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Book Lists

Black History Month Nonfiction Books

Nonfiction Books for youth. More titles can be found on library online catalog, TumbleBooks, Hoopla, & OverDrive/Libby

de la Peña, Matt.
J BIO LOUIS
Biography of boxer Joe Louis.

Duling, Kaitlyn, author.
J BIO OBAMA
In Michelle Obama, early readers will learn about the life, accomplishments, and contributions of former first lady and public figure Michelle Obama. Vibrant, full-color photos, and carefully leveled text will engage emergent readers as they learn about her life.

J DVD 791.43 DUKE
Celebrate African American history with this historic collection of stories. Collection include: Duke Ellington; Ellington was not a street; Ella Fitzgerald: the tale of a vocal virtuosa; and John Henry read-along and discussion questions.

Grimes, Nikki, author.
J 811.54 GRI
"In this collection of poetry, Nikki Grimes looks afresh at the poets of the Harlem Renaissance -- including voices like Langston Hughes, Georgia Douglas Johnson, and many more writers of importance and resonance from this era -- by combining their work with her own original poetry. Using "The Golden Shovel" poetic method, Grimes has written a collection of poetry that is as gorgeous as it is thought-provoking. This special book also includes original artwork in full-color from some of today's most exciting African American illustrators, who have created pieces of art based on Nikki's original poems. Featuring art by: Cozbi Cabrera, R. Gregory Christie, Pat Cummings, Jan Spivey Gilchrist, Nikki Grimes, E. B. Lewis, Frank Morrison, Brian Pinkney, Sean Qualls, James Ransome, Javaka Steptoe, Shadra Strickland, and Elizabeth Zunon. A foreword, an introduction to the history of the Harlem Renaissance, author's note, poet biographies, and index makes this not only a book to cherish, but a wonderful resource and reference as well"-- Provided by publisher.

Kesselring, Susan.
J BIO OBAMA

King, Martin Luther, Jr., 1929-1968.
J 323.092 KIN
An illustrated edition of Martin Luther King's famous "I have a dream" speech.

Levinson, Cynthia, author.
J BIO HENDRICKS
Meet the youngest known child to be arrested for a civil rights protest in Birmingham, Alabama, 1963, in this picture book that proves you're never too little to make a difference. Nine-year-old Audrey Faye Hendricks intended to go places and do things like anybody else. So when she heard grown-ups talk about wiping out Birmingham's segregation laws, she spoke up. As she listened to the preacher's words, smooth as glass, she sat up tall. And when she heard the plan -- picket those white stores! March to protest those unfair laws! Fill the jails! -- she stepped right up and said, I'll do it! She was going to j-a-a-il!

Pinkney, Andrea Davis.
J 323.1196 PIN
"This picture book is a celebration of the 50th anniversary of the momentous Woolworth's lunch counter sit-in, when four college students staged a peaceful protest that became a defining moment in the struggle for racial equality and the growing civil rights movement."--Amazon.com.

Steptoe, Javaka, 1971-
J BIO BASQUIAT
Presents the life of the artist, who was inspired as a child by a book of anatomy given to him by his mother after being injured in a car crash and who went on to become a celebrity in the art world before his early death at twenty-eight.

Tate, Don, author.
J BIO HORTON
"In the nineteenth century, North Carolina slave George Moses Horton taught himself to read and earned money to purchase his time though not his freedom. Horton became the first African American to be published in the South, protesting slavery in the form of verse"--Publisher.

Fishman, Jon M., author.
J BIO BILES
Simone Biles joined the US women's gymnastics team to compete at the Summer Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 2016. Along with her teammates, she sailed through her events to claim the gold medal in the team competition for the United States. She also took home three golds and a bronze in the individual events in which she competed. Though Biles follows an intense training routine, her schedule doesn't stop her from having fun. Learn all about her rise to the top in gymnastics, how she stays fit, what she does to relax, and much more.

Duling, Kaitlyn, author.
J BIO CURRY

Weatherford, Carole Boston, 1956-
J BIO TUBMAN
Describes Tubman's spiritual journey as she hears the voice of God guiding her north to freedom on that very first trip to escape the brutal practice of forced servitude. Tubman would make nineteen subsequent trips back south, never being caught, but none as profound as this first one.

Duling, Kaitlyn, author.
J BIO WINFREY
"In Oprah Winfrey, early readers will learn about the life, accomplishments, and contributions of celebrity Oprah Winfrey. Vibrant, full-color photos, and carefully leveled text will engage emergent readers as they learn about her life"-- Provided by publisher.

Woodson, Jacqueline.
J PIC+ WOO
The making of "Show ways," or quilts which once served as secret maps for freedom-seeking slaves, is a tradition passed from mother to daughter in the author's family.

Barton, Chris, author.
J BIO JOHNSON
Chronicles the life and achievements of the NASA engineer and inventor, from his childhood to his accidental invention of the Super Soaker water gun.

Duling, Kaitlyn, author.
J BIO JAMES

Rappaport, Doreen, author.
J BIO DOUGLASS
Traces Frederick Douglass's journey from slavery to international renown as writer and lecturer.

Shetterly, Margot Lee, author.
J 510.92 SHE
Explores the previously uncelebrated but pivotal contributions of NASA's African American women mathematicians to America's space program, describing how Jim Crow laws segregated them despite their groundbreaking successes.

Wilson, Jamia, 1980- author.
J 920.02 WIL
"Join us on a journey across borders, through time and even through space to meet 52 icons of color from the past and present in a celebration of achievement. Meet figureheads, leaders, and pioneers such as Martin Luther King Jr., Nelson Mandela, and Rosa Parks, as well as cultural trailblazers and sporting heroes, including Stevie Wonder, Oprah Winfrey, and Serena Williams. Discover how their childhood dreams and experiences influenced their adult achievements. This book will help the next generation to chase their own dream ... whatever it may be"--Publisher.

Bridges, Ruby, author.
J BIO BRIDGES
Civil rights activist Ruby Bridges--who, at the age of six, was the first African American to integrate an all-white elementary school in New Orleans--shares her story through text and historical photographs, offering a powerful call to action.

Duncan, Alice Faye, author.
J BIO BROOKS
A collection of poems profiles the Chicago author who gave voice to the urban African American experience in the twentieth century.

Hegedus, Bethany, author.
J BIO ANGELOU
"A biography of African American writer, performer, and activist Maya Angelou, who turned a childhood of trauma and emotional pain to become one of the most inspiring voices of our lifetime. Includes afterword, author's note, and sources"-- Provided by publisher.

Lester, Julius, 1939-2018.
J 305.8009 LES
The author introduces the concept of race as only one component in an individual's or nation's "story."

Medina, Tony, author.
J 811.6 MED
A fresh perspective of young men of color depicting thirteen views of everyday life: young boys dressed in their Sunday best, running to catch a bus, and growing up to be teachers, and much more. Each of Tony Medina's tanka is matched with a different artist including recent Caldecott and Coretta Scott King Award recipients.

Warren, Sarah E., author.
J BIO BEYONCE
Follow the story of Beyoncé as she finds her voice through trials and triumphs, and understand that you too can shine your light like Beyoncé.

Dionne, Evette, author.
J 323.34 DIO
"For African American women, the fight for the right to vote was only one battle. An eye-opening book that tells the important, overlooked story of black women as a force in the suffrage movement--when fellow suffragists did not accept them as equal partners in the struggle."--Publisher's description.

J 303.4 WE
What do we tell our children when the world seems bleak, and prejudice and racism run rampant? With 96 lavishly designed pages of original art, poetry, and prose, fifty diverse creators lend voice and comfort to young activists.

Barretta, Gene, author.
J BIO CARVER
The inspirational story of George Washington Carver and his childhood secret garden is brought to life in this picture book biography by the author-illustrator team behind Muhammad Ali: A Champion Is Born. When George Washington Carver was just a young child, he had a secret: a garden of his own. Here, he rolled dirt between his fingers to check if plants needed more rain or sun. He protected roots through harsh winters, so plants could be reborn in the spring. He trimmed flowers, spread soil, studied life cycles. And it was in this very place that George's love of nature sprouted into something so much more--his future. Gene Barretta's moving words and Frank Morrison's beautiful paintings tell the inspiring life and history of George Washington Carver, from a baby born into slavery to celebrated botanist, scientist, and inventor. His passion and determination are the seeds to this lasting story about triumph over hardship--a tale that begins in a secret garden.

Lyons, Kelly Starling, author.
JEASY LYO
Illustrations and easy-to-read text follow a family through five generations as each is inspired by the song written in 1900 to honor Abraham Lincoln. Includes author's note on the history of the song and its meaning in her family.

Alexander, Kwame, author.
J 811.6 ALE
"The Newbery Award-winning author of The Crossover pens an ode to black American triumph and tribulation, with art from a two-time Caldecott Honoree. Originally performed for ESPN's The Undefeated, this poem is a love letter to black life in the United States. It highlights the unspeakable trauma of slavery, the faith and fire of the civil rights movement, and the grit, passion, and perseverance of some of the world's greatest heroes. The text is also peppered with references to the words of Martin Luther King, Jr., Langston Hughes, Gwendolyn Brooks, and others, offering deeper insights into the accomplishments of the past, while bringing stark attention to the endurance and spirit of those surviving and thriving in the present. Robust back matter at the end provides valuable historical context and additional detail for those wishing to learn more."-- Provided by publisher.

Brantley-Newton, Vanessa, author.
J 811.6 BRA
There are all kinds of girls! Girls who feel happy, sad, scared, powerful; girls who love their bodies and girls who don't; country girls, city girls; girls who love their mom and girls who wish they had a daddy. With bright portraits in vibrant colors and unique patterns and fabrics, this book invites you to find yourself within its pages.--inside front cover.

Browne, Mahogany L., author.
J 303.484 BRO
A collection of poems by women that reflects the joy and passion in the fight for social justice, tackling topics from discrimination to empathy, and acceptance to speaking out.

Lyons, Kelly Starling, author.
JEASY LYO
Alan looks forward to the annual family reunion at the farm where Daddy grew up, but everyone is supposed to share something special and Alan worries about arriving with empty hands.

Johnson, Angela, 1961- author.
J 811.54 JOH

Jaggar, Louisa, author.
J BIO BANNING
"The true story of James Herman Banning, the first African American pilot to fly across the United States"-- Provided by publisher.

Weatherford, Carole Boston, 1956- author.
J 976.686 WEA
"Celebrated author Carole Boston Weatherford and illustrator Floyd Cooper provide a powerful look at the 1921 Tulsa race massacre, one of the worst incidents of racial violence in our nation's history"-- Provided by publisher.

Baptiste, Tracey, author.
J BIO COLVIN
"A picture book biography about Claudette Colvin, the teen whose activism launched the Montgomery bus boycott, and a celebration of collective action"-- Provided by publisher.

Baptiste, Tracey, author.
J 960.099 BAP
"Full-color portraits illustrate the stories of ten people-rulers, educators, inventors, scholars, and explorers-who helped shape the African continent and the world from ancient times through the tumultuous sixteenth century"-- Provided by publisher.

Fleming, Crystal Marie, 1981- author.
YA 305.8009 FLE
"An overview of the roots and legacies of racial bias and white supremacy in the United States."-- Provided by publisher.

Grimes, Nikki, author.
J 811.54 GRI
From Children's Literature Legacy Award-winning author Nikki Grimes comes a feminist-forward new collection of poetry celebrating the little-known women poets of the Harlem Renaissance-- paired with full-color, original art from today's most talented female African-American illustrators. Taking inspiration from the unsung women poets of the era, Grimes uses the "Golden Shovel" poetry method to create original poems drawn from the words of ... groundbreaking women writers. Set alongside the original works, Grimes's all-new poetry pays tribute to the unique heritage of these women and their spiritual connection to nature, illuminating female self-expression in the early twentieth century, reinvented with contemporary relevance and context. Featuring artwork by some of today's most exciting Black women: Vanessa Brantley-Newton, Cozbi A. Cabrera, Nina Crews, Pat Cummings, Laura Freeman, Jan Spivey Gilchrist, Ebony Glenn, Xia Gordon, April Harrison, Vashti Harrison, Ekua Holmes, Cathy Ann Johnson, Keisha Morris, Daria Peoples-Riley, Andrea Pippins, Erin Robinson, Shadra Strickland, Nicole Tadgell, Elizabeth Zunon.

Magoon, Kekla, author.
YA 323.1196 MAG
"In this comprehensive, inspiring, and all-too-relevant history of the Black Panther Party, Kekla Magoon introduces readers to the Panthers' community activism, grounded in the concept of self-defense, which taught Black Americans how to protect and support themselves in a country that treated them like second-class citizens."-- Provided by publisher.

McDivitt, Lindsey, 1957- author.
J BIO MANDELA
"This biography follows Nelson Mandela from his work with the African National Congress, to his imprisonment on Robben Island, to his extraordinary rise to the presidency"-- Provided by publisher.

Colbert, Brandy, author.
YA 976.686 COL
"In the early morning of June 1, 1921, a white mob marched across the train tracks in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and into its predominantly Black Greenwood District--a thriving, affluent neighborhood known as America's Black Wall Street. They brought with them firearms, gasoline, and explosives. In a few short hours, they'd razed thirty-five square blocks to the ground, leaving hundreds dead. The Tulsa Race Massacre is one of the most devastating acts of racial violence in US history. But how did it come to pass? What exactly happened? And why are the events unknown to so many of us today? These are the questions that . . . author Brandy Colbert seeks to answer in this . . . nonfiction account of the Tulsa Race Massacre"--Provided by publisher.

Reynolds, Jason, author.
JEASY REY
A celebration of Langston Hughes and African American authors he inspired, told through the lens of the party held at the New York Public Library's Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture in 1991.

Charles, Tami, author.
J BIO JACKSON
"Discover the incredible story of Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, who followed her childhood dream of becoming a lawyer and eventually became the first Black woman to sit on the US Supreme Court in this picture book biography."-- Provided by publisher.

Schwartz, Heather E., author.
J BIO JACKSON
"Ketanji Brown Jackson is an American jurist and the first Black woman to serve on the US Supreme Court. Learn about her history of public service and how she rose to the highest court in the US"-- Provided by publisher.

Dalton, Angela, author.
J BIO NICHOLS
"Perfect for fans of Hidden Figures and Mae Among the Stars! To Boldly Go tells the true story of Nichelle Nichols and how she used her platform on Star Trek to inspire and recruit a new generation of diverse astronauts and many others in the space and STEM fields. As Lieutenant Uhura on the iconic prime-time television show Star Trek, Nichelle Nichols played the first Black female astronaut anyone had ever seen on screen. A smart, strong, independent Black woman aboard the starship Enterprise was revolutionary in the 1960s when only white men had traveled to outer space in real life and most Black characters on TV were servants. Nichelle not only inspired a generation to pursue their dreams, but also opened the door for the real-life pioneering astronaut Sally Ride, Dr. Mae Jemison, and more. This empowering tribute to the trailblazing pop culture icon reminds us of the importance of perseverance and the power of representation in storytelling. You just might be inspired to boldly go where no one like you has ever gone before!"-- Provided by publisher.

Cline-Ransome, Lesa, author.
J BIO CHISHOLM
"Shirley Chisholm (1924-2005) is a hero and trailblazer. She was the first African American woman in Congress (1968) and the first woman and African American to seek the nomination for president of the United States from one of the two major political parties (1972). Written by award-winning author Lesa Cline-Ransome, here is her story"-- Provided by publisher.

Woodson, Jacqueline.
A National Book Award Finalist Jacqueline Woodson, one of today's finest writers, tells the moving story of her childhood in mesmerizing verse. Raised in South Carolina and New York, Woodson always felt halfway home in each place. In vivid poems, she shares what it was like to grow up as an African American in the 1960s and 1970s, living with the remnants of Jim Crow and her growing awareness of the Civil Rights movement. Touching and powerful, each poem is both accessible and emotionally charged, each line a glimpse into a child's soul as she searches for her place in the world. Woodson's eloquent poetry also reflects the joy of finding her voice through writing stories, despite the fact that she struggled with reading as a child. Her love of stories inspired her and stayed with her, creating the first sparks of the gifted writer she was to become. Praise for Jacqueline Woodson: Ms. Woodson writes with a sure understanding of the thoughts of young people, offering a poetic, eloquent narrative that is not simply a story . . . but a mature exploration of grown-up issues and self-discovery."— The New York Times Book Review
This electronic resource is available through the SCPL catalog.
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