Across the nation, we celebrate achievements of African Americans and recognize the central role of blacks in U.S. history during the month of February. On this page, find suggested fiction, nonfiction and digital titles for adults, teens, and kids, all hand-selected by our librarians. And learn more about the origins of Black History Month itself from the Association for the Study of African American Life and History.
In Oak Park, join us at 7 pm Monday, February 24 for a special partner event with the Black Metropolis Research Consortium: UNTITLED AND YET TO BE DETERMINED, 41.8949° N, 87.7654° W (AUSTIN): A Photographic Exploration of Race, Class & Space in Austin.
Books & movies for adults
Try a book suggested by our librarians:
Fiction
Nonfiction
The ZORA Canon: 25 of the 100 best books by African American women
Browse the full list of 100 titles in The ZORA Canon »
Digital titles
Explore more titles in the library’s digital collection:
- Find ebooks and digital audiobooks on hoopla.
- Browse fiction and nonfiction books on the Media on Demand website or in the Libby app »
- Watch movies in Kanopy’s Black History Month collection »
Titles for teens
Check out these titles for teens recommended by our librarians:
Books for kids
Browse kids’ fiction, nonfiction, and picture books selected by our librarians:
Historical picture books
Fiction & graphic novels
Biographies
Nonfiction
Online resources
Get access to subscription-based resources that Google can’t offer with your Oak Park card and PIN:
- African-American History Online: Find a fresh way to explore the full spectrum of African American history and culture, covering five centuries.
- African American Heritage: Explore a genealogy database devoted to African American family history research.
