Every February is observed as Black History Month in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. It began in 1926 as Negro History Week, promoted by Carter G. Woodson and colleagues. It was expanded to a month in 1976, the nation's bicentennial year.(1)
The J. Edgar and Louise S. Monroe Library actively collects books, journals and other information resources in the area of African-American history, culture and experience. Below is a selected listing of some resources. Please contact library staff or faculty if you have any questions, need research assistance, or have any suggestions. Also see our Africa and African-American Research Guide.
1. Bracks, L. L. and Bracks, L. L. (2009). Black history month/negro history week (Est. 1926). In J. Smith & L. Wynn, Freedom facts and firsts: 400 years of the African American civil rights experience. Canton, MI: Visible Ink Press. Retrieved from https://loyno.idm.oclc.org/login?url=http://literati.credoreference.com/content/entry/vipfff/black_history_month_negro_history_week_est_1926/0
Be sure to use our online catalog by subject for print books. Look up the many headings beginning with "African Americans" or authors like James Baldwin, W.E.B. DuBois or Zora Neale Hurston, Search topics related to the subject African Americans: