All MCPL branches will closed on February 17, 2020, for Presidents Day. Our virtual branch is available 24/7.

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Black History Month

Programs for Adults

Military Service by African Americans

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Military Service by African Americans

African American military service history began with Colonial America. Most are familiar with Tuskegee Airmen, Civil War and Buffalo soldiers.

Tuesday, February 11 | 6:30 p.m.
North Oak

Saturday, February 22 | 2:00 p.m.
Lee's Summit

Monday, February 24 | 7:00 p.m.
Red Bridge

 

George Washington Carver: America’s Leonardo da Vinci

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Born a slave in southwest Missouri and then abducted by outlaws, orphaned, and shunned at the local school, George Washington Carver persevered to become one of the nation’s finest scientists and inve

Monday, February 3 | 2:00 p.m.
Midwest Genealogy Center

Monday, February 3 | 6:00 p.m.
North Independence

register

Born a Slave

His family has been identified as Caucasian for five generations; but after more than 30 years of genealogical research, local historian David W. Jackson discovers an ancestor who was born a slave.

Tuesday, February 18 | 6:30 p.m.
Midwest Genealogy Center

Wednesday, April 1 | 6:00 p.m.
North Independence

register

Blacks in Blue at the Battle of Westport

Thu, Feb 6 2020
6:00pm - 7:00pm
North Independence Community Room 2
Registration Required
The substantial role of African Americans during the Battle of Westport is less well-known and sometimes omitted in the discussion of the Battle of Westport.
Event Details
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Programs for Families

Tommy Terrific’s Black Cowboys of the Old West

For Black History Month in February, Tommy Terrific's Wacky Magic will perform an educational magic show about the Black Cowboys of the Old West.

Friday, February 21 | 11:30 a.m.
Grandview

Friday, February 21 | 2:30 p.m.
Grain Valley

Saturday, February 22 | 10:30 a.m.
Smithville

Saturday, February 22 | 3:00 p.m.
North Oak

register

Cotton, Rag Dolls, and the Underground Railroad

Cotton,-Rag-Dolls,-and-the-Underground-Railroad.jpg

Kansas City’s connections to the Underground Railroad run deep.

Tuesday, February 25 | 6:30 p.m.
Smithville

register

The Story of the Buffalo Soldiers

Experience the history of the African American Buffalo Soldiers, and discover how they distinguished themselves from the American frontier to the battlefields of World War II.

Wednesday, February 5 | 6:00 p.m.
Lee's Summit

Saturday, February 15 | 11:00 a.m.
Blue Ridge

Thursday, February 20 | 2:00 p.m.
Midwest Genealogy Center

register

Underground Railroad: The Who, What, and Where Did It Go

Cultural historian Brother John shares the secret codes, symbols, agents, and songs of the Underground Railroad as well as added insight into this chapter in America's history.

Saturday, February 8 | 11:00 a.m.
Boardwalk

Tuesday, February 18 | 5:30 p.m.
Grandview

Saturday, March 14 | 11:00 a.m.
Lee's Summit

register

Online Resources

Online Resources

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Online Resources

Browse all of our online resources related to African American history.

Kids Books for Black History Month

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Cover of Little Leaders Cover of Little Leaders

Little Leaders

Little Leaders

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Cover of Little Leaders Cover of Little Leaders

Little Leaders

Little Leaders

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Cover of 28 Days Cover of 28 Days

28 Days

28 Days

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Cover of Little Leaders Cover of Little Leaders

Little Leaders

Little Leaders

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Cover of Little Leaders Cover of Little Leaders

Little Leaders

Little Leaders

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Cover of 28 Days Cover of 28 Days

28 Days

28 Days

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Cover of Buffalo Soldiers Cover of Buffalo Soldiers

Buffalo Soldiers

Buffalo Soldiers

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Cover of I Am Harriet Tubman Cover of I Am Harriet Tubman

I Am Harriet Tubman

I Am Harriet Tubman

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Cover of Steamboat School Cover of Steamboat School

Steamboat School

Steamboat School

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Cover of Counting on Katherine Cover of Counting on Katherine

Counting on Katherine

Counting on Katherine

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Cover of The Quickest Kid in Clarksville Cover of The Quickest Kid in Clarksville

The Quickest Kid in Clarksville

The Quickest Kid in Clarksville

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Cover of The Quickest Kid in Clarksville Cover of The Quickest Kid in Clarksville

The Quickest Kid in Clarksville

The Quickest Kid in Clarksville

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Cover of Schomburg Cover of Schomburg

Schomburg

Schomburg

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Cover of Freedom in Congo Square Cover of Freedom in Congo Square

Freedom in Congo Square

Freedom in Congo Square

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Cover of Harriet Tubman Cover of Harriet Tubman

Harriet Tubman

Harriet Tubman

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Cover of One Last Word Cover of One Last Word

One Last Word

One Last Word

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Cover of Lillian's Right to Vote Cover of Lillian's Right to Vote

Lillian's Right to Vote

Lillian's Right to Vote

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Cover of Take A Picture of Me, James Van Der Zee! Cover of Take A Picture of Me, James Van Der Zee!

Take A Picture of Me, James Van Der Zee!

Take A Picture of Me, James Van Der Zee!

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Cover of Let's Clap, Jump, Sing & Shout ; Dance, Spin & Turn It Out! Cover of Let's Clap, Jump, Sing & Shout ; Dance, Spin & Turn It Out!

Let's Clap, Jump, Sing & Shout ; Dance, Spin & Turn It Out!

Let's Clap, Jump, Sing & Shout ; Dance, Spin & Turn It Out!

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Books for Black History Month

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Cover of Behind the Scenes, Or, Thirty Years A Slave and Four Years in the White House Cover of Behind the Scenes, Or, Thirty Years A Slave and Four Years in the White House

Behind the Scenes, Or, Thirty Years A Slave and Four Years in the White House

Behind the Scenes, Or, Thirty Years A Slave and Four Years in the White House

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Cover of Bending Toward Justice Cover of Bending Toward Justice

Bending Toward Justice

Bending Toward Justice

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Cover of Invisible Cover of Invisible

Invisible

Invisible

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Cover of Satchel Cover of Satchel

Satchel

Satchel

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Cover of Up From Slavery Cover of Up From Slavery

Up From Slavery

Up From Slavery

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Cover of Sting Like A Bee Cover of Sting Like A Bee

Sting Like A Bee

Sting Like A Bee

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Cover of We Face the Dawn Cover of We Face the Dawn

We Face the Dawn

We Face the Dawn

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Cover of The Heavens Might Crack Cover of The Heavens Might Crack

The Heavens Might Crack

The Heavens Might Crack

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Cover of All Blood Runs Red Cover of All Blood Runs Red

All Blood Runs Red

All Blood Runs Red

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Cover of Schomburg Cover of Schomburg

Schomburg

Schomburg

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Cover of Black Enough Cover of Black Enough

Black Enough

Black Enough

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Films to Celebrate Black History Month

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Cover of Harriet Cover of Harriet

Harriet

Harriet

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Cover of Blackkklansman Cover of Blackkklansman

Blackkklansman

Blackkklansman

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Cover of 12 Years A Slave Cover of 12 Years A Slave

12 Years A Slave

12 Years A Slave

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Cover of Selma Cover of Selma

Selma

Selma

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Cover of 42 Cover of 42

42

42

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Cover of Ray Cover of Ray

Ray

Ray

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Cover of Hidden Figures Cover of Hidden Figures

Hidden Figures

Hidden Figures

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Cover of Red Tails Cover of Red Tails

Red Tails

Red Tails

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Cover of Race Cover of Race

Race

Race

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Cover of Green Book Cover of Green Book

Green Book

Green Book

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Cover of Rejoice and Shout Cover of Rejoice and Shout

Rejoice and Shout

Rejoice and Shout

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Cover of Ali Cover of Ali

Ali

Ali

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Cover of Malcolm X Cover of Malcolm X

Malcolm X

Malcolm X

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Cover of Mandela Cover of Mandela

Mandela

Mandela

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