Did you know that February is Black History Month? MCPL has free online resources, books, and events to help you learn and celebrate!
If you’re looking to explore and research online we’ve got some wonderful, authoritative resources for you. The Oxford African American Studies Center online database is focused “on the lives and events which have shaped African American and African history and culture.” It is a place where you can read articles, primary sources, maps, timelines, and biographical information.There are also many images included on the site that you can view.
If you are looking for biographical information, you should have at look at Biography in Context. There you browse and search for information on notable African Americans. You can also search by nationality and occupation. The site provides articles from reference works, academic journals, magazines, and newspapers as well as images, audio clips, and videos.
You can discover history though song as well. Listen to streaming music from American Song which includes genres such as jazz, blues, gospel, ragtime, folk songs, and narratives, among others. If you are interested in jazz try the Jazz Music Library where you can choose from thousands of jazz artists, ensembles, albums, and genres.
Have you heard about the Lincoln Park History Project? It’s a partnership MCPL has with several local historical and cultural organizations. Its purpose is to find, document, and preserve the cultural heritage of one of Rockville’s oldest African American communities, Lincoln Park.
Lincoln Park, started in the 1890s, was one of the first real estate ventures for African American homeowners in Montgomery County. We invite you to learn about its history, the families that lived there, the houses they lived in, and more. There is also information included about Lorenzo Dow Turner. He was a professor of English and he pioneered research of Gullah language in the Sea Islands of South Carolina and Georgia.
Looking for some fascinating books to read? We have some great book suggestions for adults and teens, as well as kids, to help celebrate Black History Month. We also have numerous African American book discussion groups at branches throughout the County.
Looking for events? We’ve got some exciting programs you won’t want to miss. Here are some program highlights.
- Black History Month Film Festival – 42
Germantown Library, Tuesday, February 5, 6:30 PM - Black History Month STEM Challenge
Gaithersburg Library, Friday, February 15, 4:00 PM - West African Drums, Song, Stories, & Games
Silver Spring Library, Saturday, February 16, 10:30 AM - Celebrating Black History Month – Ken-Gar Then and Now
Kensington Park Library, Saturday, February 16, 1:00 PM - Differing Perspectives on Slavery in MD and DC
Rockville Memorial Library, Saturday, February 23, 2:00 PM - Meet and Learn About Harriet Tubman
Olney Library, Thursday, February 28, 6:00 PM
We’re happy to help you start your journey exploring Black History today at MCPL!
Don’t forget to check out our latest Library Matters podcast episode, all about African American literature.