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Black History Month

Black History Month

Black History Month: Honor the past, inspire the future. History, arts & culture, people

Black History Month is a celebration of the accomplishments by Black and African Americans and a tribute to the adversities they face in our nation’s history and present. Learn more about the contributions of Black artists and musicians, inventors and scientists, educators, athletes, and more through resources and events at Mid-Continent Public Library.

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Use your MCPL Access Pass (Library Card) to explore these resources or apply for a free card today.

Black History Month Programs

Events and Programs

Explore upcoming library events celebrating Black History Month

History

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Slavery, Abolition & Social Justice

Research materials relating to slavery from libraries and archives across the country.

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Black History Nonfiction

Learn about the African American experience, learn about extraordinary people across American History, and topics of interest in celebration of Black History Month.

Black History Month, Celebrating Authors Past and Present

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Cover of Memphis Cover of Memphis

Memphis

Memphis

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Cover of The Weight of Blood Cover of The Weight of Blood

The Weight of Blood

The Weight of Blood

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Cover of Transcendent Kingdom Cover of Transcendent Kingdom

Transcendent Kingdom

Transcendent Kingdom

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Cover of Love in Color Cover of Love in Color

Love in Color

Love in Color

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Cover of Behold the Dreamers Cover of Behold the Dreamers

Behold the Dreamers

Behold the Dreamers

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Cover of The Prophets Cover of The Prophets

The Prophets

The Prophets

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Cover of The Girl With the Louding Voice Cover of The Girl With the Louding Voice

The Girl With the Louding Voice

The Girl With the Louding Voice

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Cover of Take My Hand Cover of Take My Hand

Take My Hand

Take My Hand

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Cover of The White Boy Shuffle Cover of The White Boy Shuffle

The White Boy Shuffle

The White Boy Shuffle

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Cover of Caul Baby Cover of Caul Baby

Caul Baby

Caul Baby

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Cover of If Beale Street Could Talk Cover of If Beale Street Could Talk

If Beale Street Could Talk

If Beale Street Could Talk

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Cover of While Justice Sleeps Cover of While Justice Sleeps

While Justice Sleeps

While Justice Sleeps

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Cover of Harlem Shuffle Cover of Harlem Shuffle

Harlem Shuffle

Harlem Shuffle

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Cover of Their Eyes Were Watching God Cover of Their Eyes Were Watching God

Their Eyes Were Watching God

Their Eyes Were Watching God

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Cover of Blood Grove Cover of Blood Grove

Blood Grove

Blood Grove

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Cover of The African Trilogy Cover of The African Trilogy

The African Trilogy

The African Trilogy

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Cover of The Son of Mr. Suleman Cover of The Son of Mr. Suleman

The Son of Mr. Suleman

The Son of Mr. Suleman

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People

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Leading the Way in Hollywood

These twelve actors are just a drop in the ocean when it comes to performance excellence in film and tv.

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Access Video on Demand

Learn about Black Americans from leaders of the Civil Rights Movement to the women of color who are transforming politics from the ground up.

Celebrate Black History Month: Biographies and Memoirs

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Finding Me

Finding Me

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Cover of Stayed on Freedom Cover of Stayed on Freedom

Stayed on Freedom

Stayed on Freedom

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Cover of An Unplanned Life Cover of An Unplanned Life

An Unplanned Life

An Unplanned Life

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Cover of I Always Knew Cover of I Always Knew

I Always Knew

I Always Knew

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Cover of Hunger Cover of Hunger

Hunger

Hunger

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Cover of Heavy Cover of Heavy

Heavy

Heavy

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Cover of How We Fight for Our Lives Cover of How We Fight for Our Lives

How We Fight for Our Lives

How We Fight for Our Lives

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Cover of Negroland Cover of Negroland

Negroland

Negroland

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Cover of The Yellow House Cover of The Yellow House

The Yellow House

The Yellow House

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Cover of Between the World and Me Cover of Between the World and Me

Between the World and Me

Between the World and Me

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Cover of Brother, I'm Dying Cover of Brother, I'm Dying

Brother, I'm Dying

Brother, I'm Dying

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Cover of I'm Still Here Cover of I'm Still Here

I'm Still Here

I'm Still Here

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Cover of Fire Shut up in My Bones Cover of Fire Shut up in My Bones

Fire Shut up in My Bones

Fire Shut up in My Bones

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Cover of Invisible Man, Got the Whole World Watching Cover of Invisible Man, Got the Whole World Watching

Invisible Man, Got the Whole World Watching

Invisible Man, Got the Whole World Watching

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Cover of The Light of the World Cover of The Light of the World

The Light of the World

The Light of the World

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Cover of The Noble Hustle Cover of The Noble Hustle

The Noble Hustle

The Noble Hustle

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Cover of I Take My Coffee Black Cover of I Take My Coffee Black

I Take My Coffee Black

I Take My Coffee Black

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Arts & Culture

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Black Thought & Culture

Nonfiction writings that presents what it is to be black in America. Includes the only full run of The Black Panther newspaper.

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African American Music Reference

Essays and images that cover blues, jazz, spirituals, civil rights songs, slave songs, gospel, and other forms of black American musical expression.

Browse titles

Feeding the Soul - African-American Cooking

Explore tasty dishes of African American cuisines. Many titles also portray stories, and essays for a rich culinary experience.

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Celebrating Black Artists

In celebration of Black History Month, and every month! Explore the world of art. Art comes in many forms, this list predominately looks at the art medium and its history.

Celebrate Black History with Influential Music Artists

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Cover of B.B. King Cover of B.B. King

B.B. King

B.B. King

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Cover of It Was All A Dream Cover of It Was All A Dream

It Was All A Dream

It Was All A Dream

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Cover of Be My Baby Cover of Be My Baby

Be My Baby

Be My Baby

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Cover of Jimi Hendrix Cover of Jimi Hendrix

Jimi Hendrix

Jimi Hendrix

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Cover of Chuck Berry Cover of Chuck Berry

Chuck Berry

Chuck Berry

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Cover of Dr. Dre in the Studio Cover of Dr. Dre in the Studio

Dr. Dre in the Studio

Dr. Dre in the Studio

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Cover of Black Diamond Queens Cover of Black Diamond Queens

Black Diamond Queens

Black Diamond Queens

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Cover of My Love Story Cover of My Love Story

My Love Story

My Love Story

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Cover of So Much Things to Say Cover of So Much Things to Say

So Much Things to Say

So Much Things to Say

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Cover of The Butterfly Effect Cover of The Butterfly Effect

The Butterfly Effect

The Butterfly Effect

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Cover of Escaping the Delta Cover of Escaping the Delta

Escaping the Delta

Escaping the Delta

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Cover of When Sunday Comes Cover of When Sunday Comes

When Sunday Comes

When Sunday Comes

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Cover of Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing Cover of Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing

Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing

Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing

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Cover of James Brown Cover of James Brown

James Brown

James Brown

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Cover of I Put A Spell on You Cover of I Put A Spell on You

I Put A Spell on You

I Put A Spell on You

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Cover of Lemonade Cover of Lemonade

Lemonade

Lemonade

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For Kids

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Lewis Latimer

Lewis Latimer assisted with some of the greatest inventions of all time, including the lightbulb and the telephone. Often overlooked, his contributions as an engineer, an artist, and an activist are featured in this accessible children’s book.

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Make History Come to Life

Check out BookFlix to watch video storybooks and eBooks.

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Teachables

Great for parents and teachers! Print, save, and share materials about Black History Month.

Celebrate Black Lives

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Cover of Lifting as We Climb Cover of Lifting as We Climb

Lifting as We Climb

Lifting as We Climb

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Cover of New Kid Cover of New Kid

New Kid

New Kid

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Cover of Unspeakable Cover of Unspeakable

Unspeakable

Unspeakable

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Cover of Radiant Child Cover of Radiant Child

Radiant Child

Radiant Child

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Cover of R-E-S-P-E-C-T Cover of R-E-S-P-E-C-T

R-E-S-P-E-C-T

R-E-S-P-E-C-T

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Cover of The Undefeated Cover of The Undefeated

The Undefeated

The Undefeated

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Cover of Standing in the Need of Prayer Cover of Standing in the Need of Prayer

Standing in the Need of Prayer

Standing in the Need of Prayer

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Cover of Exquisite Cover of Exquisite

Exquisite

Exquisite

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Cover of The Roots of Rap Cover of The Roots of Rap

The Roots of Rap

The Roots of Rap

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Cover of Nina Cover of Nina

Nina

Nina

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Cover of We Wait for the Sun Cover of We Wait for the Sun

We Wait for the Sun

We Wait for the Sun

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Cover of The Me I Choose to Be Cover of The Me I Choose to Be

The Me I Choose to Be

The Me I Choose to Be

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Cover of The People Remember Cover of The People Remember

The People Remember

The People Remember

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Cover of Evicted! Cover of Evicted!

Evicted!

Evicted!

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Cover of Stamped (for Kids) Cover of Stamped (for Kids)

Stamped (for Kids)

Stamped (for Kids)

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Cover of The 1619 Project Cover of The 1619 Project

The 1619 Project

The 1619 Project

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