Black History Month
Join SDCL in celebrating the heritage and contributions of African Americans during Black History Month, held every February.
Public Library Events
A variety of events and activities will be held at library branches throughout the month, including storytellers, drummers, professors, dancers, tastes of Africa, and much more!
Selected Resources
SDCL is offering a Black History Month book list of featured titles from the library's collection.
Download Black History Month book list
Black History Month Origins
Black History Month evolved from Negro History Week, which was initiated February 12, 1926, by historian Carter G. Woodson, founder of the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History (now the Association for the Study of African American Life and History). Its purpose was to educate the public about the true history of African Americans. Negro History Week was scheduled to coincide with the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln (Feb. 12) and Frederick Douglass (Feb. 14), both considered key contributors to African American history.
The observance was established as Black History Month in 1976, and since then has been celebrated every February.
[ Read more about the origins of Black History Month... ]
Resources
Book Lists
- National Education Association African American Book List
- San Diego County Library Black History Month Book List
Biographies
San Diego County/California Black History
- San Diego Black History Links (San Diego Historical Society)
- History of African-Americans in Downtown San Diego 1860-1960 (CCDC)
- The California Underground Railroad (CSU Sacramento Library)
- A History of Black Americans in California (National Park Service)
- African Americans in California (Bancroft Library)
Online Exhibits
- African American World (PBS)
- African American History Month
- Black History Month (History Channel)