Black History Month

Revolution in Our Time
by Kekla Magoon

A deep dive into the history of The Black Panther Party and how it was a revolutionary movement which may help encourage youth to continue the fight against social injustices today. Ages 12-18.

Born on the Water
by Nikole Hannah-Jones & Renée Watson; illustrated by Nikkolas Smith

As a young girl works on a family tree project, she learns about her African roots and the history of slavery, survival, and resilience in her family.

Your Legacy: A Bold Reclaiming of Our Enslaved History
by Schele Williams

This captivating picture book celebrates Black history and culture, from Africa in the 1600’s to the present, highlighting Black excellence in all areas of life.

Take Back the Block
by Chrystal D. Giles

Lifelong member of the Kensington Oaks neighborhood, Wes must act to save his community from the threat of gentrification.

Defiant: Growing up in the Jim Crow South
by Wade Hudson

Activist Wade Hudson retells his life-changing experiences participating in the Civil Rights Movement during the 1960s.

Black Lives Matter: From Hashtag to the Streets
by Artika R. Tyner

Tyner traces Black Lives Matter from its rise as a hashtag to its power today as the most influential movement of our time.

The True Definition of Neva Beane
by Christine Kendall

Geneva “Neva” Beane meets a neighbor who expands her understanding of activism, much to the dismay of her grandparents who prefer quieter forms of community work.

Recognize!: An Anthology Honoring and Amplifying Black Life
by edited by Wade Hudson & Cheryl Willis Hudson

A striking anthology featuring essays, poems, short stories, and historical excerpts highlighting and celebrating Black life and culture.

I Affirm Me: The ABCs of Inspiration for Black Kids
by Nyasha Williams

Take a journey through the alphabet exploring the culture and history intertwined with the Black community.

Why We Fly
by Kimberly Jones and Gilly Segal.

Two cheerleaders must deal with the consequences after their squad kneels during the national anthem. Ages 15-18.

When You Look Like Us
by Pamela N. Harris.

Jay feels compelled to search for his sister when she doesn’t return home because he doesn’t want her to be another missing Black girl. Ages 15-18.

Black Birds in the Sky
by Brandy Colbert.

Learn about one of the most deadly and destructive acts through the story and legacy of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre. Ages 15-18.

Separate No More: The Long Road to Brown v. Board of Education
by Lawrence Goldstone.

Constitutional law scholar, Lawrence Goldstone, shares his extensive research into the historical events and cases that lead up to the Supreme Court case Brown v. Board of Education. Ages 12-18.

Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You
by Ibram X. Kendi and Jason Reynolds.

This is a comprehensive history book of racism in the United States, as well as a guidebook to create an antiracist future. Ages 12-18.

Rise Up! : How You Can Join the Fight Against White Supremacy
by Crystal Marie Fleming.

Learn how to unlearn racism with Fleming’s ideas that help unite all antiracists: compassion, solidarity, respect, and courage in the face of adversity. Ages 12-18.

The Black Church: This is Our Story, This is Our Song
by Henry Louis Gates Jr.

The Black church has historically been a place for community and activism that provided a platform for influential leaders.

Traveling Black: A Story of Race and Resistance by Mia Bay
by Mia Bay

Stories of struggle and resilience on planes, trains, and automobiles highlight mobility as a central theme towards Black freedom.

From #BlackLivesMatter to Black Liberation
by Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor

Through study of historical and contemporary systemic racism, including mass incarceration and Black unemployment, Taylor argues that activism against police brutality is a strong path towards Black liberation.

Colorization: One Hundred Years of Black Films in a White World
by Wil Haygood

Journalist Will Haygood takes a cinematic look at the portrayal of Black culture through film. This history of the Black experience is expressed by the actors and filmmakers, who produced these films.

All That She Carried: The Journey of Ashley's Sack, a Black Family Keepsake
by Tiya Miles

This is the extraordinary story of a family keepsake that bonded three generations of African American women from South Carolina.

The Love Songs of W.E.B. Du Bois
by Honoree Fanonne Jeffers

To come to terms with who she is and what she wants, Ailey, the daughter of a doctor and a schoolteacher, embarks on a journey through her family's past, helping her embrace her heritage, which is the story of the Black experience in itself.

What's Mine and Yours
by Naima Coster

Integrated into a predominantly white high school, an anxious young Black student and a half-Latina whose mother would have her pass as white join a bridge-building school play that shapes the trajectory of their adult lives.

The Prophets
by Robert Jones, Jr.

Two enslaved young men on a Deep South plantation find refuge in each other while transforming a quiet shed into a haven for their fellow slaves, before an enslaved preacher declares their bond sinful.

Presumed Guilty
by Erwin Chemerinsky

Reveals how the Supreme Court allows the perpetuation of racist policing by presuming that suspects, especially people of color, are guilty.

Say Their Names
by Bunn, Curtis/ Cottman, Michael H./ Gaines, Patrice/ Charles, Nick/ Harriston, Keith

Examines how inequality has been propagated throughout history, highlighting the disparities that have long characterized the dangers of being Black in America.

Created Equal
by

Charts Thomas's rise from poverty in the racially-segregated South to the role of Supreme Court justice, shedding new light on the value of an equal opportunity.

One Night in Miami
by

Revisits a February 1964 meeting of Malcolm X, Muhammad Ali, Jim Brown, and Sam Cooke in a room at the Hampton House, celebrating Ali's surprise title win over Sonny Liston.

Judas and the Black Messiah
by

Offered a plea deal by the FBI, William O'Neal infiltrates the Illinois chapter of the Black Panther Party to gather intelligence on Chairman Fred Hampton.

Driving While Black
by Gretchen Sullivan Sorin

With the invention of the automobile, Black drivers needed to know more than just the rules of the road to keep themselves safe.

Southern Food and Civil Rights: Feeding the Revolution
by Frederick Douglass Opie

These stories and recipes prove that you can’t start a Revolution on an empty stomach.

A Black Woman’s History of the United States
by Daina Ramey Berry

Learn about our country’s history through the stories of Black women.

Civil Rights Movement:The March on Washington
by Smith Show Media Group

I Have a Dream: Music to Celebrate Martin Luther King Jr
by American Music Experts

The Ultimate Black History Collection
by Various Artists

The Sermons Volume 2-Reverend Martin Luther King Jr.
by

The Sermons Volume 1-Reverend Martin Luther King Jr.
by

Civil Rights Leader-Martin Luther King, Jr.
by

Civil Rights
by Thomas Sowell, Read by James Bundy

Thomas Sowell takes a tough, factual look at whether the Civil Rights movement has lived up to its hopes or its rhetoric.

NPR American Chronicles: Civil Rights
by Various Authors

Personal recollections and historical accounts paint vivid pictures of individuals and events that transformed a nation.

Olympic Pride, American Prejudice
by Deborah Riley Draper

In 1936, 18 African American athletes participated in the Berlin Olympic Games, defying Nazi Aryan Supremacy and Jim Crow Racism.

Strength to Love
by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

This collection of sermons by the American civil rights leader explains his convictions about the conditions and problems of contemporary society.

Mr. Civil Rights: Thurgood Marshall And The NAACP
by Mick Caouette

Civil rights attorney Thurgood Marshall's triumph in the 1954 Brown v. Board of Education Supreme Court decision to desegregate America's public schools completed the final leg of a heroic journey to end legal segregation.

An Act Of Defiance
by Jean Van De Velde

10 political activists face a possible death sentence for conspiracy to commit sabotage after they are arrested by the apartheid South African government during the summer of 1963.

John Lewis: Good Trouble
by Dawn Porter-Director

An intimate account of legendary U.S. Representative John Lewis' life, legacy and more than 60 years of extraordinary activism

Why We Can’t Wait
by Martin Luther King Jr

Dr. King’s best-selling account of the civil rights movement in Birmingham during the spring and summer of 1963.

Where Do We Go From Here: Chaos or Community?
by Martin Luther King Jr.

In this work, we find King's acute analysis of American race relations and the state of the movement after a decade of civil rights efforts

Trumpet of Conscience
by Martin Luther King Jr.

In November and December 1967, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., delivered five lectures for the renowned Massey Lecture Series of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. The collection sums up his lasting creed and is his final testament on racism, poverty, an

This Promise of Change
by Jo Ann Allen Boyce and Debbie Levy

This versed account shares the firsthand experiences of an African American student who made history by joining Central High School in 1956 Little Rock. Ages 10-14.

The Youngest Marcher: The Story of Audrey Faye Hendricks, a Young Civil Rights Activist
by Cynthia Levison; illustrated by Vanessa Brantley-Newton

During the civil rights movement, Audrey Faye Hendricks plays a key role in the Children’s March. Ages 7-10.

I Have a Dream
by Martin Luther King, Jr.; illustrated by Kadir Nelson

Through beautiful oil paintings, Kadir Nelson brings Martin Luther King Jr.’s famous speech to life. Ages 5-9.

Antiracist Baby
by Ibram X. Kendi; illustrated by Ashley Lukashevsky

Illustrations and rhyming text present nine steps Antiracist Baby can take to improve equity, such as opening our eyes to all skin colors and celebrating all our differences. Ages 2-4.

We Are Power: How Nonviolent Activism Changes the World
by Todd Hasak-Lowy

We Are Power brings to light the incredible individuals who have used nonviolent activism to change the world. Ages 10-14

The Watsons Go to Birmingham--1963
by Christopher Paul Curtis

The everyday routines of the Watsons, an African American family living in Flint, are drastically changed after they go to visit Grandma in Alabama in 1963. Ages 10-14.

Marching to the Mountaintop: How Poverty, Labor Fights, and Civil Rights Set the Stage for Martin Luther King, Jr.'s Final Hours
by Ann Bausum

Explores how media, politics, the civil rights movement, and labor protests all converged. Ages 9-11.

The Story of Civil Rights
by Wil Mara

Learn about civil rights and why they are important. This book covers the history of racial tension in the US, including slavery, abolition of slavery, and segregation. Ages 6-8.

Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice
by Phillip M. Hoose

Presents the life of the Alabama teenager who played an integral role in the Montgomery bus strike by refusing to give up a bus seat. Ages 11-16.

Martin Luther King Jr. And The March On Washington
by Gary Jeffrey; illustrated by Nick Spender

This graphic novel captures the emotion and power both of the march itself and of King's memorable speech. Ages 9-11

Martin Rising: Requiem for a King
by Andrea Davis Pinkney; illustrated by J. Brian Pinkney

An illustrated tribute to Martin Luther King Jr. that celebrates his commitment to non-violent protest in support of civil rights. Ages 9-11

Stride Toward Freedom-The Montgomery Story
by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr

Martin Luther King Jr. shares his inspirations for the resistance in a work that inspired many and will continue to bring hope for peaceful actions.

My Daddy, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
by Martin Luther King III; illustrated by AG Ford

Listen to an insightful story detailing a father and son’s bond in one of history's most fascinating families. Ages 4-8.

Justice For All
by Lloyd A Barbee

Gathers Barbee's writings on the subjects of his legislative efforts and world events, providing an important historical record of the civil rights movement and insight into issues that continue into today.

Father Groppi
by Stuart Stotts

Tells the story of Father James Groppi, a Catholic priest from Milwaukee, Wis., who stood up for civil rights in the 1960s and 1970s.

City With a Chance
by Frank Aukofer

Details the civil rights struggles in Milwaukee during the 1960s.

Vel Phillips: Dream Big Dreams
by DVD

Discover how Vel Phillips rose to prominence as one of Wisconsin's great civil rights activists, achieving an impressive list of "firsts" as part of her legacy.

The Long March to Freedom
by Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service

The collected works of a 15-part series highlighting the 1967 open housing marches as seen through the participants and their influence in Milwaukee, Wisconsin today.

The Selma of the North
by Patrick D. Jones

Local leaders inspired people to participate in campaigns against employment and housing discrimination, segregated public schools, welfare cuts, and police brutality.

Civil Rights Activism in Milwaukee
by Paul H. Geenen

Discover the challenges faced by civil rights groups in their fight for open housing and better working conditions for Milwaukee's minority community.