February is Black History Month, a month-long celebration of African American history and the rich culture and achievements of the Black community. It is also a time to honor the generations of African Americans who fought for freedom, civil rights and racial justice in our country. Anne Arundel County Public Library observes Black History Month this February by sharing books to read, providing resources to learn from and hosting events that celebrate Black perspectives and pay tribute to African American heritage.
Celebrate Black History Month at your local library by attending fun, educational events!
- Enjoy a high-energy, uplifting African drumming and poetry performance with Nyame Nti West African Drummers and Drum Dr. Dot.
- Experience the sights, sounds and culture of West Africa as you take an imaginary visit to Kofi’s Village.
- Take a journey through history as we explore the brilliance of Black History’s groundbreaking geniuses, learn how to research African American genealogy and uncover Frederick Douglass’ connection to Highland Beach, an historical town in Anne Arundel County.
- Discover the remarkable stories of African American women of the Civil Rights Movement, such as activists Ruby Dee, Angela Davis, Daisy Bates and Ruby Bridges.
- Join Ranger Tim from The Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Historical Park to learn about the vital roles of Black Jacks and iron furnaces on the Underground Railroad.
- Explore the origins and evolution of popular dance forms that originated in the African American community.
Visit our Black History Month events calendar for a complete list of programs.
Enrich your knowledge of Black history and culture using the library’s digital resources!
- Stream films that highlight the history and heritage of the Black community using Kanopy.
- Learn about the experience and impact of African Americans as recorded by the news media using our Black Life in America database.
- Delve into the lives of historical and contemporary Black figures like Maya Angelou, Frederick Douglass, Martin Luther King, Jr. and Sojourner Truth using our Biography database.
- Explore information on Black history, identity, culture, activism and more using our Diversity Studies and Opposing Viewpoints databases.
- Discover the history of the African diaspora, historical African American perspectives and more using our U.S. History and World History databases.
Choose your next read from our lists of books on Black History!
- Check out our booklists for children, teens and adults.
- Download African American Literary Classics in eBook and eAudiobook formats to enjoy instantly using Overdrive/Libby.
- Looking for more books written by Black authors? Use NoveList’s “Advanced Search” feature to generate a list of books by African Americans.
Published January 31, 2024