Black Musicians in Classical Music
These 18 albums represent just a taste of some of the performers and composers that one can listen to.
June is Black Music Month
25 titles to whet your appetite for the history of Black Music in America. Some of these are new titles, and others are classics. Read on!
Black History Month Story Time Books
In celebration of Black History Month, February Story Times at the Central Library will highlight titles by Black authors.
Black Is... 2024: 75 Books for Children, Teens, & Adults
Black Is... is a list of books published in the previous year for all ages concerning the African American experience.
Voices of Black Madonna
Learn more about singers Mahalia Jackson, Leontyne Price, and Marian Anderson, Black spirituals, the Civil Rights Movement, and opera.
Graphic Novels with Black Protagonists
Check out these graphic novels that center Black characters for middle school readers.
Films to Celebrate African-American Music Appreciation Month
This list of 34 films looks at some of the different genres and performers of popular music.
Celebrate African-American Music Appreciation Month
June has been designated as African-American Music Appreciation Month, and there is such a wealth of music to explore!
Black Is... 2023: 75 Books for Children, Teens, and Adults
Black Is... is a list of books published in the previous year for all ages concerning the African American experience.
Black History Month Author Spotlight: Walter Dean Myers
Walter Dean Myers was an award-winning author who wrote picture books, biographies, and fiction for children and teens.
Frank Morrison: Black History Month Illustrator Spotlight
Frank Morrison is an artist and children's book illustrator who has illustrated many biographies highlighting African American figures.
Remembering Ashley Bryan
Ashley Bryan was an American writer and illustrator of children's books, and won the Children's Literature Legacy Award in 2009.