Locations

Returns: Book Drops Only. Holds Pick-Up: Curbside or Drive-Up Service. In-Branch: Computers, printing, fax, and copiers. Virtual Branch is available 24/7. Learn more about MCPL's pandemic response.

Raytown Branch open for curbside service. Boardwalk Branch has resumed in-branch service as of July 13.

Black History Month

Programs for Adults

Register

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

Thumbnail

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

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

Thumbnail

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

Browse

Online Resources

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

Kids Books for Black History Month

View all >
Cover of Who Was: Six Heroes of Black History Cover of Who Was: Six Heroes of Black History

Who Was: Six Heroes of Black History

Who Was: Six Heroes of Black History

Check it out
Cover of Little Leaders Cover of Little Leaders

Little Leaders

Little Leaders

Check it out
Cover of Little Leaders Cover of Little Leaders

Little Leaders

Little Leaders

Check it out
Cover of Little Leaders Cover of Little Leaders

Little Leaders

Little Leaders

Check it out
Cover of Little Leaders Cover of Little Leaders

Little Leaders

Little Leaders

Check it out
Cover of 28 Days Cover of 28 Days

28 Days

28 Days

Check it out
Cover of 28 Days Cover of 28 Days

28 Days

28 Days

Check it out
Cover of Buffalo Soldiers Cover of Buffalo Soldiers

Buffalo Soldiers

Buffalo Soldiers

Check it out
Cover of Counting on Katherine Cover of Counting on Katherine

Counting on Katherine

Counting on Katherine

Check it out
Cover of Schomburg Cover of Schomburg

Schomburg

Schomburg

Check it out
Cover of Freedom in Congo Square Cover of Freedom in Congo Square

Freedom in Congo Square

Freedom in Congo Square

Check it out
Cover of The Quickest Kid in Clarksville Cover of The Quickest Kid in Clarksville

The Quickest Kid in Clarksville

The Quickest Kid in Clarksville

Check it out
Cover of Lillian's Right to Vote Cover of Lillian's Right to Vote

Lillian's Right to Vote

Lillian's Right to Vote

Check it out
Cover of The Quickest Kid in Clarksville Cover of The Quickest Kid in Clarksville

The Quickest Kid in Clarksville

The Quickest Kid in Clarksville

Check it out
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!

Check it out
Cover of The Book Itch Cover of The Book Itch

The Book Itch

The Book Itch

Check it out
Cover of I Am Harriet Tubman Cover of I Am Harriet Tubman

I Am Harriet Tubman

I Am Harriet Tubman

Check it out
Cover of Waiting for Pumpsie Cover of Waiting for Pumpsie

Waiting for Pumpsie

Waiting for Pumpsie

Check it out
Cover of One Last Word Cover of One Last Word

One Last Word

One Last Word

Check it out

View All

Books for Black History Month

View all >
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

Check it out
Cover of Bending Toward Justice Cover of Bending Toward Justice

Bending Toward Justice

Bending Toward Justice

Check it out
Cover of Invisible Cover of Invisible

Invisible

Invisible

Check it out
Cover of Satchel Cover of Satchel

Satchel

Satchel

Check it out
Cover of Up From Slavery Cover of Up From Slavery

Up From Slavery

Up From Slavery

Check it out
Cover of Sting Like A Bee Cover of Sting Like A Bee

Sting Like A Bee

Sting Like A Bee

Check it out
Cover of We Face the Dawn Cover of We Face the Dawn

We Face the Dawn

We Face the Dawn

Check it out
Cover of The Heavens Might Crack Cover of The Heavens Might Crack

The Heavens Might Crack

The Heavens Might Crack

Check it out
Cover of All Blood Runs Red Cover of All Blood Runs Red

All Blood Runs Red

All Blood Runs Red

Check it out
Cover of Schomburg Cover of Schomburg

Schomburg

Schomburg

Check it out
Cover of Black Enough Cover of Black Enough

Black Enough

Black Enough

Check it out

View All

Films to Celebrate Black History Month

View all >
Cover of Harriet Cover of Harriet

Harriet

Harriet

Check it out
Cover of Blackkklansman Cover of Blackkklansman

Blackkklansman

Blackkklansman

Check it out
Cover of 12 Years A Slave Cover of 12 Years A Slave

12 Years A Slave

12 Years A Slave

Check it out
Cover of Selma Cover of Selma

Selma

Selma

Check it out
Cover of 42 Cover of 42

42

42

Check it out
Cover of Ray Cover of Ray

Ray

Ray

Check it out
Cover of Hidden Figures Cover of Hidden Figures

Hidden Figures

Hidden Figures

Check it out
Cover of Red Tails Cover of Red Tails

Red Tails

Red Tails

Check it out
Cover of Race Cover of Race

Race

Race

Check it out
Cover of Green Book Cover of Green Book

Green Book

Green Book

Check it out
Cover of Rejoice and Shout Cover of Rejoice and Shout

Rejoice and Shout

Rejoice and Shout

Check it out
Cover of Ali Cover of Ali

Ali

Ali

Check it out
Cover of Malcolm X Cover of Malcolm X

Malcolm X

Malcolm X

Check it out
Cover of Mandela Cover of Mandela

Mandela

Mandela

Check it out

View All

Was this page helpful? Yes No