NYPL Connect: Celebrate Black History Month with Ibram X. Kendi, Keisha N. Blain, Hilton Als, Charles Blow, Heather McGhee, Michelle Commander & More
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Black History Month
Celebrating Black History with Books, Programs, Events & More
The New York Public Library is here to help connect you to an array of book recommendations, programs, and resources that explore Black history and culture for Black History Month—part of our year-round mission to foster knowledge and understanding. Dive into our recommended biographies of important trailblazers, find storytimes for little ones by Black authors, check out our online exhibitions, and more.
New Reading Lists for Black History Month
Our expert librarians have put together a series of thematic reading lists that highlight history writing, biographies and memoirs, Black women in history, and picture books for children. These titles build on the Schomburg Center's Black Liberation Reading List, released last spring in honor of the center’s 95th anniversary. Read on for a range of titles—from the struggle for civil rights to celebrations of joy—that inspire conversation and foster understanding.Featured Events
Between the Lines: Four Hundred Souls with Keisha N. Blain and Ibram X. Kendi
Tues, Feb 9 | 7 PM
Unsung: Unheralded Narratives of American Slavery & Abolition with Michelle Commander
Tues, Feb 16 | 7 PM
Racism’s Hidden Costs with Heather McGhee
Thurs, Feb 18 | 8 PM
Charles Blow with Hilton Als
Tues, Feb 23 | 8 PMExplore the Schomburg Center
Celebrate Black Culture All Year Long
For 95 years, the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture has preserved, protected, and fostered a greater understanding of the Black experience through its collections, exhibitions, events, and educational programs for all ages. Stay up-to-date with all of the Schomburg Center's events and programs throughout the year so you never miss an opportunity to celebrate Black culture.
Explore Online Exhibitions from the Schomburg Center
The Schomburg Center curates an array of exhibitions that illuminate Black history in America and across the diaspora, drawing from its renowned collections. Now you can explore a selection of recent exhibitions online—including Traveling While Black: A Century of Pleasure & Pain & Pilgrimages, Subversion & The Art of Slavery Abolition, and Femmetography: The Gaze Shifted.Support the Schomburg Center
At the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, every month is Black History Month. As we celebrate the center's 95th anniversary this year, we will be working as hard as ever to illuminate the richness of Black culture worldwide. Become a Schomburg Society member today to support this essential mission and receive a free tote.Discover Books & More from the Schomburg Shop
Find everything from classic and contemporary books for adults and children to unique items that celebrate Black culture, history, and literature when you shop with the Schomburg Shop online. All purchases support the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture.For Kids & Teens
KidsLIVE with Angela Johnson
Tues, Feb 23 | 3:30 PMAward-winning author Angela Johnson joins us in honor of her new book, A Girl Like Me, featured on NYPL’s list of Best Books for Kids 2020. Johnson will talk about her life as an author and what her process of “accidental writing” looks like, then answer questions from NYPL librarians.
Black History Month Celebration: Songs, Dance & Stories
Tues, Feb 16 | 3:30 PMJoin the Indigo Arts Dance and Drum Ensemble in this celebratory, interactive program. Participants will learn Kuku, a dance from Guinea based on the movements of traditional fisherwomen, learn about King Mansa Musa, a king from the ancient Mali empire, and enjoy performances of Sunu and Lamban dance from top NYC dancers.
Marvel's Black Panther: Sins of the King
Thurs, Feb 25 | 8 PMAuthors Steven Barnes, Tananarive Due, and Geoffrey Thorne talk about creating a new Black Panther adventure in which an army of the undead forces T’Challa to turn to his long-lost father.
For Teens: Practical College & Career Help
Our experts are here to help teens with everything from applying to colleges and jobs during the COVID-19 pandemic to creating nutritious meals on a college budget. If you have questions about starting a new phase of life and making it on your own, see what the Library has to offer.More Events & Resources
Doc Chat: Exploring the Black Alternative Press of the 1960s and 70s
Thurs, Feb 4 | 3:30 PMDive into the Library's archives to examine excerpts from Black alternative periodicals of the 1960s and 70s with Amaka Okechukwu, professor of sociology at George Mason University. Together with NYPL experts, she'll talk about the historical backdrop against which these rarely seen materials were written, published, and circulated.
My Year Abroad: Chang-rae Lee with Paul Yoon
Mon, Feb 8 | 8 PMAuthor Chang-rae Lee is joined by Paul Yoon, an NYPL Cullman Center Fellow and Young Lions Fiction Award winner, to discuss Lee's new book, My Year Abroad. Together the two will mine the narrator's yearlong trip across Asia for insight into our human capacities for pleasure, pain, and connection.
Love in a Hopeless Place: Writing Modern Romance
Wed, Feb 10 | 6:30 PMJoin Alyssa Cole, an author featured on NYPL’s list of 125 Books We Love, for a panel with fellow romance authors Kate Clayborn, Alexis Daria, Courtney Milan, EE Ottoman, and Rebekah Weatherspoon. Together, these award-winning writers will discuss the inherent optimism of romance novels, what it's like writing them during difficult times, and the restorative power of a happy ending.
English Conversation Hours
Intermediate and advanced English language learners can practice their speaking skills in a relaxed setting with the Library's Conversation Hours, which feature discussions of life, art, food, culture, current events, and other topics of interest.Career & Business Help
Our experts are here to guide you through your job search, career change, or even running your own business with informative webinars and one-on-one assistance.
Deadline: Update Your Voter Information by February 14
Don't forget! The deadline to review and update your voter information is coming up on Sunday, February 14. Voting in New York State's primary elections is an important way to make your voice heard—make sure you have the biggest impact by updating your information now.New & Noteworthy
Start Reading Instantly: Black Buck by Mateo Askaripour
Our February book club pick, Black Buck by Mateo Askaripour, is available to borrow now—no holds or waiting—on the Library's free e-reader app SimplyE. Askaripour's satire uses sales manual–style advice to tell the story of Darren, an easygoing barista who becomes a ruthless salesman when he is offered a job at an all-white tech startup. Start reading now, and tune in on Thursday, February 25, to hear the author himself discuss Black Buck and take audience questions.SimplyE for iOS | SimplyE for Android
Black History STEAM Reading List
Celebrate the impact Black scientists, inventors, engineers, artists, mathematicians, and more have had on life as we know it with this comprehensive list for kids, teens, and adults, featurings books, films, and other educational resources compiled by the Library's Woodson Project.Dance Symposium Book List: Dance & Immigration
The Jerome Robbins Dance Division at the Library for the Performing Arts invited visiting scholars to use our collections and investigate the relationship between dance and immigration. After diving into the subject, here are their recommendations for books you can read to get better acquainted with the experiences of immigrants in the world of dance.8 Books About Finance and Hedge Funds for the Uninitiated
Has recent news sparked an interest in the stock market? Here are a few books that can help you demystify the inner workings of the finance world.Book List: Voices in Hip-Hop
These books, written by legendary voices from the hip-hop world, are a must for any hip-hop head—old or new—or any fan of music in general.44 Books Featuring Black Athletes
This selection of books features stories of Black athletes who electrified the world and captivated fans with their personalities, skills, talents, philanthropy, and calls for social justice.The Librarian Is In Book Club: The Stories of John Cheever
Frank and Rhonda share their thoughts about The Stories of John Cheever, one of our 125 Books We Love, and discuss Cheever's exploration of American suburban life.Sign up for NYPL Connect today and get the latest updates on Library resources available to you during our gradual reopening sent straight to your inbox.
Read E-Books with SimplyE
With your library card, it's easier than ever to choose from more than 300,000 e-books on SimplyE, The New York Public Library's free e-reader app. Gain access to digital resources for all ages, including e-books, audiobooks, databases, and more.
If you don’t have an NYPL library card, New York State residents can apply for a digital card online or through SimplyE (available on the App Store or Google Play).
Need more help? Read our guide to using SimplyE.