Black History Month

King: A Filmed Record
by

This Oscar-nominated documentary chronicles many defining moments of MLK’s career, including footage of key speeches.

The Sum of Us
by McGhee, Heather C.

In this deeply researched book, the economist delves into the ways that racism and racist policies leave everyone worse off.

I am MLK Jr.
by

This documentary highlights major moments from the civil rights movement, including the Montgomery Bus Boycott and the March on Washington.

Making the Movement:
by David L. Crane

Presents more than 200 nonviolent weapons along with the stories of the campaigns and the activists that fueled the civil rights cause.

Waging a Good War
by Thomas E. Ricks

Ricks explores how the civil rights movement used military tactics like having clear goals, adopting a tactical approach, carefully training troops, and seeing the mission through, to advance the war for equality.

How the Word Is Passed
by Clint Smith

Readers embark on a remarkable tour of monuments and landmarks in this well-researched examination of slavery which provides insight on how memory and history have shaped America.

No Justice, No Peace:
by Devin Allen

Through words and pictures, this book offers a look at the resistance that has empowered Black lives for generations. It is a reminder of our moral responsibility to break unjust laws and take action.

The Civil Rights Queen
by Tomiko Brown-Nagin

As the first black woman to be appointed as a federal judge, and the first black woman to argue a case before the Supreme Court, civil rights pioneer Constance Baker Motley has led an extraordinary life

Survive the Dome
by Kosoko Jackson

Jamal, an aspiring photojournalist, pursues the story of an officer involved shooting that kills a local Black man. When police use an impenetrable dome to try and stop the flow of information, can Jamal and his crew save their city? Ages 15+

You are More than Magic: The Black and Brown Girls' Guide to Finding Your Voice
by Minda Harts

This guide helps young women find their voice and make themselves recognized as they prepare for their future. Ages 12+

Ain't Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me 'Round: My Story of the Making of Martin Luther King Day
by Kathlyn J. Kirkwood; illustrated by Steffi Walthall

Kirkwood shares her life story, from the activism and protests of her childhood to becoming an adult and joining the fight to make Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday a national holiday. Ages 10-12

Choosing Brave: How Mamie Till-Mobley and Emmett Till Sparked the Civil Rights Movement
by Angela Joy; illustrated by Janelle Washington

Be inspired by Mamie Till-Mobley, who used her grief as a catalyst to fight for justice after the racially motived murder of her young son, Emmett Till, in Mississippi. Ages 6-9.

Because of You, John Lewis: The True Story of a Remarkable Friendship
by Andrea Davis Pinkney; illustrated by Keith Henry Brown

In this uplifting true story, Tybre Faw, a young civil rights activist, travels to Selma, AL. to meet his idol, John Lewis. The two form a friendship, mirroring the experience Lewis had as a young man when he was befriended by Martin Luther King, Jr.

We Were the Fire: Birmingham 1963
by Shelia P. Moses

Rufus, an 11-year-old African American boy from Birmingham, AL., joins thousands of young people as they protest for equal rights. With a new determination, he realizes that their fight for equality is a fire that cannot be put out. Ages 10-12

Standing in the Need of Prayer: A Modern Retelling of the Classic Spiritual
by Carole Boston Weatherford; illustrated by Frank Morrison

In this moving picture book, the historical spiritual “Standing in the Need of Prayer” is combined with striking illustrations to depict Black perseverance, from the slave trade through modern-day protests. Ages 6-9

We Are Here
by Tami Charles; illustrated by Bryan Collier

This breathtaking picture book chronicles the history of Black excellence, assuring Black children they are part of an ongoing legacy of pride and power.

Yonder
by Jabari Asim

Black people on a southern plantation in the mid-1800s are forced to work in inhumane conditions until a visiting minister begins to preach independence. As they learn what freedom might truly mean, they reimagine what life and love they could have.

Who We Are: A Chronicle of Racism in America
by

Interweaving lecture, personal anecdotes, interviews, and shocking revelations, lawyer Jeffery Robinson draws a stark timeline of anti-Black racism in the United States, from slavery to the modern myth of a post-racial America.

The Two Lives of Sara
by Catherine Adel West

During the racially divided 1960s, a Black, unwed mother, working for Mama Sugar at a boarding house in Memphis, Tennessee, finds refuge until secrets are revealed, forcing her to make a life changing decision.

Victory, Stand!
by Tommie Smith Derrick Barnes & Dawud Anyabwile

In this graphic novel memoir, learn the story of two brave athletes at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics who protested racial injustices imposed upon African Americans during this time in history. Age 12+

Walk Boldly: Empowerment Toolkit for Young Black Men
by M.J. Fievre

Full of questions and life lessons, this unassuming book encourages young black males to grow in their self-confidence, self-esteem, and strive to become our next leaders. Ages 13+

Overground Railroad: The Green Book and the Roots of Black Travel in America
by Candacy Taylor

Learn the history behind the Green Book, published from 1936 to 1966, and its importance to Black travelers during this time in US history. Ages 12+

Required Reading for the Disenfranchised Freshman
by Kristen R. Lee

Savannah fears losing her scholarship if she speaks out against blatant racism she encounters at her new University. Ages 15+

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

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.

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

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.